Noob question -EOS 7D/24-70 L

Ok, I've got a 7d and a 24-70 L. I'm new at photography. I'm having the hardest time getting the whole comp in focus. I know this has to do w my fstop. I mostly shoot a lot in doors, hand held. When I set aperture at like F11, my shutter speed drops and it's hard to get the right exposure. Being that I have to shoot hand held and I know I shouldn't be below a 1/30. I raise Iso to 6400 and still sometimes it's not enough light. I only have the onboard flash. Any wise words for a humble beginner. And I can't really use a tripod. Im a graphic designer at a hospital and I have to go shoot surgerys and such and I have to be able to move around quick, thus can't use the tripod.

Hi and welcome!...You need to get more light on the subject.

Have you thought about investing in a hotshoe flash unit?

Something like a 580EX should do the trick.

rrblint wrote in post #14770132
Hi and welcome!...You need to get more light on the subject.

Have you thought about investing in a hotshoe flash unit?

Something like a 580EX should do the trick.

Do you fire that right at the subject, (that doesn't ble the image out?) yes I cam very new to this ...

open to f/2.8 and shoot at ISO 1600. That will be good enough for a decently lit room.

I think the flash would be a huge help, bounce it off the ceiling and you will have a really natural looking light and a much brighter picture.

Aarondavid wrote in post #14770142
Do you fire that right at the subject, (that doesn't ble the image out?) yes I cam very new to this ...

Generally speaking, yes.

Depending on the subject, you might want to use it off-camera. But the flash uses ETTL flash metering so that the subject will be exposed properly, as long as you are not too close.

Flash, during a surgery I think I would talk with DOC beforehand. The last thing I would want as a patient- on a surgery table- is to have Doc or someone else in the operating room distracted by camera flashes.. Oops, he just severed an artery when he was surprised by the flash... Nope- talk with Doc first.

No- I am not paranoid- but I would suggest dropping down to f/2.8 first- and go with a fast prime otherwise. Distractions are the last thing I would want laying on an operating table.

If you want it all in focus and inside, you will need a small aperturre and a flash.

Aarondavid wrote in post #14770107
Ok, I've got a 7d and a 24-70 L. I'm new at photography. I'm having the hardest time getting the whole comp in focus. I know this has to do w my fstop. I mostly shoot a lot in doors, hand held. When I set aperture at like F11, my shutter speed drops and it's hard to get the right exposure. Being that I have to shoot hand held and I know I shouldn't be below a 1/30. I raise Iso to 6400 and still sometimes it's not enough light. I only have the onboard flash. Any wise words for a humble beginner. And I can't really use a tripod. Im a graphic designer at a hospital and I have to go shoot surgerys and such and I have to be able to move around quick, thus can't use the tripod.

Do you need f11?

I would suggest you could bring this down somewhat and reduce your ISO at the same time.
If you are able to use a flash then I would suggest either a 430II or 580II bounced would be great.
If your not thinking of going FF then I would consider selling the 24-70 and buying the 17-55 IS. This will still give you f2.8 still and some assistance being hand held.

Hope this helps.