Low light shooting

I don't know if I'm just doing something technically wrong, or if I'm expecting way too much from my gear. I see so many shots on here taken at 2.8 in low light without flash that are clear as crystal. I try to take a picture in low-light at 1.8, and even 1.4, and I still don't get a well exposed picture.

I shoot in Av, but I'm assuming to get the results I want I should switch to manual to control the exposure. I'm shooting in VERY low light situations, situations where the very dim lights of a restaurant are all I have to shoot with. I hate popping up the flash as I don't like unnatural shots, and if I'm going to shoot with flash I'll just use my SD800.

It just defeats the purpose for me. So any tips besides making my picture so noisy I should just shoot with a P&S? (Aka shooting at ISO 3200). Focus isn't a problem, my subjects are sharp, they're just pretty underexposed. I'll get some examples up later but any feedback based on what I've said so far would be of great help to me. Thanks!

You'll need to provide an example. My guess is that you're getting motion blur. Set the camera to Tv, and shoot at the lowest speed you know you can keep still. If you can't get a wide enough aperture, you have to either increase ISO or use some bounced flash. Also, in my limited experience, most lenses aren't very sharp wide open.

Yes.
Even Tv will allow your meter to pick a wrong exposure. I prefer "M"

Need an exposure crutch?

You are probably ending up with too slow a shutter speed, based on aperture selected and ISO setting. Try bumping ISO up to 800 or 1600. The 5D can do it just fine.

I was always afraid to shot in Manual mode because of changing and bumping up the shutter speed,iso, etc.... See, this is why I am taking this photography class next Friday!!

Good info SW!!

I have to practice this tonight...

Oh! SWPhotoImaging,

What about shooting in Manual mode with a 50mm f/1.4 in low light situations?? Also, I am using the 350D rebel XT.... Do you think I would see a noticeable amount of noise at 1600??

You will end up with noise at high ISO, BUT if you get the exposure CORRECT its not bad at all and easily fixed with a noise reducer..

I just wanted to emphasize that. Do your own test. Here's mine: ISO 200-6400 20D Tests

your 20d goes to ISO 6400??

You're the first to catch that!
OK, so I pushed the ISO 3200 shot in RAW conversion & it just seemed a more elegant title.