Indoor photos w/the G11

I've had my G11 for a week or so now. I have no complaints at all with this camera.

I purchased it as a lighter choice for travel over my 40D w/all the lenses, etc.

I have taken numerous experimental photos in most all of the settings but, we are going to a family wedding on Oct. and the G11 will be going in place of the 40D to be used for general family photos.

I'm not quite sure which mode I want to use for the indoor shots at the wedding and reception. It's between the P (Program AE) setting w/the flash set to AUTO or the SCN mode using the INDOOR setting again w/the flash set to AUTO. I'm getting very good photos using either setting.

Any suggestions or comments?

Wow, 21 views and no comments or suggestions.
I guess my query was a little to simplistic in nature for most.
I guess I'll keep on experimenting on my own.

I'd want to shoot RAW - that kills the SCN mode for me. I would also use an external flash and shoot everything in "M" mode.

One thing you can try is flash exposure compensation. Try reducing the flash power to the first level and see how the results are. In Av mode, I find that lowering the flash helps to prevent blown out faces.

People are probably at work and have time to look but not to respond.

Manual mode, RAW. Can only guess what your settings will need to be of course, but with the flash enabled it will probably be something like ISO 400-800, shutter 1/250th, and of course the aperture always as wide as you can get it.

Thanks for the suggestions.
An external flash is out of the question for the G11. It takes away from the portability that I'm looking for in a travel camera. That's why the 40D is staying home and the G11 is going.
As for the Manual mode, too much to do to take the pic.
I can shoot RAW/L in the P mode an the photos that I'm practicing on do come out quite nice.
I'm NOT the wedding photographer, just an uncle to the Groom.

I strongly second dfatty's suggestion. I just shoot JPEG's in 'P' mode when indoors but dial down the flash to keep from getting that washed out look. This is necessary in my opinion. This is done in the func menu when in shooting mode. Better to be a little underexposed than overexposed. One note. The flash exposure setting is sticky. It will stay dialed down between power cycles on the camera. Which I like; but don't forget. Just in case you decide to use a flash in the hot shoe: The flash compensation can also be set for external flash but it is NOT sticky. It will revert to norm if you turn the camera off.

Often at weddings, you'll have inadequate lighting and will probably find shots you want to take at a reasonably low ISO and that are beyond the limited range of the G11's onboard flash. (Maximum 13' to 23')

Unless you want to be shooting at very high ISO's, I'd strongly urge you to add an EX270 flash. That flash will easily fit into one suit coat pocket and the camera into another.

Whatever you do, I'd just set the camera to the "P" mode with the ISO at 80. Then, if the shots are too dark, just keep raising the ISO a step at a time until they become bright enough.

Thanks again for the suggestions.
I've been playing with the flash settings. As you know, The scale runs to -2 and +2 from 0. I seem to be getting nice color w/o harsh flash using a -1 setting.

I just used my G11 at a family gathering. Mostly I shot in Av mode so I could control the dof a bit. Moved over to shutter priority Tv when I started shooting the kids....they just move too fast for slower shutter speeds. For a few shots I did use the flash but mostly kept it off. Dialing down it's intensity has worked in the past on closeup portrait type photos....good suggestion. Sometimes I do shoot in "P" mode or the green square when I want a no brain afternoon. That way your attention is not always on how to shoot...mostly just what to shoot. Have fun.

I bought this camera with the K.I.S.S. principle in mind.

Thanks again.

On AV mode you should be able to get decent pictures with ISO at 400. Ofcourse all pictures should be taken in RAW to make sure you have flexibility to change WB. Controlling the flash output does prevent face blowouts, but much better would be simply to tape a piece of semi transparent paper to soften the flash. The 40 D obviously has tremendously better capabilities due to the ability to use much higher ISO range, which can be very useful indoors. However the G11 should be able to do a reasonably good job.

I have a recurring WB problem with the G10 on flash. I'm fairly sure it's user error, but I don't see it when using the bigger brethern.

It doesn't matter whether I'm using built-in flash, EX270 or the big 580 - flash colour temp in the foreground and everything else tungsten orange. Bouncing makes no difference in M, AV or TV. I know it should be possible to blitz it at higher shutter speeds so the entire scene is flash-lit and coherent.

But I can't make it happen. Somebody gently pat me on the head and tell me where I'm going wrong?

xhack wrote in post #10681201
I have a recurring WB problem with the G10 on flash. I'm fairly sure it's user error, but I don't see it when using the bigger brethern.

It doesn't matter whether I'm using built-in flash, EX270 or the big 580 - flash colour temp in the foreground and everything else tungsten orange. Bouncing makes no difference in M, AV or TV. I know it should be possible to blitz it at higher shutter speeds so the entire scene is flash-lit and coherent.

But I can't make it happen. Somebody gently pat me on the head and tell me where I'm going wrong?

Maybe you need to over power the ambient light? Crank up the speed or lower your f stop to allow less ambient light and drive the flash harder?

You should also try the Indoor Scene mode(see page 57 in the user guide). It works pretty well indoors with the built-in flash, and seems to take into account the indoor lighting situations.

Dennis