Favor For A Friend: What Lens?

[redangel]

Doing a favor for a friend...taking shots a an anniversary celebration. So plenty of people chatting drinking & dancing. Speeches a toast and cake cutting. What lens? Indoor event at night. Of avail lens to be provided for me: vr50mm 1.4, 70-200 2.8vr, 18-105 not vr, 18-55mm.

Any ideas on choice here? Likely to be up five people in frame (at tables) so Im hoping for not too much distortion or focus issues. Basic dx camera. Dont really want to be changing lens all night as i intend to take advantage of an open bar and catch up with faces I know. :)

[Kirislin]

Probably between the 2 wide angle zooms depending on the light, are they good in low light?

I wouldn't use the 70-200.

[kja]

Depends on the size of the venue but I'd lean towards the 70-200 and bouncy some flash. The 70-200 should let you move around unobtrusively and use the 70 end for half shots and the 200 for some close ups and for further action.

If the space is really tight, the 50 1.4.

Light sounds like the problem, as is focus lock in bad light/low contrast light, so use your best lenses.

Ugh just read about the dreaded table shots (they suck). You might get away with the 18's for these as long as you can bounce light if the 50 is too long. Then switch back.

Edited May 18, 2012 by kja

[gapvic]

This is very timely as I have to do the same thing in a couple of weeks. I've done very little low light night photography and am feeling a bit nervous about it . Kja, what do you mean by bounce light?

[huga]

For wedding receptions/engagement parties, I usually use the 50mm and bounce the flash. There's just not enough light to do it any other way. I usually switch to the 24mm for the group shots.

Edited May 18, 2012 by huga

[kja]

Do some googling for bouncing light tutorials etc and PRACTICE before you go - even if it's "just for a friend"

Basically you do not aim your flash at your subject but bounce it off the ceiling or wall etc.

[gapvic]

OK, off to google. I currently only have the little pop up flash on the camera

[gapvic]

I've now determined that I need a speedlite... problem is, which one? A question for the Nikon users here - should I go the SB 700 which seems a good entry level flash designed for new users like me, or should I pay the extra and get the SB 910 which is more advanced (and therefore more complicated and difficult for a beginner to use)?

[huga]

I've now determined that I need a speedlite... problem is, which one? A question for the Nikon users here - should I go the SB 700 which seems a good entry level flash designed for new users like me, or should I pay the extra and get the SB 910 which is more advanced (and therefore more complicated and difficult for a beginner to use)?

The SB700 would be fine for you, I used one for years and only upgraded very recently. Being Nikon (and therefore, awesome) means you can use the flash off camera without triggers A whole new world opens up with flash :D I use mine all the time. Really, I do. Most people get a shock when they ask me my settings and discovered I used flash, it can be so subtle. The SB700 is slower and less powerful than the SB910, I upgraded because I needed the flash to be able to go off repeatedly and in quick succession for weddings.

[gapvic]

Thanks Huga :) . Before reading your answer I also came across this that pointed me to the SB700:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-10058-11116

Now I just have to convince OH I need one . If you still have your old one Huga, do you want to sell it?

[redangel]

Yep, the dreaded table shots! I remember a family restaurant chain I used to go to as a child used to have these as a "service". I dont like them because they are totally staged, the people on the ends look "wrong". My only description is that I need to record everyone who is there on the night. Thankfully once they are out the way I can do candid shots! I have speedlights and was hoping that I could get away with my 50mm 1.4, its my favorite lens. I have used her 70-200 indoors once before and I am not confident of the light factor. I used her 18-120mm f4 last week for a play and it doesnt crisp up in poor lighting. It does ok, but im not so confident. Right now Im like, why do I say yes to these things! Im sure there are going to be other photographs taken but she wants to ensure everyone makes the scrapbook and she is free to enjoy the night.

[redangel]

Thanks everyone for your replies, it gives me an idea about whether my concerns were valid or not, seems like I was on the right track. Thankfully there is no pressure on me (other than what I put on myself). I admire professionals that do weddings and such, its a job they love (stress they can handle)I love their work & proudly say Id never want to do it. I got into photography for enjoyment, not employment. :laugh:

[huga]

Thanks Huga :) . Before reading your answer I also came across this that pointed me to the SB700:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-10058-11116

Now I just have to convince OH I need one . If you still have your old one Huga, do you want to sell it?

I must have been using the 600, as mine didn't have those controls Anyway, it was Serena's and she kindly loaned it to me indefinitely, so I don't have one to sell.

RA - do you shoot in RAW?

[redangel]

Almost near always :) (occasionally with +jpeg as well for reference) like to play safe with differing light values (incandescent/fluro)and also try to keep my iso levels lower...I try not to go beyond 1000 if I can help it....when I get the new camera Im hoping my iso range will widen.

[huga]

Good. I was going to suggest you shoot in RAW - more room for adjustment. You might also want to look at the native ISO for your camera. I always use 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 and barely ever anything in between, as I usually find it noisier. There is nothing wrong with pushing the ISO if you are correctly exposed (or slightly over).

[redangel]

Thanks Huga My upgrade is coming in July-Aug(financially)so until then Im stuck with a camera that struggles in lower lighting settings. Thanks for the info re: native iso. I will look at sample shots. Its seems such a big jump from 800 to 1600 which is why I was hanging on the 1000 mark!

[huga]

Thanks Huga My upgrade is coming in July-Aug(financially)so until then Im stuck with a camera that struggles in lower lighting settings. Thanks for the info re: native iso. I will look at sample shots. Its seems such a big jump from 800 to 1600 which is why I was hanging on the 1000 mark!

You might find it doesn't make much of a difference, but it definitely does for me. I knew nothing about native ISO until I mentioned to a photographer friend that I prefer 1600 over 1000 and isn't that weird? She told me to google native ISO and sure enough, I was already leaning towards them. Have a go tonight, see if (in a correctly exposed, not under exposed) image, you can see a difference.

[Staffyluv]

Awesome thread... I was actually going to post something similar as my son is getting married in September this year and i am going to take the 7D along to take pictures...

I think it is so wonderful that the DOLes who do this professionally are happy to share so many hints and tips with us...

Thanks.

[redangel]

Well the night went well. I wasn't overall about happy about grain in some of the shots. My first impression was "Oh great"-hall was filled with florescent light with banana yellow diffusers!!!! So everyone to the eye looked jaundiced before I took to them with a camera!!! Took some test shots before people came in to best allow for this. Then the area where the speech was made from had a big white screen/slideshow behind it. Next challenge! Then the lights went off and the disco lights went on! Strobes, lasers and a really annoying light strobe that put orange/green dots all over the room. LOL!!! Overall not too bad but I am not so confident as not to get stressed with the differing conditions....I need to learn to control the situation :)