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Thread: LowLightPhotos

  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    LowLightPhotos

    I purchased a Canon PS S1-IS and, in general, very happy with it. The 10X zoom and IS is great when taking outdoor photos.

    I am having a problem with indoor shots, however. I need to take photos of dogs in dog show rings where you cannot use a flash because it upsets the dogs. The lighting is usually fairly poor with indoor overhead fluorescent lights that are hung high up. As a result, the shots that the camera calls for are something like 1/6 to 1/10 of a second on the widest lens setting.

    I bought a tripod stick to steady the camera, which helps, but the subjects are always moving, and without a speed of at least 1/60, there is always something a blur in the photos.

    I would be happy to purchase yet another camera, including a digital SLR if it would give me at least 6-8X zoom to get the dogs across the ring and still allow me a reasonably fast shutter speed to stop the blurring.

    Am I asking for the impossible? If not, what combination of camera/lens is likely to work? Thanks.

    Jim

  2. #2
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Tough One

    Jim-
    Sorry no one has replied to your post yet. I think you absolutely need a digital SLR. The type of photography you're trying to do is very demanding. The Canon IS is wonderful, but you've got movement in multiple directions and it's not going to help with that. You need an SLR that alllows you to shoot at high ISO settings so you can get a faster shutter speed. A digital SLR will allow you to shoot at ISO 800 or higher, plus the larger pixel size means less noise at higher ISOs. That means you can shoot at higher ISOs without compromising image quality. Plus, you can also get Canon IS lenses for a digital SLR. Nikon makes VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses for their SLR systems and the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D has AS (anti shake) built into the camera body. The combination of higher ISO and image stabilization should do the job for you.

    A faster lens is also important. The first thing I thought of when I read your post was, "Sounds like concert photography." Most musicians don't allow flash photography during their performances. Concert photographers use 800-1600 ISO film (or the digital equivalent) and fast, pro lenses. I've shot concerts at ISO 1600 with my Canon 70-200 f/2.8L. I think I was usually shooting at about 1/30th second. At that shutter speed you'll get some blurred shots, but you'll get enough usable ones to make up for the throwaways. I'm not exactly sure what kind of light you're dealing with. You'll have to experiment to find out what works. But a minimum f/2.8 lens is prudent. The camera and lens will be a huge investment. But if you get paid to do this. Then it's a worthwhile investment.
    Photo-John

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  3. #3
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Low Light Lens Post

    Jim-
    There's a discussion about lenses for low light shooting on the Digital SLR forum. You might want to take a look at that thread and maybe ask some questions. Here's a link: Low Light Primes
    Photo-John

    Your reviews are the foundation of this site - Write A Review!

  4. #4
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    Re: Tough One

    John,

    Many thanks for your post. I kinda thought that I needed an SLR to do what I wanted to do. I have a Canon A-1 gathering dust in the closet that I used to get great photos with, complete with a zoom lens that goes to 200X with a 2x multiplier to boot. Maybe I'll go back to film for now with ASA 800 and asking the lab to push the settings.

    I was tempted by the Rebel because of the price, but it looks like the Canon 20D would be a better choice if I can get the money together. I have some great Canon lenses for the A1, but they are not autofocus, of course. Focusing has always been an issue with me because my eyes are not that good to begin with.

    I'm also thinking that I might be able to use these older lens with the digital body if I am shooting with a subject that doesn't move. Here's my inventory with the A1: Canon 35mm 3.5 manual focus, Canon 50mm 1.8 (a great lens...does sharp pictures) manual focus, Canon Zoom 70-210 4.0 manual focus..the one I use for outdoor things, and Canon 35-70mm Zoom 4.0 manual focus, the one I leave on the camera to shoot quick shots. And I have the 2x multiplier, which cuts down the light considerably.

    I love the digital part of photography now because I like to experiment with shots and settings. In the old days, there was a time lag between the time you took the photo and the time you got your feedback (the picture). With instant feedback, the learning happens at a much faster pace.

    After reading over and over again comments, reviews, how would a Canon 20D with the Canon 28-135 3.5-5.6 IS Auto Focus Lens and Canon 75-300 4.0-5.6 IS Auto Focus Lens
    sound? Would that do what I wanted it to do? I will come up with the money somehow if it will do the job. I am really enjoying being digital!!!!

    Thanks again for your help. Would be extremely interested in your comments/thoughts about the above proposed package.

    Have a good holiday.

    JIm

    Sorry no one has replied to your post yet. I think you absolutely need a digital SLR. The type of photography you're trying to do is very demanding. The Canon IS is wonderful, but you've got movement in multiple directions and it's not going to help with that. You need an SLR that alllows you to shoot at high ISO settings so you can get a faster shutter speed. A digital SLR will allow you to shoot at ISO 800 or higher, plus the larger pixel size means less noise at higher ISOs. That means you can shoot at higher ISOs without compromising image quality. Plus, you can also get Canon IS lenses for a digital SLR. Nikon makes VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses for their SLR systems and the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D has AS (anti shake) built into the camera body. The combination of higher ISO and image stabilization should do the job for you.

    A faster lens is also important. The first thing I thought of when I read your post was, "Sounds like concert photography." Most musicians don't allow flash photography during their performances. Concert photographers use 800-1600 ISO film (or the digital equivalent) and fast, pro lenses. I've shot concerts at ISO 1600 with my Canon 70-200 f/2.8L. I think I was usually shooting at about 1/30th second. At that shutter speed you'll get some blurred shots, but you'll get enough usable ones to make up for the throwaways. I'm not exactly sure what kind of light you're dealing with. You'll have to experiment to find out what works. But a minimum f/2.8 lens is prudent. The camera and lens will be a huge investment. But if you get paid to do this. Then it's a worthwhile investment.[/QUOTE]

  5. #5
    Sitting in a Leaky Dingy Michael Fanelli's Avatar
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    Re: Tough One

    Quote Originally Posted by jimbvet
    I'm also thinking that I might be able to use these older lens with the digital body if I am shooting with a subject that doesn't move. Here's my inventory with the A1: Canon 35mm 3.5 manual focus, Canon 50mm 1.8 (a great lens...does sharp pictures) manual focus, Canon Zoom 70-210 4.0 manual focus..the one I use for outdoor things, and Canon 35-70mm Zoom 4.0 manual focus, the one I leave on the camera to shoot quick shots. And I have the 2x multiplier, which cuts down the light considerably.
    Your older Canon A1 lenses will not fit the current EOS mount used for film and digital. The EOS mount was introduced decades ago. Adapters exist but they are more trouble than they are worth.
    "Every great decision creates ripples--like a huge boulder dropped in a lake. The ripples merge and rebound off the banks in unforseeable ways.

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