Low Light/Dark Hall - Settings Help

Keith W

Keith W

Messages
7,408
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi All,

My daughter is ia a dancing competition tonight and I would like to take a few pictures if I can.

My wife says the competition will be taking place in a hall which is dark/has low light.

I only have this lens at the moment, AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

What will be the best settings to place my camera in to have the best possibility of some good shots?

Thanks in advance.

Take care,

Keith
 
You'll need to use the widest aperture you can (lowest f number...) and set the ISO to give you a reasonable shutter speed.
 
Remember the VR won't help you while she is dancing if your shutter speeed is not high enough to stop motion blur.
 
So what sort of ISO are we looking at?

Should I also shoot RAW? ( I here it will give me more editing options should I cock things up, which knowing me is highly likely lol)
 
Seriously? Honest answer?

With that lens I'd leave the camera at home and concentrate on enjoying your daughter's dancing.

If it's that dark then you'll spend all the time faffing about with settings, getting shoite quality pics and miss all the action.

Alternatively take it along and get a decent portrait of her afterwards whilst still in her kit!
 
DemiLion said:
Seriously? Honest answer?

With that lens I'd leave the camera at home and concentrate on enjoying your daughter's dancing.

If it's that dark then you'll spend all the time faffing about with settings, getting shoite quality pics and miss all the action.

Alternatively take it along and get a decent portrait of her afterwards whilst still in her kit!
Click to expand...

How on Earth did I manage all those years with slow lenses and film when taking pictures in concert halls and gigs, I wonder...

Of course it'll be possible to take some pictures. They may be a little noisy and they may have motion blur but they'll still be a record of the evening and it's up to the OP to decide to take pictures or not :D
 
woof woof said:
... and it's up to the OP to decide to take pictures or not :D
Click to expand...


...and it's also the responsibility of someone to tell him the truth and suggest that the pictures are not likely to come out well, rather than randomly making up exposure settings and trusting for the best.

Your own advice was on the nail, but the negative side of using a kit lens for this sort of shoot has to be mentioned as well.
 
f5.6 at the long end and aiming for 1/50-1/60 sec minimum could get some decent enough shots depending upon the speed of movement and the light level, it could be possible at ISO 1600, 800 or perhaps even lower.

I used to be able to shoot at 1/50-1/100+ in not especially well lit venues, and that was enough to freeze acts on stage and dancing, for smallish prints anyway, although YMMV, and a little motion blur might add to the feeling of action.
 
I appreciate everyone's advice

I tend to enjoy the show so will not be spending all night taking pictures, just the odd one or two here and there, but for the most part I will be watching the event.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice, I need to learn so I really do appreciate it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top