Lens suggestions and tips/tricks for night time, outdoor events!
Oct 22, 2013 12:37:27 #
I have a Canon 60D and an 18-135mm lens. I also bought a flash for it but it was a cheaper one from EBay. I did an event last night that was outside but late evening so it was basically dark. I could not get it to focus on anything and my flash wasn't helping at all. I ended up taking the external flash off and just using the built in flash. It helped a little but I missed some shots and feel horrible. Please point me in the right direction of a better lens for low light and maybe some tips for shooting at night. Keep in mind, in this event people are constantly moving, running, etc. Thanks!
Oct 22, 2013 12:55:40 #
brianae515 wrote:
I have a Canon 60D and an 18-135mm lens. I also bo... (show quote)
Do you mean you are using the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom ?
That's a pretty slow lens (the opening doesn't get very big to let in a lot of light) for a shot in dark conditions.
The second issue is that probably NO lens will focus well in those conditions...when it's that dark, the camera can't find areas of contrast and things and will hunt for focus.
Your best bet is to manually focus when it's that dark OR use flash.
How far away are the people you are photographing....?
Seeing one of your attempts would go a long way to giving accurate advice...can you post one and use the "store original" button?
Oct 22, 2013 12:57:49 #
silver
Loc: Santa Monica Ca.
brianae515 wrote:
I have a Canon 60D and an 18-135mm lens. I also bo... (show quote)
Any lens can be a good lens for what you want to do. The best thing for you to get is experience. Equipment does not make a good photographer. When its dark cameras will have a difficult time with auto focusing or even manual focusing. People assume wrong that shooting in darkness is easily done with todays cameras but thats not so. Even with a flash there has to be a technique used.
Oct 22, 2013 13:00:22 #
Essentially you want a lens with the largest f/stop, like 2.8 or better, in the zoom range you are after.
Oct 22, 2013 13:11:34 #
Hi, Your 60D is a reasonably good camera for shooting low light, but your choice of lens hampers the performance. You could shoot the event at a higher ISO. But, that will introduce grain into the mix, and not give you the results you want. Depending on how "dark" it had become for your event, you may want to look at a faster lens. This would put you into the f2.8 area or faster. Maybe a 50mm 1.8, may be your ticket. In using a flash you have consider the distance from the subject. The flash will dissipate over a short distance. In any event you may have to shoot in manual to setup your shot in the darkness. Oh, could you use lighting vs flash, if so you may have enough contrast to allow your camera to focus. Remember to set your white balance to filter for type of light you use.
Oct 22, 2013 13:21:56 #
Thanks for all the help! I know I need a faster lens and yes, rpavich, that is the one. And yes, my camera had a hard time focusing. I finally got some shots but the ISO was was high. I'm definitely looking into a new lens soon. And the people were up close, then far away. There were buses far away and then people far away and then up close again. I was trying to change the settings to accommodate the changes but I could hardly see my camera so I had to just try to remember the location on the wheel of each setting among a stampede of people running to family they hadn't seen in 6 months....it was a military homecoming. I'll just practice more at night, hopefully get a new lens, and try again. Thanks you all!
Oct 22, 2013 13:24:05 #
I just feel so defeated about this whole experience! I hate to not be at my best for others, especially when they are relying on me.
Oct 22, 2013 13:42:06 #
What could help you out, If that cheap o flash as you kind of put it, can be use as a slave, then detach it and use both the on board flash and the other flash as a slave. I have done this on a few occasions. Just make sure the sensor on the remote is facing the camera and not the flash. I don't know what your set up. But hope it will work for you till you get a more betterest lens for you purpose.
On Edit, you might try carrying a little pen light flash light, aim it what your trying to focus. This might help you focus on your object. Most cameras have an un-board light that do this function.
On Edit, you might try carrying a little pen light flash light, aim it what your trying to focus. This might help you focus on your object. Most cameras have an un-board light that do this function.
Oct 22, 2013 13:49:54 #
FredB
Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.
Not to throw a damper on things, but it may just be that the conditions you describe are simply not conducive to standard picture taking processes. No consumer-grade lens in the world will be able to focus accurately on someone far away in the dark. Yeah, a big ol' f/1.0 or f/2.8 lens might do the trick, but if it's really dark, you'll need a camera that can focus accurately, and allow you to use ISOs in the 8000+ range, and that ain't the 60D.
Night pictures are simple enough WHEN THE SUBJECT DOESN'T MOVE. Then, you can use long exposures and nice wide apertures. But with people running around willy-nilly, far away, in less-than-optimal light, it just ain't gonna happen.
A flash will not be useful for anything over about 20 feet away, unless it's the size of a circus tent.
There's a reason you don't see very many pictures taken AT NIGHT, IN LOW LIGHT, WITH MOVING SUBJECTS....
Night pictures are simple enough WHEN THE SUBJECT DOESN'T MOVE. Then, you can use long exposures and nice wide apertures. But with people running around willy-nilly, far away, in less-than-optimal light, it just ain't gonna happen.
A flash will not be useful for anything over about 20 feet away, unless it's the size of a circus tent.
There's a reason you don't see very many pictures taken AT NIGHT, IN LOW LIGHT, WITH MOVING SUBJECTS....
Oct 22, 2013 13:59:50 #
brianae515 wrote:
I just feel so defeated about this whole experience! I hate to not be at my best for others, especially when they are relying on me.
Brianae;
A Canon flash could have helped with attaining focus.
They provide a focus-assist light.
You said that you bought a non-Canon flash because of the cost, but now you can see what you didn't get.
The biggest thing is to PRACTICE. Now that you've seen what it's like, you can try replicating the scenario, try different things, and instantly see the results. It's not like you're paying for each shot you take, like with film. Shoot and shoot and shoot.
It's a good idea not to go into an important/paid shoot without some idea of how it's going to go. Plan what you're going after and how to accomplish it.
Every photographer has been in your shoes at one time or another. All you can do is learn from the experience and try to figure out how to make it better next time.
Oct 22, 2013 14:07:16 #
Thanks again, everyone. I actually thought the event would be during the day but it didn't end up that way unfortunately. There were some other photographers there but I'm not sure of their set ups. I'll just keep practicing and replicate the scenario. I tried it out in low light before but I had no idea it would be as dark as it was. There were some lights far off but nothing near the actual people, which would have been helpful lol. I have seen other homecoming shots that were great but most were during the day and the ones at night I'm assuming there were lights to help out but I honestly don't know. Obviously I have a lot to learn about homecoming shots. Thank you to those with words of encouragement :)
Oct 22, 2013 14:09:49 #
FredB wrote:
Not to throw a damper on things, but it may just b... (show quote)
Thanks for understanding the circumstances! It definitely wasn't the best conditions FredB lol
Here's a shot from the event. It's "grainy" but she loved the picture lol
Oct 22, 2013 14:28:09 #
brianae515 wrote:
Thanks for understanding the circumstances! It definitely wasn't the best conditions FredB lol
Well...considering what you had to work with (total darkness it looks like) you did a pretty good job.
The only way to survive in this circumstance is to stop down to f/8 so that your depth of field is as wide as it will go, and then use the short end of your zoom, and focus using the focus assist beam in your camera and use flash just like you did.
Oct 22, 2013 14:43:28 #
rpavich wrote:
Well...considering what you had to work with (total darkness it looks like) you did a pretty good job.
The only way to survive in this circumstance is to stop down to f/8 so that your depth of field is as wide as it will go, and then use the short end of your zoom, and focus using the focus assist beam in your camera and use flash just like you did.
The only way to survive in this circumstance is to stop down to f/8 so that your depth of field is as wide as it will go, and then use the short end of your zoom, and focus using the focus assist beam in your camera and use flash just like you did.
Thanks for the tips, rpavich! I like your profile picture, by the way haha
Oct 23, 2013 06:49:03 #
brianae515 wrote:
Thanks for understanding the circumstances! It definitely wasn't the best conditions FredB lol
We need to stop being afraid of grain. It was not such a big deal in film days, often thought to add an artistic element to the picture.
Nice shot.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.