Welcome. I'm also in so cal. plenty of photography meetups in the area if you want company and fellowship on your shoots

That's happened to me. I just hit Control Z which undoes the last action taken. Easier than trying to figure out why it happened

I have this camera. It was a mistake. I thought it would provide a lighter camera for quick trips where I have to travel light. I have rarely used it because the end result quality of image is far below my Nikon dslr. When the lens barrel is fully or even substantially extended it tips the center of gravity so far away from the body of the camera that camera shake even with a tripod is a real possibility. It's for sale if anyone's interested.

[quote=BebuLamar]Since this is a place you can get there often why don't you measure the light in that place and let us know so that it's better to recommend what you should do.[/quote
That's going to be tough to do. At the time of the evening I would be shooting they are sitting in silent meditation every night but I might be able to get to a similarly lit place in the building. Good idea

Good basic advice but I've been shooting for about 6 years and I do understand my camera. Also I think I went to great lengths to say that I'm not a knee jerk consumer of gear. I just need some assistance in a very challenging setting.

much appreciated

I definitely intend to do that. I'm going to be testing out all my lenses at night this weekend. I've done 1/60 so far with no problems. Maybe I could go 1/30. Good idea on the monopod.

So funny. No. There is decent overhead spot lighting. But at night with no flash it still leaves me bumping up my iso beyond my comfort zone. I was not considering getting the 35 mm 1.4. I was considering getting the 50 mm 1.4. Very affordable. So my idea about a 50 mm lens does not seeto be too popular so far.

That was my concern about the Tokina.

Thanks. I'll mull over this advice. I actually adore the Tamron. I researched it for weeks. I just don't think it's right for this situation and I think I need to use it more to get more comfortable with its capabilities. I'm more likely to dump my zoom. You reinforced my good feeling about my 35 mm. It always delivers

Interesting and I think I agree with you. I am shooting in a very confined space and I have to counter a tendency to crop so tight that it becomes claustrophobic. But I see that I left superfluous detail in in the left side that, if removed, would have drawn the eye in nicely. Appreciate your critique.

This will be a lengthy post but seems like you guys like to solve problems and I've enjoyed reading the feedback on other posts. Keeps me learning.

So. I belong to a Zen Center and have become the unofficial photographer of all ceremonies and events. The Zendo (place where i shoot) is not large. It will fit about 30-40 people and I cannot use flash or artificial lighting or move around too much and disturb people.
I've done ok so far. I have a Nikon d5200 body and a d3100. The d3100 is limited as to ISO capability; the d5200 less so. I hate grain but sometimes I have to live with a little.
I have been asked to shoot two nighttime events week after next. This will be challenging.

I plan to use a tripod to establish "master" shots of what's going on and use my other body to quietly zip around and take shots from different vantage points.
I have four lenses:
Nikkor 35 mm prime 1.8
Tamron 90 mm 2.8
Nikkor 18-200 mm f/4
Tokina 11-16 mm 2.8 f

My workhorse is the 35 mm and i find myself going to it again and again. I pretty much hate the zoom. The Tamron is fantastic but you have to back off a long ways to get your shot and if I open it up wide it has to be on a tripod or my photos are soft because of camera shake. I'm still getting comfortable with it. Don't really want to put it on my tripod as the main lens. Thinking that although it may sound crazy to use a super wide in an indoor space the low light capability of the Tokina might serve me well and I could always crop what I need from the middle of any shots.

Any input as to what two of my lenses I should choose? I won't really have the time to change lenses so I have to decide first.

Here's something else to put in the mix. I have been thinking about getting a 50 mm prime. Thinking that might bridge the gap between my 35 mm and anything else and would give me better bokeh. I like to take headshots during ceremonies but there are always other people in the background and it's hard to isolate one individual (see shot attached which would have been better with more intense bokeh).

I don't have GAP and I am not a consumer of gear to gather dust in my camera bag. Also my budget is limited. Would the addition of a Nikkor 50 mm be advantageous to me? If so would you go with 1.8 (my concern is that it may not be substantially different from the 35 mm) or 1.4 (I've read that it can be more capricious and kind of soft in focus at times. I don't want any more problems than I already have).

I know there are photographers who buy multiple lenses with very minor specs between them. I'm not that person both for budget reasons and for self-discipline. GAS is not one of my addictions.

If I'm totally off base is there another lens that won't break the bank that would be helpful given the camera bodies I have and the low light, crowded room, limited mobility issues. I'll be shooting in this space going forward and am right now focused on an immediate solution to a shoot in two weeks but also interested in a long term solution even if I have to save for a more expensive lens.

Thank you all for reading.

The only bird she's interested in is streamed chicken. She's a corgi mix

All the monks are adults. I've been to Chinese monasteries and they do have minors. It's very different in the West. There is Monk School . It's called ordinary life. 😊
American monks usually have careers like software programmers or doctors or plumbers. Monk hood is not a career path. The money stinks

I used to be an art dealer and actually sold a couple of Rembrandt etchings. They were b/w but I sure do know what you refer to as Rembrandt lighting. I never thought about it in terms of photography but I think that is often what I am aiming for. It is an intimate lighting. I am starting to develop a style where I look for the intimate moment and crop in tight to try to capture them. Thanks for your comments. They are very encouraging.