BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

I've been asked to take some pictures of my granddaughter's graduation ceremony tonight. Being home schooled, it will be held in a church. I have a Canon T2i and a Canon 420EX shoe mounted flash. I have never used the flash before. I also will bring a Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens and a Canon 70-200 f4 IS USM lens(in case I can't get close enough with the Tamron). None of us have ever been inside this church, and won't be until "show time". So I have no clue about the interior lighting. If you think I could probably get by without using the flash, and instead setting the lenses to maybe f4 and ISO around 400 or 800, that would be wonderful. But, if you feel the flash is a necessity, can you give me some fail-safe settings to use--something that might get me reasonably decent results knowing nothing more that I know now? I am sure that the ceiling will be too high to use any bounce flash, however.
I'll need to enter the church ready to shoot...with little to NO time for experimentation.
Can you help....advise me as to the settings that might work under this condition? Thank you.

BebuLamar

Bring both lenses and the flash because you don't know the situation. My guess the lighting where they pass out the diploma is lighted and I guess it would be around f/4 @ 1/60 and ISO800 no flash. If you have to use the 70-200 it would be difficult to hand held the camera. If you have to be far away hand use the long lens the flash isn't of much help either. If you can get close to about 10ft or better you can use the flash with the short lens. In such case ISO200 @ f/5.6 would be sufficient. Good luck.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Generally flash is not allowed inside a church, but your church may vary. But I would not count on it.

To teach flash in a short post is impossible, there are 7 variables to consider when using a flash. As apposed to three when no flash is present. If you can turn it on, set it to TTL. If the exposure is too bright, dial down compensation, if it's too dark, dial it up. Beyond that, you will need to study some tutorials.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Bob, I've never seen a church that had great lighting. I would definately use the flash.
As for being allowed, it's a public event, not a church service(if it's a peroquial school could be different).
You say it's an EX but don't say if it's an EXll? Big difference!! The ll is TTL, I dont think the EX is. But if you are shooting from a specific seat, manual flash would be easy. But you need to not have obstructions in front of you, like a big hair woman moving her head around!!
How many people? Will you be close enough for flash ?
I think there are too many unknowns for good advice. Good luck. ;-)
SS

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Given the small amount of time:

Try using shutter priority, maybe 1/200 or 1/125, put the flash on ETTL, try it at home before you go...

Check that they allow flash

If they do try some test shots to know hoe close / far away you can be.

Good luck!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Whether or not it's allowed is irrelevant. This is a graduation. Everyone will have their camera (or phone) out. 99% of them will be on auto, which means there will be a constant barrage of flashes. Your flash will be lost in the shuffle as far as people noticing. The general prohibition of flashes in churches is for worship services and weddings. I suspect most churches will put up with flash for secular occasions.

Have your flash ready. Spare batteries.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

Put your camera on P, put your flash on ETTL. Get as close as possible. Have fresh batteries in the flash and a set ready for replacement about 300 shots later. Shoot a lot. Good luck.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Based on graduations I have done, as well as other events in poorly lit circumstances, your best bet is to avoid using flash. You really can't get close enough for it to make a difference, and anything or anyone that is between you and the subject will be brightly lit if they are in the frame. At long distances you could get some red-eye if she is looking straight at the camera. If you use a higher shutter speed to minimize ambient light your images will have a "subject in a tunnel" look to them, and if you use a lower shutter speed you will get an image that is frozen by the flash then blurred if either you or the subject moves. You will use focal lengths anywhere from 40mm to as much as 200mm or longer.

On the other hand, based on this review:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/T2I/T2IA.HTM

I would not hesitate to use ISO 1600 or even 3200, which should give you decently high shutter speeds - 1/100 or higher. I would suggest the 17-50 and the 70-200 or possibly even renting a 70-200 F2.8 for the occasion. But my guess is that you will be fine with the F4. Bring a flash, but make sure you are totally comfortable with it's operation - if you are not, then just jack the ISO higher and shoot without it.

AlMac Loc: Newcastle Upon Tyne - UK

When I done my sons graduation at Newcastle Civic Centre, I was so far back and the ceiling was so high, that the flash was insignificant anyway. Used 1/60 sec at f2.8 and upped the ISO until I had a decent exposure. You can check the histogram during the speeches prior to the presentation. Shoot in Raw and use your flash for before and after the ceremony.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I just did this very thing Saturday afternoon, in a church not lit very well. I really didn't need the flash because there was enough light to shoot at 1600, but I used one anyway, set on low flash. I took a few shots before the graduation (while waiting) and compared the look. I thought the flash shots looked better, so I went with it. In a church you have a more intimate setting not that far away from the action, so the flash doesn't fall off as it would in a gymnasium. Go for the flash.

BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

OK. Mission Complete. And rather successful.

Used both flash and no flash. Flash with my 17-50 2.8 lens (set at f4), ISO800, and set to "P". The flash figured out almost everything for me.
Then also used my 70-200 f4 IS lens set at f4 with NO flash, and set from 70mm- to-100mm, ISO1600. The tele lens shots weren't as good, but still quite usable anyway. Had only one shot when I snapped along with others using flash. Not bad, considering the situation, though.

So, my first flash experience seems to have gone better than expected. Basically set it for about as "auto" as I could, and it did the job.

I thank you for your comments. Unfortunately, most of them came in after we had left for the ceremony. But we did manage to arrive early enough to take several test shots to get things figured out.....something I hadn't thought would be the case originally.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Why-aye, Geordie! We don't see many on here... I live in the US now, but born and raised in North Shields, attended Newcastle Poly (when it *was* the Poly!). My graduation was held in the City Hall. Your cat looks just like mine too!

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

If you have a TTL flash, use the following setup:
Manual mode, ISO at 200, shutter speed at 200, F stop at 4.0. 95% of your shots will be spot on within the range of the flash. To reach farther you can bump the ISO up and experiment.

BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

Good to know, and easy to remember. For next time. (Actually do have another HS graduation in about 2 weeks.)
But this one might be outside. Thanks

ddonlewis

People are making this way to complicated for you. On the T2i you have a control dial on the top left of the camera. The square rectangle on the dial is the "full" auto setting. I have a Canon and used this setting for a wedding last weekend and the photos came out perfect. So you'd first turn on the camera and then the flash and the camera will do the rest. A church will definately be to dark for "good" photos. I've been to many graduations and functions in a church and they all allow flash for these celebratory events.