You gave me lots to think about. Thank you for the information. I have heard a lot about focus stacking but have not tried it as yet and really dont know how to apply that technique. You suggested to shoot from a greater distance. What lens do you suggest I use.? I would guess not a wide angle. I am thinking of my 24-105L lens with the 6DII body. I read if you use flash to use it overhead off camera and set the camera white balance for flash or tungsten. I was planning to take a tripod but that may not work if there are large crowds.

The idea of backing away to a greater distance really depends on which lens you are using. Standing close with a wide angle or backing away with a longer lens will result in essentially the same depth of field if the framing ends up being the same. The idea is not to try to fill the frame with your desired final image, but instead to leave a substantial amount of space around it, then crop to your desired composition. You will give away some resolution, but gain depth of field. So, just as a suggestion, if 105mm gives you the desired composition, stand on that spot, but zoom to 35mm. Then crop your photograph to the desired composition. You will gain a significant amount of depth of field. You would want to use your highest resolution camera for this, so that you will have the greatest amount of information left after cropping.

If you can make bounce flash work, you should be able to eliminate a lot of light fall off with distance. The problem I've always had in the exhibition halls where railroad meets are usually held is that the ceilings are so high (and usually painted black) that no light (certainly not a usable amount) comes back down onto your subject.

You may just have to try some things. I'd recommend your full frame camera and a good general purpose lens, like a 24 - 105mm.

Good luck. And rely on your club mates. Be willing to analyze and conquer the situations that you find. Have fun. And enjoy the models.

I am attending a model train show tomorrow as part of my photography club outing. The show will be indoors but I understand the lighting is not bright so either you need to crank up the ISO or use a tripod (was planning on using the manfrotto beefree if necessary). I checked some tutorials on taking photos of model train layouts and it is strongly recommended to use a tripod. Some opinions recommend using manual settings (shutter speed and aperture) and to use a high aperture setting (f32, f22). Others say AF is okay. I have three cameras and wondering the best camera and lens combination; either of the following: Canon 7DII with a 15-85 mm lens or 24-105 f4 L lens; Canon 6DII with a 24-105 f4 L lens or Lumix FZ1000 24-400 mm lens. I thought going with my 6DII full frame camera would be the best choice but I read not necessarily so for layout photography. My FZ1000 is the lightest and that of using that but the highest aperture setting is one f8. Is that aperture small enough to get the depth of field required? One tutorial suggested to use an off camera flash but others said no on camera flash did not mention about external flash. It was suggested to use a low ISO (100), f22-32 (for full frame especially), but nothing said about what metering to use (evaluative, spot, partial, center weight average). Is my Manfrotto beefee tripod okay for the 6DII and 7DII? I have two other tripods but they are heavier and since I am taking transit to go to the show I want to take the lightest tripod I can. I am not even sure if tripods are allowed at the show. If not then I would probably go with the 6DII as I believe it has the best low light capability. Would appreciate comments and suggestions from the UHH forum.

I am attending a model train show tomorrow as part of my photography club outing. The show will be indoors but I understand the lighting is not bright so either you need to crank up the ISO or use a tripod (was planning on using the manfrotto beefree if necessary). I checked some tutorials on taking photos of model train layouts and it is strongly recommended to use a tripod. Some opinions recommend using manual settings (shutter speed and aperture) and to use a high aperture setting (f32, f22). Others say AF is okay. I have three cameras and wondering the best camera and lens combination; either of the following: Canon 7DII with a 15-85 mm lens or 24-105 f4 L lens; Canon 6DII with a 24-105 f4 L lens or Lumix FZ1000 24-400 mm lens. I thought going with my 6DII full frame camera would be the best choice but I read not necessarily so for layout photography. My FZ1000 is the lightest and that of using that but the highest aperture setting is one f8. Is that aperture small enough to get the depth of field required? One tutorial suggested to use an off camera flash but others said no on camera flash did not mention about external flash. It was suggested to use a low ISO (100), f22-32 (for full frame especially), but nothing said about what metering to use (evaluative, spot, partial, center weight average). Is my Manfrotto beefee tripod okay for the 6DII and 7DII? I have two other tripods but they are heavier and since I am taking transit to go to the show I want to take the lightest tripod I can. I am not even sure if tripods are allowed at the show. If not then I would probably go with the 6DII as I believe it has the best low light capability. Would appreciate comments and suggestions from the UHH forum.

As one who has been going to model train shows for 53 years, and currently goes to 6 model train shows a year, visits North America's largest model railroad museum once a week, and visits North America's largest outdoor garden railroad once a month, I think your answers are going to depend on a lot of things.

First, what kind of "model train" show is it? There are three: one where the model trains also include model train layouts and operating model trains; one where the show is about 90% static displays and model trains for sale, most still in the manufacturer's boxes; and one that is a combination of those two. The last one tends to be the largest. For the train shows that I go to here in California, Arizona, and Nevada, tripods are not allowed during the actual show hours because there just are too many people milling around, children included, and those tripod legs create a trip hazard for those looking at operating trains and not expecting such a trip hazard. Many probably don't even know what a tripod is so they are not looking for tripod legs. Children, especially, all excited about trains zooming around the tracks are not on the lookout for trip hazards.

Many shows provide a "photographers' hour" before or after the show hours where tripods are allowed and every effort is made by show organizers to help you get your best shots.

I have taken my best pictures using flash. I never use a tripod; I'm one of those anti-tripod folks in all my photography adventures, but I do take advantage of photographers' hours.

I would include a couple of model train pictures, but I'm a thousand miles from home, out chasing Union Pacific Railroad's historic operating steam locomotive, Big Boy #4014. Currently in Palestine, Texas.

Tnste - It is unlikely that UHH members are just going to hand you the perfect photo. Some of the best model railroad photos I ever saw in the U.S. were published by amateur hobbyists in Model Railroader Magazine. And some were spectacularly amazing. I was a member of the NMRA and hosted the model railroad club at my high school. If this may be an on-going interest for you, I strongly encourage you to set up a dialogue with subscribers to the UHH Trains section. You might enjoy the comradery and learn things along the way.