Help with settings
- Thread starter kev45
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- Zulfi
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Normally I use a light meter for group shots and use Manual.
Without a LM I would probably use AV(AP) and choose an aperture of at least 5.6.
Shutter speed will be determined by your camera and will be good if in good light. If in dim light up the ISO and a tripod may be needed.
I'm sure others will have some better suggestions.
Edit: You will want the camera to set a shutter speed of at least 1/160 if handheld, (some more experienced togs may be able to hold the camera with less TV (time value/shutter speed)), but if you are fairly new, then IMHO 1/160 should be the limit.
Without a LM I would probably use AV(AP) and choose an aperture of at least 5.6.
Shutter speed will be determined by your camera and will be good if in good light. If in dim light up the ISO and a tripod may be needed.
I'm sure others will have some better suggestions.
Edit: You will want the camera to set a shutter speed of at least 1/160 if handheld, (some more experienced togs may be able to hold the camera with less TV (time value/shutter speed)), but if you are fairly new, then IMHO 1/160 should be the limit.
I'm a Canon guy so no specifics but, so many variables 
Indoors or outdoors? With a biggish group you're going to want a good depth of focus so I'd go 5.6 and up depending on what you can get with shutter speed and ISO, I would imagine if they're fairly static you could get away with 1/60 but if moving (slowly) then 1/125 might be better. I have no idea as to the ISO capabilities of your camera but I would say it would be better to up the ISO to get a good shutter and aperture than to have blurred or underexposed shots. Plenty of test shots at the same venue beforehand is always a good idea, if it is indoors then without extra lighting you are going to have to go very high ISO.
Good luck and remember that the event is what is important not the picture, shots are good but fretting and spoiling your enjoyment is a bad thing :nono:
Indoors or outdoors? With a biggish group you're going to want a good depth of focus so I'd go 5.6 and up depending on what you can get with shutter speed and ISO, I would imagine if they're fairly static you could get away with 1/60 but if moving (slowly) then 1/125 might be better. I have no idea as to the ISO capabilities of your camera but I would say it would be better to up the ISO to get a good shutter and aperture than to have blurred or underexposed shots. Plenty of test shots at the same venue beforehand is always a good idea, if it is indoors then without extra lighting you are going to have to go very high ISO.
Good luck and remember that the event is what is important not the picture, shots are good but fretting and spoiling your enjoyment is a bad thing :nono:
martint
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- Martin
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Hi Kev,
It may help a little more if we knew if this was indoors / outdoors.
I have not used the lens that you have, however I would check how much the barrel distortion affects the edges of the frame, no point filling the frame with people to find that the ones on the outer edges are, well looking distorted.
After that I would:
Set exposure mode to P (page 63 of the manual)
Set the meter to the 3D colour matrix mode (page 61 of the manual)
Set the AF to single-area AF (page 54)
Set WB to what is needed, outside etc. (page 35)
If you can keep the ISO as low as possible while shooting this will reduce the noise, however I always feel a noisy photo is better than a blurred photo so if needed, keep the ISO high to get a good shutter speed.
From here on in its all about checking the histogram on the back of the camera to make sure you have not blown any highlights and the overall exposure is looking good!