No Flash, Low Light GRRR!

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mrphilk

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Phil
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We went to the sealife centre the other day and I just couldnt seem to get things right with my camera (im quite new).

I have a 450D with the standard kit lens (18-55 mm I think off the top of my head).

You're not allowed to use the flash in the centre as it bothers the fish etc so I thought fine ill go without.

I just couldnt get it right. Obviously I needed a faster shutter speed to capture the little buggers but just couldnt seem to find a balance.

Ive coped quite well so far but found myself way over my head here :thinking:

Anyway here are my questions;

In such low light what WB should I use?

Also what ISO should I use, I was worried to go over 400 as I didnt want the pictures to look grainy but now I think about it I should have just given it a whirl.

Would another lens help? im not going to rush out and buy one (im not made of money) but just wondered if my lens might have limited me a little here.

Would I have been better in manual mode?

Here are some shots I did manage to get;

WhitbyBreak175.jpg


WhitbyBreak191.jpg


Thanks!
 
Standard kit lens probably doesn't have a very fast maximum aperture - you could probably pick up a cheap prime f/1.8 that would be much better. You should be ok up to about 800 ISO at least too I would think.
 
Phil,

I picked up a canon 50mm 1.8 for 90 quid on Amazon, and even on the highest ISO on my 400D it wasnt particularly bad. Dont be afraid to ramp the ISO up was the advice given to me.
 
For something like that the best thing would be a fast lens. The Nifty Fifty is the best choice as it's 50mm F1.8 at only £90 or there abouts.

It will allow you to get faster shutter speeds and a shallower depth of field.

Plus dont be affraid to up the ISO on the camera in order to get the shot. Much better to have a shot with lots of noise then a blurry one with no noise
 
I really like the first. Would be interesting to see it cropped into portrait mode withoit the blue on the bottom.
 
The nifty fifty is the next on my list! Keep looking on Ebay but those bad boys really hold their value, they still go for 70+ and at that I figure I might as well buy a new one.

Im kicking myself a little now as I should have just upped the ISO for the hell of it, I guess I could have just deleted them. I think I panicked a little.

Thanks for the coment on the second pic. I thought about cropping it but I liked the background (or bit at the bottom). Might give it a go though. The jellyfish area was really well setup for taking pictures.

Thanks for the hints guys!
 
PsiFox said:
I really like the first. Would be interesting to see it cropped into portrait mode withoit the blue on the bottom.
Click to expand...

Cropped would be better but I quite like the blue at the bottom. Gives it some grounding if you know what I mean (not that a jelly fish actually needs that lol)

I wish I took my camera when we went last weekend but I wanted to enjoy my day out not watching everything through a view finder :lol:

Untitled-1copy.jpg
 
mrphilk said:
The nifty fifty is the next on my list! Keep looking on Ebay but those bad boys really hold their value, they still go for 70+ and at that I figure I might as well buy a new one.

Im kicking myself a little now as I should have just upped the ISO for the hell of it, I guess I could have just deleted them. I think I panicked a little.

Thanks for the coment on the second pic. I thought about cropping it but I liked the background (or bit at the bottom). Might give it a go though. The jellyfish area was really well setup for taking pictures.

Thanks for the hints guys!
Click to expand...

Guy on here sell 50mm f1.8 for 75 quid brand new. ;)
 
I think I saw that in the classified section. I might look into that once my funds are replenished a little. Thanks!
 
Hysteria_UK said:
Cropped would be better but I quite like the blue at the bottom. Gives it some grounding if you know what I mean (not that a jelly fish actually needs that lol)

I wish I took my camera when we went last weekend but I wanted to enjoy my day out not watching everything through a view finder :lol:

Untitled-1copy.jpg
Click to expand...

wow much better. Thanks :-)
 
Given the circumstances, those photographs are superb.

I would reccommend buying the 50mm f/1.8. Very fast, dirt cheap, and past f/2.8 - great IQ. If you wanted better IQ wide open, and a more durable lens, I'd suggest the 50mm f/1.4 also.
 
push the iso as hard as you need to to get it crisp.

and kerso sells canon 50mm f1.8s for £75 delivered. A great portrait lens on crop and v useful for the money
 
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