Shutter Speed Advice

M

Millie

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Suzanne
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Hello

I'm due to take pictures at my friends christening tomorrow inside a church and want to check i'm understanding shutter speeds correctly as I won't be using flash or a tripod.

I'll be using a canon 550D with the standard 18-55mm lens. The camera will be set to AV priority. After doing a few test shots at home the quickest shutter speed I seem to get is 1/25 but that's using ISO 3200 f5.6 and my pictures look grainy.

Using f5.6, ISO 1600 I have managed a shutter speed of 1/13 but I'm worried that as I'm photographing babies any sudden movement would maybe blur at this speed?

So my question is really how can I increase the shutter speed by not going lower than f5.6 (full focus as I want all people in focus for the posed shots) or using higher than 1600 ISO. Or infact do any professionals think that actually 1/13 is acceptable?

Would love to hear your views

Many thanks

Sue
 
Hi Mark

Thanks for your reply.

I can see the sense in that but I have to be honest I'm not sure how I would fix the noise afterwards, is this an easy process to go through? I'm not asking for instructions just wondering if it's quick :o)
 
If you shoot RAW (I would suggest it for sure) then there is a level of noise reduction that you can control in the Canon DPP software. There are better products to do it but usually you have to pay. I think there is a copy of Neat Image that is free and does an OK job too.

When shooting with high ISO don't think about under exposing, make sure you are spot on for exposure otherwise the noise will be far worse.
 
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Hi Mick

I use Aperture, I will give youtube ago, thanks

Mark, yes I'm shooting RAW and will take your comments onboard. To underexpose would I use the -2..1..0..1.+2 and slide it further to the - side? Sorry to be so basic, I don't know what it's called!

Thanks

Sue
 
mark1616 said:
Just realised that I didn't type my previous post correctly. I should have said (and have corrected now) is don't think about under exposing. Make sure that the skin tones are spot on when shooting this will make the results much better when you do edit.
Click to expand...

LOL, good job she never read this tomorrow :thumbs:

Mick
 
It might be too late now, but if you can get a hold of a 50mm f1.8 you will gain 3 stops of exposure therefore a shutter speed of 1/100 at ISO1600.

I know you want to shoot at f5.6 to keep the depth of field and people in focus, but you are going to have to balance that against massive ISO noise and/or subject motion blur and camera shake.

Noise can be suppressed somewhat with software afterwards, whereas shake or blur can't, so noise is the lesser evil generally.

I would start the shoot on the 50mm at f2 1/100 ISO1600 on the day, and then adjust according to lighting.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html this little tool will estimate your depth of field to keep the subjects in acceptable focus.

http://www.slrlounge.com/the-reciprocal-rule this explains how best to estimate what your shutter speed should be based on a given focal length (and sensor size)


Andy
 
I'm afraid the honest answer Suz is that you're snookered.

The light is too low, and will be beyond the reach of pushing the ISO a bit and trying to reduce the noise in post processing. Noise reduction works by trying to conceal the effect and this invloves a considerable loss of sharpness along the way. Shadow detail will be poor, it cannot put back what isn't there in the first place.

To do what you want with a workable shutter speed, in exposure terms you would need a very fast lens (very low f/number, like f/1.4) and since you want more depth of field that's ruled out.

Which leaves flash as the only option.
 
Good points above,

Where abouts are you Suzanne?

Maybe a kind soul on here can help you with the loan of a lens. I have a 50mm F1.4 that I could offer if you are anywhere near Durahm (I'd need you to leave a left arm as deposit)

Mick
 
Hi everyone

Many thanks for your advice.

Mick I'm in Milton Keynes but I do have a 50mm f1.8 lens (but thanks for the offer, I'm too attached to my arm to chance yours LOL!)

It's a prime lens so I just wasn't sure whether it would fit everybody in, I know I move forwards or backwards to make this happen but it seemed easier with the 18-55mm. However, I will take on board your comments and go and have a practise before the big day! I'm soooo nervous, wish I'd never agreed to it now!

Thanks again everyone
 
You could try saying something like...

"Taking pictures inside in low light without flash is right on the edge of what's possible and I'm likely to end up with pictures with lots of coloured speckles on them, that's just the way it is and there's little I can do about it. I'll do my best and we'll see how the shots look and if they're really speckly I might have to convert some of them to black and white."
 
B&W shots might look quite classy...

Another thing to remember is that if you're supplying prints the noise might not be that visible, even with smallish JPEG's viewed on screen you might be pleasantly surprised.
 
I would opt for the prime lens- as f1.8 can cope easily with low light - shoot at f2 or f4 and Im sure then shutter speed will come up to an acceptable level for hand held shots and give an acceptable dof

As for fitting every one in- as long as the infant and parents are in shot- Im sure with moving your position, you can get some good shots- as a photographer you should be on the move to get whats req

Les :thumbs:
 
HoppyUK said:
I'm afraid the honest answer Suz is that you're snookered.

The light is too low, and will be beyond the reach of pushing the ISO a bit and trying to reduce the noise in post processing. Noise reduction works by trying to conceal the effect and this invloves a considerable loss of sharpness along the way. Shadow detail will be poor, it cannot put back what isn't there in the first place.

To do what you want with a workable shutter speed, in exposure terms you would need a very fast lens (very low f/number, like f/1.4) and since you want more depth of field that's ruled out.

Which leaves flash as the only option.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbs:
 
Are you sure it's a total ban on flashes inside the church?

I did a Christening a few months back and they didn't allow ANY photography in the church when the ceremony was on but afterwards I could shoot away until my heart was content and use a flash.
 
Russ77 said:
Are you sure it's a total ban on flashes inside the church?

I did a Christening a few months back and they didn't allow ANY photography in the church when the ceremony was on but afterwards I could shoot away until my heart was content and use a flash.
Click to expand...

This is my experience too.
 
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