Canon T2i, 50mm 1.8, Flash needed for indoors?

[rossim2i2]

I just got my 50mm 1.8 for my Canon T2i. I've been taking some test pics in my apartment at 1.8 and 2.0 without using my 430EX II and they've been coming out good. I went to a party today at a hall with poor lighting. I took most of my pics at 400 ISO with the aperture wide open. The shots looked good in the camera, but I don't think they look as good now that I have them on the computer (even after some post production work).

My question is, with the aperture that wide open, should I still be using my flash to get the sharpest pictures?

[autofocus]

when you say they don't look good...elaborate please. Too dark? not in focus? blurry? What mode did you shoot in?

[rossim2i2]

Thank you for the response. I ended up posting a sample pic in the critique section:

Exposure/Sharpness Right?

[OsmosisStudios]

Dont be afraid to bounce flash, especially if you have a bounce card attached, directly up off the ceiling. Set the lens to f/4 or so and have at it. You can end up with things like this:

1/60s
f/4.5
200iso
70mm (105mm on 35mm equiv).

[rossim2i2]

Great picture! How low of a ceiling do you need for a good bounce. He hall we were at had a high ceiling and I wasn't sure If I'd get a good bounce off of it. Thinking back, I guess the best way to find out would have been to take some test shots...

[el_vago32]

Great shot there Osmosis, never thought a bounce card could get you that nice catch light.

[OsmosisStudios]

rossim2i2: That was on 9' ceilings, though I've done it with ceilings up to 25'. You just end up using more power, thus slowing down recycle times and using more batteries. Most reception halls are within 15', usually 12' or so, so they're really not an issue.

el_vago32: The catchlight is actually from the ceiling: the bounce card is only there to get some light under the brow line.