Lighting & Lenses

[beginner2011]

Hi I need some help on how to set up my Canon 7D using EF50mm f/1.4USM lens. I'm pretty much lost with all the info online and I want to try and take some decent shots of my daughter's school performance with out a flash...which will be tomorrow night Can someone tell me what mode I should try shooting in with this lens..conditions will be low light similar to an indoor wedding condition & what to do as far as setting aperature/speed etc etc

I also will be shooting my son's basketball game on Sat..indoor lighting ..dont want to use flash & I would like to use the ef 70-200mm f/2.8L USM.

I dont know where to start so id someone can give me some simple advice before I get a chance to take a photography class that would be awesome.

My test shots of my daughter in an indoor room/no flash using AV mode weren't so great.
Readings were 1/1600 1.4 +- -2/3

[CarlyRocksPhotos]

Put the camera on Either AV or TV.

AV= Aperture priority
TV=TimeValue Priority.

Since both of the situations you mentioned involves movement and lowlight, set a high ISO (I know the 7D has great hi-iso noise control) somewhere in the neighborhood of 1600+. Set a TIME VALUE (Shutter speed) of no less than 1/50th. Sometimes I can squeak by shooting musicians at 1/20th, but I know when to snap....so could work for you, but I don't think it will be quite dark enough to go so low- I anticipate you'll get at least a good 1/80-1/125th out of the time, which is more than enough to freeze any movement.

Hope that helps!? You can refer to your manual about TV settings for more info/figure out knobs n such.

Cheers! Have fun! Remember that what you learn today will be the foundation of what you create tomorrow!

[ccting]

Wow.. you have very nice lenses...
But why you refuse to use flash???? With widest aperture of your fast lenses that, I believe will be quite sensitive to lighting, even in big hall.. I believe flashes can improve your image quality...

Experts any comment on my statement?

I am a noob.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by beginner2011

Hi I need some help on how to set up my Canon 7D using EF50mm f/1.4USM lens. I'm pretty much lost with all the info online and I want to try and take some decent shots of my daughter's school performance with out a flash...which will be tomorrow night Can someone tell me what mode I should try shooting in with this lens..conditions will be low light similar to an indoor wedding condition & what to do as far as setting aperature/speed etc etc

I also will be shooting my son's basketball game on Sat..indoor lighting ..dont want to use flash & I would like to use the ef 70-200mm f/2.8L USM.

I dont know where to start so id someone can give me some simple advice before I get a chance to take a photography class that would be awesome.

My test shots of my daughter in an indoor room/no flash using AV mode weren't so great.
Readings were 1/1600 1.4 +- -2/3

CarlyRocks is right on. Up that ISO. Also for the b'ball game bring the 50mm lens too. You will have a hard time with the 70-200 even at f2.8. Because of the longer focal length, you need even more shutter speed.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by ccting

Wow.. you have very nice lenses...
But why you refuse to use flash???? With widest aperture of your fast lenses that, I believe will be quite sensitive to lighting, even in big hall.. I believe flashes can improve your image quality...

Experts any comment on my statement?

I am a noob.

There are times when using flash isn't allowed: sports is often one, performances on stage are another.

Not everything can be solved by a flash, ccting.