Event photography low light tips

[abarickman]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

I'll not even use my 5D Mk II (ISO 3200 max) + 70-200 f/2.8 L IS but my D3 + 70-200 f/2.8 @ ISO 6400 max. The 5D Mk II AF is not that great.

I have heard tremendous things about the D3 but I'm not selling my glass so I still lust after the 5d mk II. The 7D is very tempting as well. I would love to see a comparison of the high ISO performance of the 5D mk II and the 7D. Anyone know of one? I would bet the 5D would outperform it due to the larger sensor.

[abarickman]

Originally Posted by inkista

You can achieve a higher shutter speed that way, but at the expense of added noise. Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it isn't. This is a shot at a panel where they were giving a slide presentation, so I was literally shooting int he dark. I shot RAW, underexposed by three stops, maxing out my iso and aperture, and I brought it up maybe a stop and a half in Lightroom. Even with some noise reduction applied, noise is visible, but there's very little motion blur. You pick your battles.


Canon XT/350D. EF 135mm f/2L USM. iso 1600. f/2. 1/80s.


With fast primes and bodies that do high iso. You may want to consider giving up zoom for wider max. apertures. There's a reason a lot of people like an EF 85mm f/1.8 USM.

I routinely use a EF 135 f2L USM with my XT to shoot available light at Comic-Con. Because the 135L is extremely sharp wide open and it's fast and accurate to autofocus, I have no fear using it at f/2 nearly all the time. It makes me very happy.


XT/350D. iso 800. f/2. 1/1000s.


XT/350D. iso 1600. f/2. 1/250s.

Thanks Inksta. I forgot to intentionally underexpose and try the push to see what results I could get. I wanted to try it. There is not a lot of action but I have notoriously shakey hands and was shooting at 1/20 to 1/40 on a monopod which resulted in a fair amount of misses. I would love to have the 85 1.8 and the 135 f2. Someday! I am going to be shooting in the same location for a different group in a week or so and I am going to experiment a little more.

[abarickman]

Originally Posted by abarickman

I have heard tremendous things about the D3 but I'm not selling my glass so I still lust after the 5d mk II. The 7D is very tempting as well. I would love to see a comparison of the high ISO performance of the 5D mk II and the 7D. Anyone know of one? I would bet the 5D would outperform it due to the larger sensor.

I found a comparison of the 7D and 5D mk II high ISO performance. Canon EOS 7D vs EOS 5D Mark II - Side-by-Side ISO Comparison

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by abarickman

I have heard tremendous things about the D3 but I'm not selling my glass so I still lust after the 5d mk II. The 7D is very tempting as well. I would love to see a comparison of the high ISO performance of the 5D mk II and the 7D. Anyone know of one? I would bet the 5D would outperform it due to the larger sensor.

I wasn't impressed enough with its ISO 3200 performance in low light. Otherwise, I would have bought one to complement my 5D Mk II last week.

Originally Posted by loveDSLR

I found its AF system good but not better than the 1D Mk III or Nikon D3. IQ is good but I had some doubts around ISO 1600/3200. (note the camera is a store demo). I agreed with the salesperson that there is a one stop difference between 7D and 5D Mk II.

Its new features and handling are at par if not better than the Nikon D300. I still have to review the shots I took to come up with my conclusion.

BTW, I used Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS and 70-200 f/4 L IS in my tests. I was looking for how long it took to lock focus, servo tracking (I was shooting customers leaving the store at 8 fps), noise at ISO 1600 and 3200.

I think 5D Mk II + 7D AF (30+MP 5D Mk III?) will be an impressive camera. Then I can shoot low light with my 85 f/1.2 L II.

[abarickman]

Originally Posted by Stupid

Sure you could get better shots with the D3, but I don't think you've exhausted all your options. Have you tried the 85mm f/1.8 yet? Plain and simple, you need the fastest glass you can afford. Once that issue has been addressed, then you move on to a camera with good high ISO. The D3 or the D700 sure have that and I've gotten excellent shots with them. Remember though, glass first!

Also, don't be intimidated by the DOF of the f/1.8. Remember, if you are a good distance from the subject, the DOF becomes larger.
_

Thanks. I tried my 50 1.8 but it did not have the reach that I needed. I think the 85 1.8 might be a good next lens for me.

[amymnc]

This is a really helpful topic. Always nice to see that you can work with bad lighting conditions and still pull off some great shots

[abarickman]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

I wasn't impressed enough with its ISO 3200 performance in low light. Otherwise, I would have bought one to complement my 5D Mk II last week.



I think 5D Mk II + 7D AF (30+MP 5D Mk III?) will be an impressive camera. Then I can shoot low light with my 85 f/1.2 L II.

Thanks for the info. Good to hear from someone who has actually played with it. Money no object I would opt for the 5D mkII but the 7D is probably my next camera due to the AF system and wireless flash triggering.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by abarickman

Money no object I would opt for the 5D mkII but the 7D is probably my next camera due to the AF system and wireless flash triggering.

Good choice. I was testing the 7D with my Nikon D300 side by side and was impressed by the new AF.

BTW, have you considered a Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 DC HSM? The reason I tested the 7D was buying that lens for my D300 to shoot catwalk fashion shows.