Indoor shots?

[rsvnigel]

Has anyone got any tips on improving the quality of my images, especially indoors with 'difficult' lighting?

I'm still using ye olde film, and I'm not happy with the results I'm getting, with the images coming out quite grainy.

My initial thoughts are to splash out on a flashgun as the builtin flash isn't up to the job with the zoom (75-300mm) lens.

e.g.

[pbrett]

Fater film or faster lense are really your only options. Flash at those distances isn't really going to help.

Phil

[rsvnigel]

I tried ISO 800 film, and the subsequent shots looked like it was snowing

By a faster lens, you mean faster A/F?

[pbrett]

No, F-stop value. Basically the lower the number the more light gets in. If the 75-300 is the Canon lense I think it is it'll be F4.5-F5.6 (ish from memory).

Problem is the lower the F value, the greater the weight and £££.

If your scanning the pics, have a look at Neatimage. Does a great job with noise.

>> Edited by pbrett on Thursday 8th July 22:18

[simpo two]

If you've hit the grain barrier, a significantly faster lens (eg f2.8) is big money. But if you can define the likely shooting distance, you might be able to get a sufficiently powerful flashgun, esp with 'zoom' head, to reach. What camera do you have?

[DustyC]

My Canon 75-300 F4.0-5.6 produces excellent pictures at a bargin price (£150 - £170)
www.warehouseexpress.com/Images/Digital%20Cameras/info5.gif

For an example look at Lucas pics in the PistonFest forum. He borrowed my lense for a while on Saturday and Sunday. He is using a EOS300D body.

[rsvnigel]

It's a Minolta camera and lens (f4.5-5.6) IIRC, I was originally looking at the 5600HS flashgun that they do. The shots were taken at a distance of around 20-30ft, which made me think that flashgun would help.

The outdoor shots are coming out fine, it was just the shitty lighting in the hall I was struggling with.

>> Edited by rsvnigel on Friday 9th July 16:50

[simpo two]

rsvnigel said:

It's a Minolta camera and lens (f4.5-5.6) IIRC, I was originally looking at the 5600HS flashgun that they do. The shots were taken at a distance of around 20-30ft, which made me think that flashgun would help.

I don't know the kit personally but I think a big flashgun is cheapest way out. It's got to reach 30 feet, fine, but it's also got to go with your 75-300 lens. I don't think any kind of flash zooms that far, but if it has TTL dedicated metering a good flash will have a fair chance of doing the job I think. Flash power is measured in Guide Numbers (GN) and IIRC is usually quoted in meters (of range) at 100ASA. This will help you decide if the flash is powerful enough.

That said, I don't have a monster flash myself so am running on received wisdom. If anyone has hands-on experience of a similar task I'll happily defer.

Edited to add: Now I've just read the link: 'The 5600HS(D) provides a maximum guide number of 56 (in meters, ISO 100) with sufficient power to photograph subjects of 40m away (using the AF 85mm f/1.4 G(D) with 85mm). In addition to auto power zoom with flash coverage from 24mm to 85mm focal lengths, the 5600HS(D) incorporates a built-in wide angle adapter to extend the coverage to the 17mm focal length.'

It must be good at that price!



>> Edited by simpo two on Friday 9th July 20:10

[pbrett]

simpo two said:

...with sufficient power to photograph subjects of 40m away (using the AF 85mm f/1.4 G(D) with 85mm).

f1.4 eh?

Can't see it doing the job myself. I'd be interested if there are any long range flash shots from other people, and would love to be proved wrong.

The other thing is that IMHO flash makes things look very 2D...and a bit happy snapper for these kind of shots.

[simpo two]

pbrett said:

simpo two said: ...with sufficient power to photograph subjects of 40m away (using the AF 85mm f/1.4 G(D) with 85mm). f1.4 eh?... Can't see it doing the job myself.

I saw that too, but firstly it says 40 meters whilst our man only needs to cover 30 feet - less than a quarter of the quoted distance. Secondly it's quoted at 100ASA, and I gamble that rsvnigel is using faster film than that: 200 or 400ASA. Add it together and I reckon that flash will cover 30 feet.
Bacardi ole bean, can you do the maths for me?