Kit help

[Graham.J]

Ok, bit of a dilemma here.

I've been asked by the school my Mum works at if I can take photographs at a 'do' they have on Thursday and I'm just wondering what sort of kit I'll need.

I think it's all going to be indoor work, mainly in the main hall, but I'll probably find out for definate when I get there, it'll be people mostly though I think

I have a D70 with the 18-70mm lens, have a tripod but it's pretty busted up and needs replacing, just wondering whether I should use one or do it handheld.

Also wondering whether I'll need any filters, or a different lens....I'm not sure how far away from 'the subjects' I'm going to be.

Also any shooting tips would be greatly appreciated oh and what to charge too

Thanks in advance,

Graham

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

I'd do it handheld. Depends really what see wants. I prefer informal, candid shots as these, to me, are the most interesting.

Other kit? Well assuming it's indoors an external flash and LOTS of CF space. You can't shoot too many pics at these things.

What to charge? No idea. Cost of a flash if you don't have one?

[Graham.J]

Thanks for the help, I think handheld would be best, don't want to be fiddling about trying to place a tripod and what not.

Any ideas on what flash to get, I'm looking at a Sigma EF 500 Super as it's well priced and seems ok - I don't really know what I'm after.

I can fit 293 pics on my 1 gig CF card, I think that should be enough?

Many thanks,

Graham

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Don't know must about flashes in the Nikon world sorry.

300 shots should be ok but it really bepends how you work. Sometimes I'll fire off 3 or 4 shots in a second trying to catch a moment. Do that for a while and you soon clock up LOTS of images.

Also, there's some risk of having all the nights work on one CF card....

Oh, and a spare battery or two for the camera and the flash wouldn't be a bad idea.

Cheers

Phil

[GetCarter]

Graham

I'm rubbish at indoors with flash, but have a Nikon Speedlight SB-28DX which works very well with my D1X.

There are quite a few on-line articles about how best to shoot with a single flash. A search of Google will help a lot.

...and take at least 300 pics!

Get 'Carpet Bomb' Carter

[GetCarter]

BTW Graham there is a Nikon Speedlight SB-28DX on www.ebay.co.uk - current bid £1

...a phone call to www.graysofwestminster.co.uk will confirm how suitable it is for your camera / lens.

Steve


>> Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 25th January 15:54

[Graham.J]

Thanks Phil, I'll probably nip over to Jessops tomorrow and pick up an extra set of batteries and maybe a smaller CF card.

GetCarter said:

Graham I'm rubbish at indoors with flash, but have a Nikon Speedlight SB-28DX which works very well with my D1X. There are quite a few on-line articles about how best to shoot with a single flash. A search of Google will help a lot. ...and take at least 300 pics! Get 'Carpet Bomb' Carter

Cheers Steve, I've been reading up on some reviews and the Sigma one seems to be a very good one but a lot cheaper than the 'main brand name' items.

I'll have a look on google for some tips

Would you advise dropping the picture quality down to fit more on, or just another CF card?

Thanks,

Graham 'also Carpet Bombs' Young

[luca brazzi]

Flash
Played with the SB800 on Racing Green's D70, very good, bounced off the ceiling with a StoFen attachment, in manual mode. Set the shutter speed to something less than or equal to the sync speed, and choose what aperture you'd like, and the flash works out what's needed.

Use the histogram to assess exposure immediately after the test shots, and use the flash buttons to adjust exposure accordingly to get some information in all the 5 bars (I increased by 1/3 stop for just that bit of extra light).

The Sigma will do the same.

I sold my Sigma (Canon fit) to Gravymaster when I got the 20D and the 580EX from Canon. He's very happy with it, and I am with the Canon. Forget about the on camera flash if you want professional looking shots.

Key point is to use bounce flash if possible.

Lens
Should be fine with what you've got, as long as the subjects are within 10-15ft or so.

Any chance you can borrow a 70-200 type jobbie, as its worth carrying in case you need some long shots

Also consider shooting RAW, as you may still get colour casts and exposure issues, that you'll be able to tweak in photoshop without losing any detail in the picture if shot in raw.

Let us know how you get on.

LB


>> Edited by luca brazzi on Tuesday 25th January 15:58

[Graham.J]

GetCarter said:

BTW Graham there is a Nikon Speedlight SB-28DX on www.ebay.co.uk - current bid £1 ...a phone call to www.graysofwestminster.co.uk will confirm how suitable it is for your camera / lens. Steve

That would be worth looking into if I had a longer timescale but I need it for Thursday, so don't think I'd be able to get it in time

Thanks anyway though

Ebay seems pretty good for photography kit actually, although I'm always wary about buying second hand stuff

Graham

[Graham.J]

luca brazzi said:

Flash Played with the SB800 on Racing Green's D70, very good, bounced off the ceiling with a StoFen attachment, in manual mode. Set the shutter speed to something less than or equal to the sync speed, and choose what aperture you'd like, and the flash works out what's needed. Use the histogram to assess exposure immediately after the test shots, and use the flash buttons to adjust exposure accordingly to get some information in all the 5 bars (I increased by 1/3 stop for just that bit of extra light). The Sigma will do the same.

I'm not particularly 'up' on the histograms, I might need to have a quick read up on them to get them explained properly although I think the jist is that one end is 'dark' the other is 'light' and you don't want too much in the 'light' area?

luca brazzi said:

Lens Should be fine with what you've got, as long as the subjects are within 10-15ft or so. Any chance you can borrow a 70-200 type jobbie, as its worth carrying in case you need some long shots

I think I might be doing some long shots, I could borrow a 70-200 but it's for a Canon I've been wanting to get a 70-300mm lens for a while so I think I may get one as an early birthday prezzie and take some money out of my savings account for it.

luca brazzi said:

Also consider shooting RAW, as you may still get colour casts and exposure issues, that you'll be able to tweak in photoshop without losing any detail in the picture if shot in raw.

I've not got round to finding the patch thing for viewing RAW files and I can only get about 95 on my card, I'm also not really up for buying another couple of CF cards as I'm a little skint at the moment

luca brazzi said:

Let us know how you get on. LB

Most definately will, thanks for the help

Graham

[pug406]

Jessops do the SB800 for about £299. Really glad I have mine, sooooooo much better than the in built flash.

HTH

Dave

[simpo two]

Don't skimp on the flash. The Sigma NA Super iTTL does not seem to be as compatible with the D70 as they'd have you believe (even if it says so), and you don't want to risk your camera and flash having a fight if the job is important.

The SB28 will not support the D70's Creative Lighting System and may not use distance information either - ie close subjects might be over-exposed. The only two flashguns that are guaranteed to support all functions of the D70 are the SB600 and SB800.

I bought an SB800 especially for a wedding and I know I'm going in with the best tool for the job

[Graham.J]

To be honest, I bought the best I could afford, I honestly don't have £200 odd for a flash as I wanted to get a good lens as I'd be using it more (I plumped for the Nikkor 70-300mm for £269) I would rather spend my money here on something I'd use a lot rather than something that I'm not really sure when I'd use it.

Thanks for all the help though, it's worth knowing for when I do want a better flash and do have more money.

Graham

[luca brazzi]

You could always buy the flash from Jessops and take it back the next day. It WILL make the world of difference. And don't underestimate how often you'll use it.

Check these out:
Took these at a party last Saturday, all with external flash, bounced off the ceiling, it was very dark in there, but the camera managed admirably.


www.sleepy-fish.com/petersparty.htm

And try to borrow a lens...give it your best shot.

LB

[simpo two]

Graham.J said:

To be honest, I bought the best I could afford, I honestly don't have £200 odd for a flash

You and me both! I wanted a decent flash for years but couldn't justify it until this wedding came along which will pay for it. Step by step - gives you time to learn how to work each new bit too! Sounds like you have the 70-300 ED, which you won't regret.

[Graham.J]

Steve, looks like the flash has done a good job, the lighting looks pretty good in those shots.

simpo two said:

Sounds like you have the 70-300 ED, which you won't regret.

......AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED (4.3x) so it says