Some advice if you will chaps please....
Discussion
Ive been togging for a good few years now, and have an understanding of the "triangle" in relation to the criteria of exposure.
I have found of late that my images have been way below my expectations and Im not entirely sure why.
My kit is basically D200, 18/70 3.5 AFS with the option of a 1.8 nifty and flash if required.
I have found of late, that I need to push the ISO higher and higher to get the image crispness/exposure that Im after and the D200 is poor in this respect.
I know Im not the most stable of camera platforms, so tend to go for a higher shutter than maybe required, which then leads to higer ISO,in turn, this leads to crappy,grainy pics.
Of late, I have mostly been snapping aquarium fish (tricky at best),my Crested Gecko and other indoor shots.
For example, today, I went to Crufts. The indoor lighting is awfull, so I shot Raw to give me a chance. But even then, the shots were beyond basic PP. (Elements 8 user)
All of which end up with me pushing the ISO to the point of nastiness.
So, what needs to change ?
My approach ?
Glass ?
Or body ?
I have found of late that my images have been way below my expectations and Im not entirely sure why.
My kit is basically D200, 18/70 3.5 AFS with the option of a 1.8 nifty and flash if required.
I have found of late, that I need to push the ISO higher and higher to get the image crispness/exposure that Im after and the D200 is poor in this respect.
I know Im not the most stable of camera platforms, so tend to go for a higher shutter than maybe required, which then leads to higer ISO,in turn, this leads to crappy,grainy pics.
Of late, I have mostly been snapping aquarium fish (tricky at best),my Crested Gecko and other indoor shots.
For example, today, I went to Crufts. The indoor lighting is awfull, so I shot Raw to give me a chance. But even then, the shots were beyond basic PP. (Elements 8 user)
All of which end up with me pushing the ISO to the point of nastiness.
So, what needs to change ?
My approach ?
Glass ?
Or body ?
Examples would be handy. You talk of high ISOs and fast shutter speeds - but what of the aperture? What mode are you shooting in? My first instinct in low light is slam the aperture as wide as possible concomitant with required DOF.
I'll take my D200 to ISO800 but try to avoid higher.
I'll take my D200 to ISO800 but try to avoid higher.
Turn7 said:
I know Im not the most stable of camera platforms, so tend to go for a higher shutter than maybe required, which then leads to higer ISO,in turn, this leads to crappy,grainy pics.
Don't mean to teach you to suck eggs, but have you thought about a tripod / monopod before you go and buy new glass / better body etc...Stabilise the camera and you can bring ISO back int the range that they camera can generate good images as as you can slow the shutter speed down by a stop or two...
Just a thought before you spend hundreds, it might be worth a try...
chris.mapey said:
Don't mean to teach you to suck eggs, but have you thought about a tripod / monopod before you go and buy new glass / better body etc...
Stabilise the camera and you can bring ISO back int the range that they camera can generate good images as as you can slow the shutter speed down by a stop or two...
Just a thought before you spend hundreds, it might be worth a try...
Good luck with that with shooting dogs and fish Stabilise the camera and you can bring ISO back int the range that they camera can generate good images as as you can slow the shutter speed down by a stop or two...
Just a thought before you spend hundreds, it might be worth a try...
Chris, I do use a tripod when I can, but its not possible for fish and other shots. As I said, a lot of my stuff is snatched pics of animals doing things, so you need to be able to react quickly and queitly.
Couple of examples from yesterday....
DSC_7403 by mark_p99, on Flickr
DSC_7401 by mark_p99, on Flickr
Couple of examples from yesterday....
DSC_7403 by mark_p99, on Flickr
DSC_7401 by mark_p99, on Flickr
DibblyDobbler said:
Is f4.2 the widest you can go? It's asking a lot to shoot moving things in poor light with such a slow lens.
I don't think you're doing anything inherently wrong, just need a faster lens and/or a body which will give higher usable iso
No, the lens will go to 3.5, but this was slightly zoomed due to crowds.I don't think you're doing anything inherently wrong, just need a faster lens and/or a body which will give higher usable iso
Turn7 said:
No, the lens will go to 3.5, but this was slightly zoomed due to crowds.
You might buy and try a cheap(ish) 50mm 1.8 prime before you spend a load on a ff sensor which will address and sort your issues.Did a wedding with no tripod or flash, but set camera to between 1600 and 5000 ISO.... (I'm crap at weddings before you all shout). This is a crop from a much larger shot... no noise, pin sharp. Clever ff sensor.
GetCarter said:
You might buy and try a cheap(ish) 50mm 1.8 prime before you spend a load on a ff sensor which will address and sort your issues.
Did a wedding with no tripod or flash, but set camera to between 1600 and 5000 ISO.... (I'm crap at weddings before you all shout). This is a crop from a much larger shot... no noise, pin sharp. Clever ff sensor.
Ive got a Nifty Steve, and nearly put it on, but I thought the versatility of the 18/70 3.5 would be more suited.Did a wedding with no tripod or flash, but set camera to between 1600 and 5000 ISO.... (I'm crap at weddings before you all shout). This is a crop from a much larger shot... no noise, pin sharp. Clever ff sensor.
Ive been hankering a new body for while, and this has got me looking at D4's that I cant afford....
1) Something is horribly wrong with your exposure; they look about 4-5 stops underexposed. What exposure mode are you using? (as I asked before) - Manual, Aperture, Shutter or Program?
2) The 18-70mm lens, like most zoom lenses, is slower at the long end, so f4.5 seems about right.
My hunch is you're using manual exposure and forgetting that the camera is dumb. Put it on Aperture Priority exposure, open the lens as wide as possible (f3.5-4.5), set the ISO to 1,000 and see what happens. Also try the 50mm f1.8 and see any changes - it should give you the same exposure but a faster shutter speed.
NB: Theoretically FF is better at high ISO because bigger pixels catch more light - but other variables come in to play.
2) The 18-70mm lens, like most zoom lenses, is slower at the long end, so f4.5 seems about right.
My hunch is you're using manual exposure and forgetting that the camera is dumb. Put it on Aperture Priority exposure, open the lens as wide as possible (f3.5-4.5), set the ISO to 1,000 and see what happens. Also try the 50mm f1.8 and see any changes - it should give you the same exposure but a faster shutter speed.
NB: Theoretically FF is better at high ISO because bigger pixels catch more light - but other variables come in to play.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff