Car /bike shows - any tips?

[FunkyNige]

I'm off to an indoor bike show in March (the Edinburgh MCN show) and I intend to take my camera, but after hearing horror stories of photos of shiny things taken under flourescent lighting I'm after some tips!

I have a choice of 3 lenses (don't really want to take more than the one attached to the camera if I can help it) -
28-105mm USM f3.5-4.5
75-300mm USM f4-5.6
50mm f1.8

I also have a big flash (420 EX) should I bother with this or will the inbuilt flash of my EOS500 be enough? Is a diffuser thingy worth getting?

Any general tips for these shows?

Sorry for all the questions!

[badbeachbuggy]

Unless you go on set up day or press day it's going to be difficult to get shots without joe public in the way I recon. You should be able to get some nice detail shots with the 50mm 1.8 though. If you want to get the whole bike in you will need your widest lens. You could consider a polarising filter to reduce the glare of the lights. I would think you'll need ISO 400 to prevent camera shake if it's anything like Alexandra Palace was when I went to a show there last year. I used a bit of fill in flash too.

[poah]

depends if your going for girls or the cars. at autosport I used my 10-22 and 17-85.

[RobDickinson]

I'd be tempted with the 450mm because of the speed but I dont think it'll be wide enough - were talking aps-c sensor DSLR rather than fill frame?

Its the 28-105 f3.5 - polariser would be nice but thats 2 f stops less light....

[V6GTO]

Take the big flash.

Martin.

[FunkyNige]

Thanks for the replies guys, couple more questions though (at least this isn't a 'what lens do I buy?' thread).

Rob said:

I'd be tempted with the 450mm because of the speed but I dont think it'll be wide enough - were talking aps-c sensor DSLR rather than fill frame?

It's film camera so I assume a 50mm lens will the equivalent to 32mm (50/1.6) on a digital camera?

v6gto said:

Take the big flash.

What's the reasoning behind this?

[simpo two]

FunkyNige said:

It's film camera so I assume a 50mm lens will the equivalent to 32mm (50/1.6) on a digital camera?

Other way: a standard 50mm lens will 'seem like' a 75mm lens on a Nikon DSLR and 80mm on all but the top Canon DSLRs.

[robdickinson]

Ah film camera!?! they still do them?

50mm is 50mm on film, equive of equive of 35mm on DSLR's smaller sensor.

I'd go for that as it'll be ok width wise I think.

[simpo two]

Actually, reading your post from the top, I'd go for the 28-105mm and big flash, and if you're worried about white balance, shoot RAW so you can adjust it afterwards.

[Andy M]

simpo two said:

Actually, reading your post from the top, I'd go for the 28-105mm and big flash, and if you're worried about white balance, shoot RAW so you can adjust it afterwards.

I think he's shooting film...

If not, I'd recommend using the 50mm. Set your camera to the highest ISO you can get away with without having horrible noise, knock the EV down 1/3 (usually get an extra tenth) and definitely shoot RAW

[simpo two]

Andy M said:

I think he's shooting film... I'd recommend using the 50mm. Set your camera to the highest ISO you can get away with without having horrible noise, knock the EV down 1/3 (usually get an extra tenth) and definitely shoot RAW

Film or digital, IMHO the 28-105mm is the best general purpose lens for this kind of event. You've got wide for general views, then telephot to zoom in on a face or a detail; with a 50mm you have nothing approaching wide angle or even 'normal'. Subject to distance, I'd let the flash take the strain and keep the ISO at <400.

As for EV, I'd check the histogram and see how it looks. D70s often need +0.3 or +0.7 but can't speak for Canons.

There you go mate: two completely different opinions Heads or Tails?

[Andy M]

simpo two said:

Andy M said: I think he's shooting film... I'd recommend using the 50mm. Set your camera to the highest ISO you can get away with without having horrible noise, knock the EV down 1/3 (usually get an extra tenth) and definitely shoot RAW Film or digital, IMHO the 28-105mm is the best general purpose lens for this kind of event. You've got wide for general views, then telephot to zoom in on a face or a detail; with a 50mm you have nothing approaching wide angle or even 'normal'. Subject to distance, I'd let the flash take the strain and keep the ISO at <400. As for EV, I'd check the histogram and see how it looks. D70s often need +0.3 or +0.7 but can't speak for Canons. There you go mate: two completely different opinions Heads or Tails?

Ah! Serves me right for not reading the whole post - I didn't see the 'flash' option. Simpo's correct - let the flash take the strain. Take my advice if you don't care for carrying the flash around - I don't have one and so use the steps I mentioned previously.

Given the small dimension of the 50mm I'd pop it in a pocket as well. There may be times where you prefer not to use the flash (I myself prefer natural light), or want to be arty with your backgrounds etc.

[FunkyNige]

Cheers for the responses guys, I'm sure you'll be impressed with the pictures I managed to take -

[RobDickinson]

Not much contrast eh?