ChiILX1 Posted June 2, 2010 Share #1 Posted June 2, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm going to be shooting a 80th birthday party at the end of the month with the X1. Mine's on order and so I can't play around with it in the meantime. I wanted to ask how everyone recommends shooting with it at an evening party. Should I: 1) Solely rely on the great performing high-ISO 2) Use the pop-up flash with red-eye 3) Buy the 24d 4) Buy the 24d and rig a handheld mirror to the front of it to imitate the functionality of this product: http://www.lightscoop.com I'm new to "more than point and shoot" photography and parties have always been difficult for me to shoot before. I have never been happy with the photos. Your advice is greatly appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 2, 2010 Posted June 2, 2010 Hi ChiILX1, Take a look here Party Photography with the X1. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jsrockit Posted June 2, 2010 Share #2 Posted June 2, 2010 It depends on how dark the party will be. My guess is that an 80th birthday party will be sufficiently lit. If so, then just use the high ISO. If not, I'd consider the 24d after testing the built-in flash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted June 2, 2010 Share #3 Posted June 2, 2010 I'd agree. Those types of parties have always been lit well enough to shoot without flash. You may want to consider leaving the shutter a bit low and shooting bursts too, may wind up with more keepers. ..for mostly static shots. I'm betting you can shot most of the stuff at iso 800 or below..based on the parties I've attended for those in that age bracket. Obviously this is conjecture but I wouldn't buy a flash just for this one situation. Lightscoop won't work on this camera afaik..as far as modeling something after it..people refer to the x1 flash as weak (fine for me) but bouncing a weak flash will probably make using the flash useless anyway. Iusuallyset the flash as low as possible when I'm able to. You can also get a stop back roughly in post..so all in all, you'll probably be fine. I think speed not light would be more of an issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiILX1 Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted June 2, 2010 Thanks! It's good to know that the camera is so versatile in performing with light. When would anyone need the 24d? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted June 2, 2010 Share #5 Posted June 2, 2010 Nightclub? I guess when there's more action than you are likely to see at an adult party.. I had to shoot iso 3200 the other day but I was at 5.6 for oine focusing, in dimmer light, and needed a 1/250 or greater shutter seed for fast moving people.. The types of shots I take at parties would usually be fine at 2.8 and 1/60. The autofocus may work your nerves though if you ar tying to take candids and not just portraits or posed shots. Since you may not have much time with the cam befor the party to practice, I'd definitely say take whatever pas cam you are currently using with you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiILX1 Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted June 2, 2010 I had to shoot iso 3200 the other day but I was at 5.6 for oine focusing, in dimmer light, and needed a 1/250 or greater shutter seed for fast moving people.. The types of shots I take at parties would usually be fine at 2.8 and 1/60. Great starting point, thanks. I will play around with it from there and adjust accordingly based on the kind of shot I want. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted June 2, 2010 Share #7 Posted June 2, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sorry for all those typos..still flubbing typing on the iPad. That should have read zone focusing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted June 2, 2010 Share #8 Posted June 2, 2010 I've been in bars where I was at ISO 3200, F2.8 and 1/2 second... so bars in NYC are dark. Flash time then... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted June 3, 2010 Share #9 Posted June 3, 2010 here's one from a bar tonight.. what you see was basically all the available light - and i added a 100% crop too. I don't think you have to worry, lol. No noise reduction, I chose the white sign to more clearly see noise. 1/30 @ f2.8 iso 1600 You can see the pixel peeping full version here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest badbob Posted June 3, 2010 Share #10 Posted June 3, 2010 If the room is lit well enough, high ISO could work well. If not, you could use the built-in flash for fill, as long as you don't get too close to anyone. If the flash is too bright, you could try taping something translucent (but heat-proof) over the flash. Since the flash is easy to activate and push back down again, it's easy to try some snaps with it on and off alternately. A lot of times in rooms that aren't well lit, and where flash isn't working well for whatever reason, I've found that I get a lot of keepers by staking out the light sources in the room, and then shooting people when they get near one of those light sources, or doing some social engineering to get certain people near a light source so I can get a shot. The reason I suggest shooting a face near a light source is I think it usually looks more interesting than a typical shot using flash. The attached was shot *after* lights out at a meeting, handheld 1/30 sec f2.8, ISO 3200. It's noisy and the detail isn't good, but it was underexposed by about 2 stops as well. So with normal lighting I think you could do really well. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/122709-party-photography-with-the-x1/?do=findComment&comment=1342100'>More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted June 3, 2010 Share #11 Posted June 3, 2010 @badbob - I love that you used the phrase social engineering - not enough people know/use that. lol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted June 3, 2010 Share #12 Posted June 3, 2010 Tricky! Friend's 70th birthday here. First pic taken by the waitress. ISO 3200, no flash. (One advantage of the X1 is usable high ISOs; small sensor cameras have unacceptable noise over 400 ISO, and sometimes even that is iffy.) Set to at least f/4 or smaller for the group table shot or not enough DOF. If you use flash with a group shot then the nearer people will be blown out and those further away will be in darkness. Don't do quick point and shoot pics. Don't give the camera to others and let them run amok with it. Best to take a few of groups or individuals and ask them to keep still. X1 focussing is damn slow and sometimes the wine bottle will be in focus and not the person's face. The red focus beam is also annoying. In brief, you can't just point and shoot -- you do need to concentrate a bit. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/122709-party-photography-with-the-x1/?do=findComment&comment=1342127'>More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted June 3, 2010 Share #13 Posted June 3, 2010 And a couple from Germany earlier this year. Also ISO 3200 without flash. (me right pic on left.) The food at both establishments was excellent! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/122709-party-photography-with-the-x1/?do=findComment&comment=1342131'>More sharing options...
ChiILX1 Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted June 3, 2010 Really awesome everyone!!!! Thank you so much all of you! This is so, so helpful! Really great and really appreciated! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest badbob Posted June 3, 2010 Share #15 Posted June 3, 2010 here's one from a bar tonight.. what you see was basically all the available light - and i added a 100% crop too. I don't think you have to worry, lol. No noise reduction, I chose the white sign to more clearly see noise. 1/30 @ f2.8 iso 1600 For someone who's hoisted a few myself, it's a sight for sore eyes. I'm thinking of printing this really wide and hanging above my workstation. Just for fun, here's a pic I got in Santa Barbara at the parking deck on Ortega, caddy-corner from the mall. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/122709-party-photography-with-the-x1/?do=findComment&comment=1342511'>More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted June 3, 2010 Share #16 Posted June 3, 2010 hah, work inspiration! I was impressed with their lighting and colors of the bottles, it was actually quite pretty for a display of alcohol Looks like your shot and mine mean alcohol appeals to the wide masses Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen.w Posted June 3, 2010 Share #17 Posted June 3, 2010 I've had my X1 for 3 months, have shot a lot of low light stuff and haven't once been tempted to use the flash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiILX1 Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share #18 Posted June 3, 2010 So as far as Shutter Speed, ISO, and Aperture settings, for when you are trying to shoot candid photography at a low to medium lit party, which do you leave automated and which do you tend to choose manually? Of course if you want to change depth of field you play with aperture, but I just mean for pull-out-of the bag shots which settings do you typically choose or have chosen for you? Also I noticed on page 107 (or PDF page 44) of the manual, you can set 3 different levels of manual exposure compensation to be captured on a continuous 3 shot sequence each time, to ensure that you always get a good choice of exposures. I am sure lighting changes from room to room so this sounds useful. I am a big fan of continuous anyway with parties and people for blinking purposes, so having the 3 different exposures as well sounds ideal. Has anyone used this feature and would it work well in this situation? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 3, 2010 Share #19 Posted June 3, 2010 bsgraupner, I think you would find an attached flash cumbersome and possibly limiting if you want portrait as well as view format pictures. I would definitely use available light and revel in the atmosphere thus created. Given a day or two beforehand, practise in low light in your home. One other factor: shoot RAW so that you can extract the maximum quality from any difficult shots. Although one professional advocates choosing one high iSO and staying with it, regardless, I quite like using AUTO ISO. So - Practise - practise - and even more practise to hone your skills. Then, relax and enjoy the party. Whatever the results, your family and friends will be delighted with your natural results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiILX1 Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share #20 Posted June 3, 2010 bsgraupner, I think you would find an attached flash cumbersome and possibly limiting if you want portrait as well as view format pictures. I would definitely use available light and revel in the atmosphere thus created. Given a day or two beforehand, practise in low light in your home. One other factor: shoot RAW so that you can extract the maximum quality from any difficult shots. Although one professional advocates choosing one high iSO and staying with it, regardless, I quite like using AUTO ISO. So - Practise - practise - and even more practise to hone your skills. Then, relax and enjoy the party. Whatever the results, your family and friends will be delighted with your natural results. Wonderful thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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