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IMO this shot was blown. Of several possibilities, how should I try to avoid this?

Discussion in 'Creative Corner' started by tilling, Nov 25, 2010.

Top Rated
  1. tilling

    tilling Mu-43 Rookie

    16
    Mar 20, 2010
    This was taken on a recent vacation. I handed my G1 to someone else. It was in aperture priority, I think 800 ISO, burst mode.
    We actually got 3 shots and none of them really turned out. Exposure time ended up 1/6 [ed -- actually it was 1/20] of a second (this was already a stop underexposed). This and one other one came out blurry.
    The last shot was less blurry, but two of us were blinking, so I didn't like that one either.

    [At first I forgot to mention that this is shot at f/1.7 with the 20mm, so I cannot open up the aperture any.]

    To me the obvious possibilities are:
    1. Move up to 1600 ISO
    2. Set EV to 2 or even more stops under
    3. Get an Olympus with IBIS
    4. Figure out a good way to use flash without the harshness: off-camera? bounce card?

    You guys may know of some others. At least I hope you suggest some of the tradeoffs involved, and what's most likely to help for a picture like this.

    Is there a shutter time rule for people photos at that distance? Knowing that might be a good start.
     

    Attached Files:

    tilling, Nov 25, 2010
    #1
  2. jlabate

    jlabate Mu-43 Regular

    132
    Nov 22, 2010
    What aperture?
     
    jlabate, Nov 25, 2010
    #2
  3. BillN

    BillN Mu-43 All-Pro

    1,264
    Jan 19, 2010
    SW France
    A couple of suggestions
    Use highest ISO that is acceptable and Shoot it in RAW then PP it in LightRoom or similar, you will have more latitude in RAW if you under expose

    Move to a situation with more light, (on the subjects), maybe only a few feet away, but it will help

    Obviously a tripod is not possible - but if the cam is rested on some kind of solid base it will help

    (obviously use your widest aperture)

    The Pany lenses on the G1 have IS - except the 20mm and below

    Have you tried Auto ISO

    You need approaching 1/100 if there is going to be even the slightest tremble - so set your cam to that and use Auto ISO plus RAW

    There is also a "scene mode" for portraits plus Auto

    Good luck
     
    BillN, Nov 25, 2010
    #3
    • Like Like x 1
  4. ~tc~

    ~tc~ Mu-43 Hall of Famer

    2,494
    Oct 22, 2010
    Houston, TX
    Buy the panny 20/1.7 or PL 45/2.8 - stops is stops, better to get there with wider aperture than more ISO
     
    ~tc~, Nov 25, 2010
    #4
  5. tilling

    tilling Mu-43 Rookie

    16
    Mar 20, 2010
    This was shot with the 20mm at 1.7.
     
    tilling, Nov 25, 2010
    #5
  6. zpierce

    zpierce Super Moderator Subscribing Member

    672
    Sep 26, 2010
    Minneapolis, MN
    Zach
    As a G1 owner with that lens, in those conditions, I probably would have gone for the flash. The flash isn't bad, especially there where there's nothing immediately behind your subject to cast harsh shadows on. I would have not gone above 800 iso as that's what I consider the limit on the camera before it gets too bad to use. I would have tried manual with ISO 800 and a shutter of about 1/15 - 1/30 of a sec to let the background expose and then use the flash to freeze / fill the people.

    Here's a couple where I did exactly that recently at my daughter's bowling birthday party. ISO 800, 1/15s, 20mm f1.7. It was a very dark bowling alley. Far from perfect, I think they're pretty decent, and without flash I would have had far worse than your picture as it was quite dark.

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachpierce/5205677778/" title="P1210087.jpg by zach.pierce, on Flickr"> View attachment 153296 "480" height="640" alt="P1210087.jpg" /></a>

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachpierce/5205079349/" title="P1210085.jpg by zach.pierce, on Flickr"> View attachment 153297 "640" height="480" alt="P1210085.jpg" /></a>
     
    zpierce, Nov 25, 2010
    #6
    • Like Like x 3
  7. tilling

    tilling Mu-43 Rookie

    16
    Mar 20, 2010
    Are these using the unmodified G1 flash, or did you have an extra flash, or some kind of bouncer?
     
    tilling, Nov 25, 2010
    #7
  8. hanzo

    hanzo Mu-43 Veteran

    354
    Jan 22, 2010
    Chan
    For me, I'd try shooting with shutter priority and worry about the noise later. I can get decent pictures with 1/25 or 1/30, but anything longer are usually blurry :) 
    Or use the flash :) 
     
    hanzo, Nov 25, 2010
    #8
  9. zpierce

    zpierce Super Moderator Subscribing Member

    672
    Sep 26, 2010
    Minneapolis, MN
    Zach
    Oops, I just realized I had my new external flash in those shots. Here's a couple I took yesterday though with the on camera. Similar shutter / iso, on camera flash.

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachpierce/5207401017/" title="P1210247.jpg by zach.pierce, on Flickr"> View attachment 153301 "640" height="480" alt="P1210247.jpg" /></a>

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachpierce/5207999468/" title="P1210272.jpg by zach.pierce, on Flickr"> View attachment 153302 "480" height="640" alt="P1210272.jpg" /></a>
     
    zpierce, Nov 25, 2010
    #9
    • Like Like x 1
  10. Cerebus2

    Cerebus2 Mu-43 Rookie

    21
    Oct 12, 2010
    I find it best to simply pop the camera into iA mode before handing it to anyone else.

    -- C
     
    Cerebus2, Nov 25, 2010
    #10
  11. phrenic

    phrenic Mu-43 All-Pro

    1,224
    Sep 13, 2010
    I'd also be wary of handing it over in anything but iA mode,
     
    phrenic, Nov 26, 2010
    #11
  12. bebrox

    bebrox Mu-43 Regular

    80
    Dec 29, 2009
    Scotland
    iA

    Yes if I hand the camera to someone who has never used a DSLR type, I set it to iA or I set the shot up before hand.
     
    bebrox, Nov 26, 2010
    #12
  13. shoturtle

    shoturtle &nbsp;

    823
    Oct 15, 2010
    I am not sure if the exif data is correct, but it has it that you were shooting at 248iso. That is awfully low for a night shot without a flash. You will be better off shooting at 800iso, that will give you 2 stops better low light performance. Bringing you form 1/20 to close to 1/60 sec with the panny. 1600iso would be much better. And IBIS would be a help also.

    If do not want to use the flash because of flash wash, ev the flash down -2. And adjust for the exposure in pp if needed. It should do a good job of lessening the flash wash.

    IBIS at 1600iso at 1/80 sec, 20mm at F2, no flash, hand held, cat was moving his head.
     
    shoturtle, Nov 26, 2010
    #13
  14. Ulfric M Douglas

    Ulfric M Douglas Mu-43 Hall of Famer

    3,687
    Mar 6, 2010
    Northumberland
    Wow. Wide-open, ISO 800 and still 1/6th shutterspeed.
    Nothing to be done except either use flash (that is what its there for) or use a better photographer (steadier hands) to take more shots.
     
    Ulfric M Douglas, Nov 26, 2010
    #14
  15. Iconindustries

    Iconindustries Mu-43 Hall of Famer

    2,196
    Jan 31, 2010
    Cecil Plains, Queensland, Australia
    Hey Ulfric, which fella is you?:smile:
     
    Iconindustries, Nov 26, 2010
    #15
  16. Ulfric M Douglas

    Ulfric M Douglas Mu-43 Hall of Famer

    3,687
    Mar 6, 2010
    Northumberland
    ? :confused:  I'm not in the pic...
     
    Ulfric M Douglas, Nov 26, 2010
    #16
  17. ~tc~

    ~tc~ Mu-43 Hall of Famer

    2,494
    Oct 22, 2010
    Houston, TX
    Wow. It must have been DARK in there!
     
    ~tc~, Nov 26, 2010
    #17
  18. tilling

    tilling Mu-43 Rookie

    16
    Mar 20, 2010
    I double-checked, and you're right. It was actually 1/20.
     
    tilling, Nov 26, 2010
    #18
  19. tilling

    tilling Mu-43 Rookie

    16
    Mar 20, 2010
    The figure "248iso" seems to be a mistake caused by shrinking the picture. The original says 800iso.

    How do you "ev the flash down"? Can you do that with the G1's own flash, or does that require a fancy external TTL flash?

    Thanks for the pic, it's good to see you can do that!
     
    tilling, Nov 26, 2010
    #19
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