Low Light party shots

[twoways]

Having recently brought a new Sony a330 DSLR camera, have found that trying to take photos at partys and late at night in restauraunts with a group of friends is proving to be a little difficult being a newcomer to DSLRs, has any body advice on settings etc, I am trying to avoid using the auto mode and would like to use manual settings so would welcome advice on aperture, shutter speed and ISO etc. I am now shooting in raw so can tweek in Photoshop. Thanks in anticpation

[chris-p]

Hi Twoways, welcome to the forums.

It would be helpful if you mentioned what lens (or lenses) you've got. In general though I would suggest putting the camera into aperture priority mode (A) and opening the aperture up as far as it will go (smallest number) which, if you're using the 18-55 will be f/3.5 at 18mm. Set your ISO to 400 and see if the shots are too dark. If they are, increase the ISO to 800 and see what you get.

[ianpinion]

Hi twoways,

Welcome to the forums. As Chris has already suggested, use Aperture Mode and use the widest aperture you have available at the focal length you are using and increase the ISO and take a test shot to see if you're under-exposing. If you are then use the exposure compensation button and dial in +1 and take another test shot and check the result and histogram. If okay, leave it at that otherwise up the ISO to 800.

One thing you've not mentioned is are you using a flash or trying to take photographs without either a separate flashgun or the camera's built in flash? If you are using a flash ISO400 should be fine, but if you find the flash is strobing you will need to switch the Auto Assist off. This occurs when the camera can not get a focus lock because of the low light levels and uses the flash to provide more light to help it to autofocus. Now if you want to take photographs indoors without a flash, you'll need to up the ISO to probably 1600 otherwise the shutter speed will be set to several seconds and you won't be able to hold the camera still for long enough. It will mean your photographs look a lot grainier but so long as you correctly expose the shot they shouldn't suffer with noise. Again remember to use the exposure compensation button to correct the exposure if it looks under-exposed.

[twoways]

Thanks Chris and Ian really usefull advice, firstly to Chris the lens I was using was an 18 -55 bundled with the camera, although I have just purchased a Tamron 70 - 300mm F4/5.6 DI LD Macro lens, would the same advice apply. Secondly Ian yes I used the in built flash but again have just purchased a Jessops 360AFD Digital Flashgun for my Sony, again does the advice stand for that flash.
Many Thanks

[ianpinion]

Hi twoways,

Is the flash you bought one that has dedicated settings for your camera. If so, the camera should instruct the flash unit of how and when it wants it to fire, but have a read of the instruction books for both your camera and flashgun to see what they advise. Often there is a pre-programmed set of settings of say a 400 ISO and either 1/60th or 1/125th of a second shutter speed at a given aperture.

[twoways]

Thanks for the quick response Ian. Although I have purchased the equipment online, as yet it has not arrived. So will take your advice and check the settings and read the manual.
Many Thanks

[matt wilson]

I started with the 360 afd on my canon.Just set the flash to auto ttl the camera to aperture prority and you will be fine .If I recall the guide number of the flash is 36 (this means it will throw light up to 36 metres )

there's also more scope to use a narrower aperture with an external flash.such as f8 and still get well exposed indoor shots .

finally if there's a good reflective wall or ceiling then bounce the flash off that .Do allow for the fact the flash light is then travelling further though .(you don't have to perform any complex matrhs the flash zooms to the focal length of the lens.

The 36 meter idea is a bit optimistic but anything within a 10 metere range should turn out fine .

The relative power of the flash will vary with the iso still ,as you up iso then effectively sensor is more responsive and flash becomes brighter.

Just have fun and practice at home .

[anglefire]

Matt, guide number is specified at a specific ISO (Normally 100), so a guide number of 36 will correctly expose the subject if its 9m or less away.

Increase the Iso to 400 and the distance increases to 18m. (Works on the square law, quadruple the power to double the distance)

[twoways]

Thanks Matt and angelfire, will try all your suggestions,

[matt wilson]

Angel fire .cheers ............was never any good at maths .