Low light shooting advice?

Paulw

I was doing a shoot last night, of boxing training. To say the least, the lights were crap.

I was trying to shoot without too much grain. I know I should probably boosted the ISO a bit more (was shooting ISO 2500).

I wanted to try and keep the shutter speed up, to stop motion blur - I shot anything from 1/60 to 1/200 (depending on available light).

Maybe next time I'll try with higher ISO again (3200) and may even try using flash.

Any thoughts/advice?

woody_2000

Get a Nikon D3s...:rolleyes:



Umm... Ok... I'm outa here..... Bye!

Paulw

woody_2000 wrote: »

Get a Nikon D3s...:rolleyes:

I've a Canon 1D MkIV, so a Nikon D3s wouldn't be any step up.

oshead

Would they have any objections to you putting up a couple of flashes a little distance back from the ring. Maybe using gaffer tape, attach them to the side walls opposite each other.

Iwannahurl

What lens are you using, and what is its max aperture?

Paulw

Might be allowed, if I had a couple of flashes to put up.

The problem is that the training happens over 3 rings and in a large enough area for a bit of running/jogging.

On-camera flash might be the only thing I can really try.

Iwannahurl

Here's a Flickr discussion on boxing photography:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sportsphoto/discuss/72157594196950751/

oshead

They might object to oncamera, that is, could blind them a little while sparing.

Thecageyone

Paulw wrote: »

I've a Canon 1D MkIV, so a Nikon D3s wouldn't be any step up.

Would be if your current camera gives noise above 2500. I've seen smooth as butter shots from d3s at 6400 iso. I've shot at 3200 on my humble D90 as it is. I'm sure a boxing gym is at least better lit than a dark gig.

Paulw

I might try using my 50mm f/1.4 next time (rather than the 24-70mm).

Not much noise at all at ISO 3200, but since this was my first time in this particular venue, I wanted to keep the ISO down.

It was a learning experience.

All my shots were f/2.8, but next time I'll try the 50mm, and shoot more open, and also boost the ISO a lot more.

Ballyman

If this is for white collar boxing then on the night of the show the lights aren't too bad and you'll manage to get 1/500 at ISO1600 and a 50mm f1.8.

Paulw

I'm only doing the training and PR shots for this. I won't be shooting the actual main event (white collar boxing), since I'll be out of the coutry.

It's just that the gym they train in is crap for lighting.

Iwannahurl

Another possibility: forget flash (if it's disturbing the boxers) and set up your own cheap lighting rig. Big industrial lights can be bought quite cheaply in hardware stores, and then it's just a matter of getting the white balance right.

Here's a YouTube tutorial to get you thinking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x60op8dB8gc

City-Exile

It's never easy if the action is going across the frame.
If they were coming towards you, you'd get away with the slower speeds.

FoxT

I think the 50mm will help, as you'll get up to 2 stops more light.

Can you/do you shoot RAW? Or does that kill your frame rate? Worth considering as better noise mgt (Raw therapee is free & seems pretty good to me) compared to jpeg.

In experiments I've done I have found that 750 W of tungsten light (builders worklights) will have a GN of about 9m/ISO 100 at 1/100s. Obviously the GN will vary depending on your shutter speed, but hope this helps as an estimate at least.
I haven't tried high-efficiency bulbs, I wonder if they will flicker at higher shutter speeds?

Zillah

Paulw wrote: »

I might try using my 50mm f/1.4 next time ...
All my shots were f/2.8, but next time I'll try the 50mm, and shoot more open

This is a good idea, considering that there's a full two stops difference here.

Borderfox

Nothing wrong with the iso going high, I can give you a loan of the 85L if you want?

Paulw

It'll probably be another 2-3 weeks before I'm back there again.

I'll throw the ISO up much higher, I'll use the 50mm f/1.4 and shoot more open, and I'll try using flash where I can.

I guess there's no magic for crap light.

City-Exile

Paulw wrote: »

I guess there's no magic for crap light.

Nightvision!

Zillah

ISO is good. Even a lot of noise is better than a little smear.

hoganpoly

Would you mind throwing up a few examples with relevant iso info,i,d be interested in seeing the results

5uspect

It's definitely worth cranking the ISO right up. The sensitivity of a camera like that and the pure awesomeness of the noise reduction in CS5's Camera RAW should work wonders.

City-Exile

What's all this noise reduction talk about!?
A sport like boxing can benefit from a bit of noise in the shots, particularly if they're B&W.
It adds to the roughness of the image.
That's just my opinion.

eas

not sure how this will work for you, but in low light I'll generally shoot about a stop and half below what my camera reads for exposure, or use spot metering.

pete4130

If the mk IV is comparable to the D3s then 6400 should be equivelent to 1600 or 800 on slightly older cameras, some underexposure to get faster shutter speeds and not worry about the background and your sorted. 6400 on my D4 is perfectly useable so a mk iv should be fine. even overexpose at 6400 by +.07 to reduce noise.

Only other thing I can suggest is Delta 3200 pushed to 6400 or 12,800.

eas

just to point out, shooting ISO also seriously effects dynamic range, vibrancy and tonality....negatively.

pete4130

eas wrote: »

just to point out, shooting ISO also seriously effects dynamic range, vibrancy and tonality....negatively.

Not all that much with my D3 that I've noticed the past 3+ years....

eas

you must have a better D3 than me

Paulw

PW2_5953.jpg by PaulWa, on Flickr




PW2_5936.jpg by PaulWa, on Flickr

Both shot with 1D MkIV, 24-70mm f/2.8, at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 1/200 sec. Even that, it wasn't fast enough to properly freeze the action.

Next time, I'll try using the flash, go higher on the ISO and try the 50mm f/1.4 lens.