No Flash Photography

[Steven Gourlay]

I attended a gymnastics competition at the weekend, Nanettes brothers boys were taking part. You were allowed to take photographs but not with flash.

This was a challenge I totally failed at.

I took a couple of test photography’s

ISO 800 Shutter Speed 60 F5.0 still too dark
ISO 1000 Shutter Speed 60 F5.0 still too dark
ISO 1000 Shutter Speed 70 F5.0 still too and far too slow for any movement

Camera: Canon 5D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm IS L

What can you do in such dark conditions without flash? I would not use any of the photos that i took that day.

[Greywolf]

\i think the widest aperture on the 100-400 is f4.

The answer might lie in a nifty fifty

The Canon 50mm f1.8 will give you a couple more stops.

On the 5D however you will be getting 50mm. If you have a 40D or perhaps an old 300D or 400D then you will also get the 1.6 crop factor which will give you a bit of telephoto.

Those extra two stops can make the difference between no shots and usable shots.

If you've got the money Canon also do an f1.4 and an f1.2 but they are lots more squids.

The 1.8 is about £60 - £80 and a remarkably fine lens for the price. Many Canon users have one somewhere in their bag. Good for music gigs and weddings when no flash is allowed.

Check out Tamron and Sigma they may have similar lenses.

[Steven Gourlay]

Thanks for your comments i knew when i was shooting them i could not lower the shutter speed anymore, they are all in the bin now.

Learning more everyday.