I will attend an important event this evening and I have a new camera Sony Alpha 100. Can you please direct me

Question

how to set it to get successful photographs. The event is in the evening in a large ballroom probably with dim lights. Thanks for your help and tips.

Answer 1

Read your camera's users manual. It surely has a 'low light' setting, where it may use the flash twice for a single photo. If it does have that setting, its important to hold your camera steady while it completes the double flash, or you'll end up with 'smeared' double exposures.
Be sure you have backup batteries charged and ready to go in. That double flash uses up battery power fast.

Answer 2

This is a difficult question to answer since you didn't specify what lens (or lenses) you have.

Bounce flash is obviously out since most ballrooms have high ceilings and you'd need an off-camera flash.

Take the fastest lens you have (f2, f2.8), use Shutter Priority, make sure that Super Steady Shot is enabled, turn on Noise Reduction, and turn the flash off.

In Shutter Priority you'll be selecting a shutter speed and the camera will choose an f-stop. Start with ISO 400 and a shutter speed of 1/125. If that doesn't work (the camera runs out of f-stops, i.e., it chooses f2.8 and there isn't enough light) lower the shutter speed to 1/60. If that setting works but subject movement is a problem, change the ISO to 800 and the shutter speed to 1/125. As a last resort, use ISO 1600.

NOTE: Since its likely you'll be shooting "wide open" at f2 or f2.8 or whatever the lowest f-stop is on your lens and at high ISO's, don't expect to make large prints from your photos. Also, don't expect much "Depth of Field" - if you have to shoot a group keep them in a single plane. Don't "stack" them 2 or 3 deep and expect the people in the 2nd and 3rd rows to be in focus - unless you can shoot at f5.6 or f8.

If you're really interested in low-light photography, invest in the Minolta 85mm f1.4 AF lens. Your Sony is really a Minolta since Minolta sold its DSLR camera business to Sony. Every Minolta A-mount lens made since 1985 will mount to your Sony.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Answer 3

That's a difficult task, even for a camera as nice as the Alpha 100!

In my experience, most of the time I would use flash when I'm taking such event and I always try to bounce my flash off the wall/ceiling, or I will use a fast lens such as the 50mm f1.8 fixed focal length.

You might want to raise your ISO to 400 or even 800 to achieve a faster shutter speed.

If you have an external flash, use them. This will be very useful compared to the internal flash - external flash are stronger than internal flashes and you can also tilt the flash head to bounce the flash to the ceiling/wall if its possible - achieving better overall result.

I don't know what kind of lens do you use for the camera, but as a general rule try not to shoot with shutter speed lower than 1/60. I know it would be very hard because it's very dark, but that's when the flash will become handy.

If you don't want to use flash (which I completely understand because flash photography are tricky), bring your tripod with you and always shoot with a tripod. This way you can safely shoot any picture with minimum risk of camera shake during slow shutter speed, even slower than the 1/60 I mentioned earlier. But be careful with slow shutter speed even though you have already use a tripod - moving object such as people will still be blurry when they move fast.

Stay close to your subject. If you have a tele lens, leave it at home. This is even more important if you're using flash when taking picture.

Well I'm sure there are other people who can help you better than I do but this is what I have learned from my experience shooting in low light condition. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

I'm going to answer your question indirectly and say you should NEVER, if at all possible, use a camera that you are unfamiliar with at 'an important event' If you have an older camera with which you are familiar, use that this evening and then practise with your Alpha 100 on less important subjects until you are completely happy with its operations.

Answer 5

Problem won't be with the camera, but with the photographer.

If you don't know now what you need to do to get a good image, it doesn't matter what camera you have.

I'd say, that this evening will probably be blown...but you can prevent future issues like this by educating yourself on the basics of photography(ISO/shutter speed/aperture = exposure). Read your camera manual so you know where all the controls and settings are located.

Answer 6

use a flash if you can - the on board on is crap, a tripod if you can, iso 400-800 ans apeture priority at 3.5-5.6

its going to be difficult first time out

a

Answer 7

Read the bloody manual! Or try this: set it for darker scenes, and put it on automatic.