Low light, indoors, best bets?

Gondi · Mar 4, 2004

I bring the cam along to the bar once every few months. The only problem is that it's really hard to get the meter/focus right in such low light situations (i'm talking dank pit)

The camera is a Oly C-750 and doesn't have an AF Assist light, unfortunately. I can use a flash, but it puts off such harsh tones and cuts the background out.

Anyone have some recommendations on some settings to try? Best thing I could come up with is setting a high ISO... Tripod/monopod isn't really a possibility since i'm drinkin too

blip · Mar 4, 2004

Are you sure a collapseable monopod isn't an option? Some of those can collapse down pretty far and would fit in a decently sized camera bag.

For focusing, here's an idea that might work: take the picture with the flash innitially then lock the focus (don't know how to do that on an Oly but there must be some way) and take one without a flash.

Are there manual exposure controls on the Oly? If so then here is what I would do. Go down to a basement or some other place that is about as dark as a bar and start snapping pictures. Find the lowest shutter-speed that you can take a pic at and still have enough sharpness (remember these are impromptu drunken shots, they don't need to be incredibly sharp for that kind of photography I find that I can take acceptable 1/4-1/2 second shots). Leave your camera on that setting with a low-aperature and as high of an ISO as you are willing to use and you should be able to snap decent pictures.

tooflyklu · Mar 4, 2004

http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0116958

Gondi · Mar 5, 2004

I guess I should have clarified. I won't be caught dead hauling a tripod of any kind around a bar

Blip i'll try the basement stuff

bromide · Mar 5, 2004

yeah i can feel ya...digi cams = fun, embarrassing drunk pictures

digi cam + tripod = serious, incriminating pictures.

plus, when you are drinking and having fun, you just want to shoot and not really care about setting up everything.

blip · Mar 5, 2004

Originally posted by bromide
yeah i can feel ya...digi cams = fun, embarrassing drunk pictures

digi cam + tripod = serious, incriminating pictures.

plus, when you are drinking and having fun, you just want to shoot and not really care about setting up everything.

hehehe... indeed. Another great feature in a bar is the video mode that some digis have. It's great when your buddy is doing something that you KNOW he'll regret in the morning!

tooflyklu · Mar 5, 2004

a trick i learned is to balance cam on beer bottle, set timer so the capture doesnt take place when you push button, set long shutter times and open apeture (if manual cam)=profit
the cue ball was low light pool table shot...cam on edge of table...

as for the rest, it was a pretty dark bar, with some neat lighting effects...so i sat at a table, and balanced cam on a long neck beer bottle and this is what i took