Need Manual Settings on a Nikon D50 for a Concert tonight!!!?
Posted by admin | Under Nikon D50 Lenses Monday Mar 8, 2010Here is my setup:
Nikon D50
Lenses:
Nikkor 50-1:1.8 D
Tamron SP 24-135
Here’s what I learned so far:
Set the ISO to 400.
Turn the flash OFF
Set metering to Spot metering, and ALWAYS focus the middle of the viewfinder exactly on a face.
I need aperature settings, etc…
This will be a small nightclub with average lighting.
Thanks
If it’s a small venue, use the 50mm.
Use aperture priority mode, and keep the aperture between f/1.8 and f/4. This isolates the subject by blurring the background, and it also keeps the shutter speed nice & fast.
Don’t hesitate to crank the ISO up to the max if that’s what it takes to avoid unwanted motion blur. The D50 produces acceptable results even at ISO 1600.
Flash OFF is great advice.
Spot metering, and focussing on a face is also great advice. On my D200, I can lock this exposure and recompose, but I don’t know if that’s possible with the D50 (if not, simply crop the pictures on your computer for a better composition.)
Finally, you could consider setting a ‘custom white balance’ (see user’s manual). If you don’t, your pictures will probably turn out with a yellow color cast. Sometimes that color cast adds atmosphere to the pictures, but usually it’s nicer to have the colors look right.
Oh, I also keep the camera in continuous shooting mode. I usually time my shots and just take 1 picture at a time, but sometimes I keep the shutter button pressed down for a sequence – when things get hectic, this ’spray and pray’ technique can come in handy 
Set your camera for Aperture Priority and you should be fine although if the shutter speed it still too slow, jack up the ISO to its maximum (1600 ISO) and get the shot!
It is better to get a "grainy" (noise) shot that is in focus and shows no camera movement, than to have less grainy shots that have camera movement.
If you can meter the actual stage for lighting, then by all means set your camera in manual for the lighting conditions and use it throughout the shoot.
References :
If it’s a small venue, use the 50mm.
Use aperture priority mode, and keep the aperture between f/1.8 and f/4. This isolates the subject by blurring the background, and it also keeps the shutter speed nice & fast.
Don’t hesitate to crank the ISO up to the max if that’s what it takes to avoid unwanted motion blur. The D50 produces acceptable results even at ISO 1600.
Flash OFF is great advice.
Spot metering, and focussing on a face is also great advice. On my D200, I can lock this exposure and recompose, but I don’t know if that’s possible with the D50 (if not, simply crop the pictures on your computer for a better composition.)
Finally, you could consider setting a ‘custom white balance’ (see user’s manual). If you don’t, your pictures will probably turn out with a yellow color cast. Sometimes that color cast adds atmosphere to the pictures, but usually it’s nicer to have the colors look right.
Oh, I also keep the camera in continuous shooting mode. I usually time my shots and just take 1 picture at a time, but sometimes I keep the shutter button pressed down for a sequence – when things get hectic, this ’spray and pray’ technique can come in handy
References :
umm i hate to bring your hopes down but depending on the concert and location they may not even let you take pictures if i were you i would call ahead and ask but still throw the camera in the car just in case hope they let you good luck and film makes all the differance buy expensive good film and you will be happier later steady not shaky it makes a differance
References :