I need a quick idiot proof guide to night shooting!

[Chris Higgins]

Thanks again guys. I am leaving in two days so I have tonight and tomorrow to keep practicing and see what I come up with. These tips definitely give me more confidence and i will pick up a 50 1.8 later today.

[Evan Donn]

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

Don't get too hung up on using the Exposure Lock & other complications. According to Vincent Laforet in the interview on the Canon site linked above they didn't discover that button while shooting 'Reverie'. They were using with a prototype they borrowed for the weekend & lacking a manual basically just used it as a 'point & shoot' the only control available was the +/- exposure compensation dial.

He also shot everything in such low light that there wasn't really much adjustment available. I'd say exposure lock is still important simply to prevent the camera from changing settings mid-shot, regardless of what the settings are. I haven't been worrying about trying to trick the ISO or shutter too much - but I always hit lock before just to ensure consistency within the shot.

[Jon Fairhurst]

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

Don't get too hung up on using the Exposure Lock & other complications.

Exposure lock is a must. All it takes is a single exposure change to ruin a shot. I forgot to push the AE Lock button on a shot this past weekend, and it was ruined. Sure, it works if the composition of the scene is stable, but one exposure change and it's ruined.

BTW, you can always hit the button later in the shot. Let's say you're filming in a dark room and step into the light. Lock it for the dark shot, then push the button once or twice as you make the transition and again when you are fully in the light. The exposure might not be perfect, but this can get the shot for a documentary or vacation reel.

[Jon Fairhurst]

Originally Posted by Chris Higgins

...and i will pick up a 50 1.8 later today.

You probably don't have time to get an adapter and Nikon 50mm f/1.8, but be aware that the Canon 50mm f/1.8 has terrible, five sided bokeh. The Nikon, on the other hand, is quite clean. Oh well, it's an inexpensive lens, and will still do much better than your zoom in low light.

The following page (just past halfway down) compares the bokeh of the Canon 50mm f/1.2, f/1.4 and f/1.8. But, hey, for $89 we can't complain. (But we can buy the Nikon.)

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens Review