exposing for low light (a stage play)

[leejt1986]

Ive been invited to shoot a dress rehearsal of "A Christmas Carol" at my parents' church on monday. I was originally going to just shoot on P mode and at ISO 1600, then I started worrying about motion blur. Should I set my camera on Manual mode to reduce motion blur and keep it at ISO 1600? If so how should i set the shutter and aperture?

thankyou for any tips

 

[o hey tyler]

You have two camera bodies, and 5 lenses and you've never shot in low light before?

 

[KmH]

Ive been invited to shoot a dress rehearsal of "A Christmas Carol" at my parents' church on monday. I was originally going to just shoot on P mode and at ISO 1600, then I started worrying about motion blur. Should I set my camera on Manual mode to reduce motion blur and keep it at ISO 1600? If so how should i set the shutter and aperture?

thankyou for any tips

How much light will there be?

To stop arm and hand motion you'll need at least 1/250 for a shutter speed.

The aperture you need will be determined by what the in-camera light meter indicates is needed for a properly exposed photo using ISO 1600.

Use spot metering, and meter the brightest part of the scene, and use single focus mode.
Auto focus may have trouble if the lighting is low.

 

[gsgary]

There is no way of giving you settings unless we are there with a light meter
You have one near pro quality camera and you don't know how to meter

 

[leejt1986]

Ive never shot in this type of lighting situation before. I've only been doing photography for little under a year. I have very little low light experience, well on black and white film but I shot it on a tripod.

this is also why i posted it in the beginners forum, just saying lol.

 

[gsgary]

Ive never shot in this type of lighting situation before. I've only been doing photography for little under a year. I have very little low light experience, well on black and white film but I shot it on a tripod.

this is also why i posted it in the beginners forum, just saying lol.

You only have one lens that is capable and i would think it is too shot 50F1.8, what sort of lighting will they be using ?

 

[o hey tyler]

Ive never shot in this type of lighting situation before. I've only been doing photography for little under a year. I have very little low light experience, well on black and white film but I shot it on a tripod.

this is also why i posted it in the beginners forum, just saying lol.

You only have one lens that is capable and i would think it is too shot 50F1.8, what sort of lighting will they be using ?

+2, you're boned with any other lens. Shoot at f/2 at a good distance with the 7D and you'll be fine, but ideally get other lenses.