Some photographers seem to think you need to have your camera set to a high ISO for good nightclub photos. If you are also using a flash, this is not true. First of all, nightclub photographers should be using Manual Mode in a nightclub situation for complete control over their camera. You have plenty of camera settings in Manual Mode to play with to get photos to come out well in dark places like in a nightclub. Rather than adjusting ISO, try adjusting shutter speed or aperture first. I like ISO to be the last setting I adjust, and I only adjust it if I absolutely need to.
Keeping your ISO at a low setting (200-400) will minimize sensor noise and keep your nightclub photos extra sharp. Low ISO settings also give more vibrant color and shadow depth to your photos, making them much more interesting to look at.
Good point on ISO, the concept you espouse is very sound. However, I notice you use the 40D.
For any recent-build digital SLR from Canon or Nikon, you can “safely” go up to 1000 and get great results out of the box. You can make the reasonable assumption that the threshold of acceptable noise goes up 1 full stop with each successive generation in camera design. 1-series bodies are even more versatile due to low pixel density and large sensor sizes.
When you cram a lot of photosites into a given space, your noise goes up. It’s why a 12 MP Sony is 12 MP of noisy crapola, whereas a 3 year old 5D of the same MP has excellent noise characteristics.
For example, with my 10D, I didn’t go above 800 unless I was prepared to do some NR work in post, or deal with the noisy results.
With my 30D, 800 is in the comfort zone, even without anything in post. If you look at my gallery from the AvB pool party at the Surfcomber, check the EXIF tags for what ISO I used in some images, and routinely it was 800-1600 with minimal or no noise reduction.
Flash? Yeah, don’t go much above 400 if you can help it.
When shooting without my flash, I try not to go above 800 ISO too. I’ll do some noise reduction on anything above that.
You got some great shots of Armin.
Those LEDs Nick Assunto put in the booth rule. I need some for my apt.
Great tip Matt…keep them coming!
Thanks for the compliments on the LEDs, lets see what we can improve next. By the way I have some around if you need them for your apt.!!!