Recommend settings for new D200 user

I have a D200 on order which is my first digital camera, but I've been doing

photography (amateur)for many years with Nikon, Contax, Hasselbald film gear. I

want to take some photos at a friend's wedding reception (indoors) in less than

2 weeks and I will likely not have time to learn what I need to know before

then, so I'm asking for recommendations from other D200 users for settings for

files that I can email (or burn to CD and give) to the bride. I would like to do

(if possible) NO post-processing and I will be using only the onboard flash

where needed. Any info you can give would be much appreciated. BTW, I ordered

with the 18-70 DX and also a 50mm f1.8 for portraits and low-light if that helps

with the settings information.

What kind of flash? SB800?

Hi Bob,

Maybe I should have written "built-in" in lieu of "onboard" flash. I know the builtin flash is not much to work with, but it's all I'll have at the reception. I'll probably be using the f1.8 Nikkor to obtain better exposures.

I wouldn't rely on the built in flash for anything but mild fill-in, mostly for outdoor work.

The built in flash may cause red-eye and all sorts of other problems. I use the dedicated SB800 with a Gary Fong Lightsphere. Sometimes the colors come out too red for me so that has to be adjusted. For settings at receptions I set the camera on manual at 40th of a sec. and 4.8 to 5.6 works real well. http://www.garyfong.com/newsplash.html

Blake if you do not want to do any post processing you are better off using a cheap PS camera and have prints made at a place that offer auto-red eye removal. Is there no one who can do the PS work for you? If there is : shoot RAW file format and given your experience shoot in manual or aperture exposure mode. If the available light is sufficient the flash will be fill flash and if not it will be the main light.

 

Did anybody mention yet you should practice a "few" shots before the event?

 

Good luck with the event and the D200.

Walter

If shooting primarily indoors in low light situations, use the

50mm. Aperture priority, set at f/2. Your shutter speed will be a bit

slow, so you'll have to shoot with a steady hand. Shoot in Auto

WB. You might want quality at JPEG Fine if you are simply

transferring these over to a CD for the bride and want no post

processing.

 

If you have a speedlite or Vivitar, Sunpak, etc., you can mount that

on your hotshoe, bounce flash, shoot on manual and get a good

gauge for exposure on the LCD/histogram. Probably f5.6 at 1/60

to 1/125.

 

The onboard flash will give you very harsh, flash pics. It's great

as a fill flash or more importantly as the signal for wireless

remote with the SB800 or SB600 (which you will procure in the

future.)

 

If shooting only available light, set your ISO to 400 or so. 800 max

if you don't mind a bit of noise. If you do use the flash, then you

can set to 200 or lower.

 

Use the 18-70mm if the lighting in the reception hall is better

than expected, or if you use a mounted flash.

 

Final question: Is this your first experience with a digital SLR? If

so, then take some time to skim over the manual, and shoot

before the reception. In terms of the image, a DSLR will capture

just like film, but the journey to get there is quite a bit different.

The more you shoot, the more you learn.

And good luck, by the way. You'll love the D200!

If this a fairly important event, why not shoot with what your familiar with for now (Nikon, Contax, Hasselbald)? Experiment with the D200 and use it the next time when you're more familiar with it.

Many thanks to all who replied to my post. The photos I will take at the reception are nothing more than glorified snapshots really, just to try out the new camera.<p> Walter: I will practice some shots before the event, I just don't think I'll have much time (work issues) to "perfect" my technique with the D200 before the reception. I'm just using the reception as an excuse to try the camera in that setting.<p> BW: Thanks for the advice on the settings. I will probably use the 50mm and maybe the pop-up flach for fill. I do have an old Sunpak 411 thyristor flash with bounce capability that,if time, I will try out to see how that works.<p> Michael: It is an important event, but not much will be lost if my photos don't turn out great. I'm just using the event for a trial run of the D200. I'll probably take my FM2n and Contax T2 as well and shoot some film.

I bought my D200 in May, attended the first day of Nikon School on June 10 and took it for

a 15-day sight-seeing tour to China on June 19 with the 18-200 Dx zoom and the 12-24

zoom (I left the 18-70 home). I shot about 2000 pictures on the trip. Here is what I

suggest:

 

1. Learn how to change ISO and WB on the fly. (Read the manual, it is a lot easier than the

D70, and this is what the D200 is about)

2. Use Aperture priority, Large file, normal or fine JEPG for quality. You don't need raw

since you don't want to edit.

3. Use the built in flash for out door portraits and turn it off in-doors unless there is no

light. I find high ISO 800 to 1600 no problems but I was using a VR DX lens. (This was

what the Nikon School people suggested) The built-in flash is quite adequate for amateur

use despite what some had said hear. I used the built-in flash in a group picture in a hotel

lobby and on shooting fisherman fishing at night in a river with no problems.

 

Also read Ken Rockwell's (kenrockwell.com) article on the D-200 built-ibn flash.

4. Fully charge the battery. You don't need a spare.

5. Leave the 50 mm F1.8 home. Not that I have anything against the 50mm lens. It is a

wonderful lens except I never used it. Digital is different. Just change to higher ISO.

6. Get a high quality 2G CFC such as lexar.

7. For an expansive, semipro camera, use should experiment change White Balance

depending on lighting sources and conditions.

8. Becareful about focusing on this camera.

 

You'll find pictures warm and gorgeous shot with this camera.

 

Good luck!

try avoid ISO higher than 400 and get a lens with VR.

try avoid ISO higher than 400 and get a lens with VR.

 

For travel and general photo indoors, use ISO 800 and above liberally. With the right WB the pictures shoul still be great. For scenics, yes, use as low an ISO as possible. It all depends.