Started by kevinlearns, 21 Dec 2025. 5 replies, 247 views
Gear in this topic: Canon EOS R50, RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
Hi again! Our whole family is coming for Christmas and I'm the "photographer" now that I have a camera lol. Our living room is pretty dark, just lamps and the tree lights. I tried some practice shots and they're either blurry or super grainy, or the pop up flash makes everyone look like ghosts.
I have the 18-150 kit lens. What settings should I use?? Should I buy a flash before Christmas? Thanks!!
grainy is fine, blurry isn't. widest aperture, 1/125 so nobody's a smear, auto iso and let it go to 6400. turn the lamps up not down, and get people near the light instead of in the middle of the room. ignore the grain, nobody at christmas cares. i shoot gigs at 12800 and people still buy the prints
6400?? Won't that look terrible?
kevinlearns said:6400?? Won't that look terrible?
no, it'll look like a photo taken in a dark room at christmas. which it is. run it through lightroom's denoise afterwads if it bugs you, but honestly your mum won't notice
If you want to spend money before Christmas, get a cheap speedlight and bounce it off the ceiling. It'll be the biggest jump you can make with one purchase. A pop-up flash pointing straight at faces is what makes the ghosts.
Update: didn't get a flash in time but did the auto ISO thing and they came out way better than I expected! A bit grainy but my mom loved them and she's printing one of her and my dad by the tree. Thanks everyone, Merry Christmas! (late)