Kentucky Area Paranormal Society

[Emania_Chuck]

Hey all,

I'm trying to work out suggested settings for still cameras for the Waverly investigation. I can give some general suggestions for settings to use, but it would really help to try to tune the settings to the reported activity and the cameras being used. My understanding is that most of the Waverly reports are shadow people. If there are any other reported activities, please let me know so I can plan for them.

My general setting suggestions are the following:
Option 1 - Use Shutter priority mode (Tv) with a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second or faster. I suggest using 1/60th, unless you are unsteady. Then use 1/80th. Use flash (not red-eye reduction).
Option 2 - Use Manual mode (M) with a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second or faster. Use the widest aperture (lowest F value) possible. Again, use flash (not red-eye reduction).

Since we are looking for shadow people, we will need comparison shots to determine if we catch a shadow person or just a normal shadow. Try to shoot photos in a series of (at least) 3 photos, keeping the camera as still as possible between shots. That should give some frame of reference to improve the strength of any photo evidence we gather.

Remember to watch out for things that could obstruct the flash when taking photos, since that could cause false positives.

Here's where I need your help...
It would be good to use the highest possible ISO value to make sure we maximize the distance of the flash. The problem I have is that different cameras are capable of different ISO values before noise gets to a point where it is unacceptable. I need to collect a list of camera models so I can research them to suggest proper ISO settings for each model.

Please post a response here to let me know what camera model you will be bringing to the Waverly, and I'll try to suggest a custom ISO value for each camera.

[Phantom]

GREAT info, Chuck!! Thanks for helping out with this. I have an Olympus C-4000 Digital. Grim has the same camera, so you'll be killing two birds with one stone..LOL

[Emania_Chuck]

GREAT info, Chuck!! Thanks for helping out with this. I have an Olympus C-4000 Digital. Grim has the same camera, so you'll be killing two birds with one stone..LOL

It looks like you guys should stick to ISO 100 or 200.

[Phantom]

Thanks for the help, Chuck!! If you notice in my sig pic, Grim has the camera around his neck..LOL.

[coloreferee]

Chuck

I will be bringing a canon rebel xti for the waverly investigation.

thanks

[Emania_Chuck]

Chuck

I will be bringing a canon rebel xti for the waverly investigation.

thanks

Nice. You should be able to go up to ISO 800 with very little problem. You might even be able to go to ISO 1600 and still be OK. I'd try to stick to 800 though. Have you given any thought to the lens(es) you'll be taking along? Remember that if you are using a tele-zoom lens (why would you though in Waverly?), you'll want to keep the shutter speed faster than 1/<focal length>. So if you would be shooting at 200mm, you'd want to use 1/200th for the shutter speed.

[coloreferee]

Chuck

I will be bringing a canon rebel xti for the waverly investigation.

thanks

Nice. You should be able to go up to ISO 800 with very little problem. You might even be able to go to ISO 1600 and still be OK. I'd try to stick to 800 though. Have you given any thought to the lens(es) you'll be taking along? Remember that if you are using a tele-zoom lens (why would you though in Waverly?), you'll want to keep the shutter speed faster than 1/<focal length>. So if you would be shooting at 200mm, you'd want to use 1/200th for the shutter speed.

Chuck,

I have 2 lenses a 35/80(This lense came from a 35mm Canon my wife already had) and 15/55(This lense came with the camera)

[Emania_Chuck]

Both those lenses are pretty close. I'd go with the faster one (lowest F value) if I were making the choice. Since your flash won't be able to reach all that far, you'll probably want to stick to either 15 or 35, depending on the lens you use.

[stoner]

thanks great information Chuck, sorry I missed it earlier. I would not have known to set my camera up like that. Three of us have cannon 400D's I think thats the same as the rebel XT, so having the same camera and those settings is great, thanks

[Emania_Chuck]

Stoner, you're right that the 400D and Xti are basically the same. You should be able to use the same settings. Stick to your widest angle / fastest lens, and you should be set.