FZ20 low lighting conditions

[tim11]

I am new to photography and recently bought a Panasonic DMC FZ20. While mostly happy with the camera, I notice some problems with low lighting conditions; especially indoors (even when sunny outside) and outdoors on a cloudy day.
Recently, on a cloudy on P-mode (outdoors) the camera chose a setting of f/2.8 and shutter of 1/8 second. How can I use such setting to take a photo of a moving subject out of flash range?
I tried Manual mode, but at a setting of f/2.8 and 1/60 the picture will be just black out.
Can someone give me some LIGHT here? What should I do?

Tim11

[genece]

Raise the ISO.
Do not be afraid to use ISO 400 when needed.

You should have a faster shutter speed outdoors on just a cloudy day.. maybe something is blocking some light, maybe a filter?

But do not lock the ISO on 80 until you are sure you can do that.

[bracko]

change it to M mode and manipulate the exposure and aperture settings.

you paid more for a camera with manual features.... use them ;)

[GC_uk]

At first i was asking the same questions you are coming up against. This digi cam is incredible at day time conditions with the 12x optical. The image quality + zoom ill trade it any day compared to hauling a bag of lenses w/ DSLR. In low light conditions thats when the camera will come short yes its possible to take pictures but with a exchange lower quality results. I personally use 200 iso nothing beyond that unless its a picture i really dont want to miss and ill just lessen noise later in PP.

you can always AE on a bright spot on the frame using spot focus.. that helps a bit.

[tim11]

Thanks everyone for answering my querries.
Being a novice photographer and the FZ20 being my first 'real' camera I am not sure if this low-light problem is general to all cameras or is it just a limitation to the FZ20? Can someone enLIGHT me on this matter again?
If using outdoors, I have nothing AT ALL to complain. But on a cloudy day or indoors without flash... that's a different equation. To make it more annoying, when the light is low, I don't think MANUAL MODE will change anything. e.g. At dusk, on P-mode the camera decides on f/2.8 and 1/4 seconds; when I put Manual mode on f/2.8 & 1/30 second, it will be just a black-out picture.
I also tried ISO200 & 400 without flash indoors and that will result in black grainy photos.
The only filter I have is the UV filter to protect the lens.
GC uk. You seem to understand this problem so can you confirm my suspicion that it will be impossible to use the FZ20 indoors where flash is not allowed? ie. indoors soccer, squash tournament; etc.
Thank you again everyone.

[jcon]

The only time Ive had problems in a "low light" setting with my FZ20 is in a fairly dark place with very low light, i.e. just one light turned on or at a dark concert. "Low light" can mean many different things. Indoor photos without flash works fine with my FZ20 and have seen some shots from other members that looked fine also. You just need to practice without the flash. I have practice many many times just taking pictures in my room without the flash and tried many different speeds and settings. Thats the only way to find what works for you. Since its digital, it costs nothing to practice.. You have a great camera, practice until you are comfortable with it!

[bracko]

most of my photography is now in clubs. and i think the autofocus on the unit is excellent. i don't know why people have problems with it.

the main issue i have is with the screen not gaining up in low light. panasonic should have thought of that.

[genece]

This is a good explanation of how a fellow grew from believing the FZ20 would not do indoor sports to his turning out some great photos.
It is a shame they have been removed,but they were very nice which is why I bookmarked this thread.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=12210358

But you really need to get more familiar with the camera.
And while you can get some really bad photos at first using ISO400, when you get more familiar you can get some truly great shots.
Sporting events usually are pretty well lit and you may get by with ISO200,
which a lot of times does not even require noise removal.
Experiment with different focus and metering modes.

Low light (1 - 100 watt bulb in a large room) requires a flash.
but 3 - 100 watt bulbs in the same room would not require a flash.
But I would most likely use one anyway.
I am sorting thru photos I took last month of my grandkids, about 1/2 indoors
and about 1/2 of those without a flash.
A lot of those were at an indoor pool at my motel and those were all shot at ISO400 and they are very nice.Professional ? probably not..but quite nice.

But one way to experiment to see what works for you is Set the ISO at 200 first and 400 later.
then choose aperture priority and set it at F2.8.
Then I would use spot focus
and center meter.
And take photos at different light levels until you get an Idea how it will work.

There have been lots of great indoor basketball shots posted with the FZ20.
It can be done.

Any camera limited to the same ISO, the results will be very similar.
Most will be worse ..as the F2.8 is in the FZ20s corner.





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[meillana]

thanks for the tip. i'm one of those who are a bit on edge with the fz20 when it comes to indoors with low light. during my first few days with it, i went to a badminton practice and tried it with disappointing results. but those were all done in p-mode. am still learning manual mode tho. i'll definitely give these a go. again, many thanks.

[tim11]

I'm back again from doing lots of experementing :)
I have shot some better pictures using ISO400, spot focus and center meter. And increasing Exposure Compensation level help a little too.
Thanks everyone for your reply to a guy who is new to the game.

[jcon]

I am glad to hear you saw improvements! On a side note... I was talking with a local photographer for a newspaper about different settings and such and he said all you can do is shoot and practice, he said hes been doing it for over 35 years and he still gets bad pictures and still has alot to learn. So, with that said, there is nothing wrong with making mistakes and or taking bad pictures because they help make the next one that much better :)

[kuroneko]

it is Impossible for FZ20 with the highest ISO only up to the 400..(and it soo grainy).. to get great photo of high speed indoor sport!..(ex badminton, basket ball, aerobic, etc)..
its nothing to do with the manual mode... but its the limitation of FZ20 and other high zoom prosumer camera .. small sensor and small sensitivity of light

if you want a great shot of it (high speed indoor sport) then .. buy dSLR (have ISO up to 1600 or 3200 )with the Super Tele Zoom lens...!
but it will cost you a lot!.....believe me it will!

as for me.. i know the limitation of my camera (FZ20).. and nothing to complain of it!..
because i dont push my camera over its spesifications!..
yes its not a perfect camera.. but it has the best value of money!

Sorry for my bad english!.
:)