There's a series of shots I would like to take that requires a range from a very shallow depth of field using f/2.8 to start and going to about f/16 or f/22 to be a little more specific and I do have access to a nikon lens that can help me with that but a problem I feel I will be having is that the only 3 acceptable iso settings my camera works decently with are 100, 200, and 400 before the noise level becomes disgusting.

I will be working indoors attempting to create a scene I have in mind with artifical light combined with a little natural light coming from a window but I feel as though it won't be enough light so my question is this: what can I do without being able to add more light to reduce noise as much as possible once I get into my smaller apertures?

I will be using a tripod to stabilize the shot as much as possible but once my shutter speed gets slow enough noise becomes somewhat inevitable...

Advice will be greatly appreciated!

Another option might be to attempt to create the scene outside where is plenty more light but I'd have to find a very stable day because I want the light to remain as similar as possible for these shots but I don't think I can achieve the same effect outside. I'm so undecided!!

You can slow your shutter speed as slow as you can, get to iso 400, and then introduce additional light through lamps and flashlights but make sure they look natural. Post editing may be able to help you raise it a stop as well without adding too much noise. Unless you describe it a little more, then your generalization cannot be of much help to neither of us.

Ok, I'm going to be taking shots of an open book with a small skeleton looming over it and a bronze colored necklace. I'm going to have the white balance toward the yellow/orange side to to help complement the dark red backdrop and the black surface the book will be on. The book will be open to a particular chapter I've chosen for this for when I get into my smaller apertures. I'll have a very small light shining on the skeleton's head to give it some ominous shadows on the face without interfering with the light on the rest of the objects near the book itself and I want to get a near as perfect exposure as I can on the rest of the objects with as little shadow as possible. I will probably be using a white reflector to help with the natural shadows from the light from the window.

Does that help?

take a practice shot and let me see it.

I don't have anyone to help me with the setup at the moment but I'll take one as soon as I can and pm. Thanks for your help.

I also won't have access to the lens until tuesday so you'll have to see the f/8 or f/9 shots with a longer depth of field.

This post was edited by irdesi on Sep 11 2010 09:09am

As long as the skeleton isn't moving.

Use a tripod. Put it at iso 100, select your aperture, the shutter speed will be adjusted based on your aperture, ambient lighting and your iso. Use a shutter release or the MLU on your camera to ensure shake-free - tack-sharp shots.

If you don't have a tripod, stack books or whatever to be able to make your camera sit doggy sit!

the skeleton won't be moving. I will be using a tripod. my point is that with the lighting I don't think I'll be able to use iso 100 at the f-stops I'll be using except maybe f/2.8 because there won't be enough light and if I use a slow enough shutter speed I'll get noise and I want my photo as noise free as possible

This post was edited by irdesi on Sep 11 2010 09:44am

hmm my camera has noise reduction ... plus I can reduce it further in post if needed.

for this shot noise reduction will have to work because I would rather not edit because I wouldn't know what I'm doing

This post was edited by irdesi on Sep 11 2010 09:55am

Just try NR - in camera with a low ISO. You should be fine if on a tripod. If you do intend to bring it to post, shoot it in raw as the headroom is greater than a jpeg.