SeanoX100T

OK, let me straighten out a few things here:- I bought the X100t on the premise that it would serve as an excellent all-round camera, both at home, and abroad, and something I could carry around with me most of the time. I own an SLR, with a variety of lenses, but like so many others, after nearly a decade of use, I find it is not ideal lugging around it around in a large camera bag, and the time taken to set up a composition. In fact, it is not practical at all for being 'out and about with'. With an X100t, you don't have that problem, and can capture so many more 'moments', because it is effectively a (very sophisticated) point-and-shoot. It encourages spontaneity. Yes, the fixed lens is a limitation, but read the reviews, and you find out that if you want to get close to the subject, move towards the subject. So many reviews I have read illustrate how the users become better photographers because of this limitation. Now, I am not suggesting for one moment that to pursue a career in club/bar photography requires the use of this camera. I think this where I have been completely misunderstood. I bought this camera about a month ago. This commission only came up a week ago, and like I said, having read about other users' experiences of photographing bars and clubs, I could see that they had, had some great success with taking pictures. So I decided to give it a go. Is there any harm in that? If I wanted to pursue a career in 'club/bar' photography, I would certainly look at an SLR, tripod etc. But consider this, I could not for one minute envisage setting up a tripod in a packed club in the middle of a very large town centre at 1am on a Saturday night, full of drunk 20 year olds. Trip hazard, perhaps? Drinkers knocking into you? Equipment getting damaged? Think about it. Had it been an opening night at a bar or club, it would have been a completely different story: I am sure the owners would hire a photographer to take some beautifully composed photographs of the venue, with well-behaved clients. And that would require a lavish SLR kit with flashes, and tripod etc. The photographer would have all night to build up a portfolio of photos. I did not buy this camera with the express intention of going out on a Saturday night into a crammed club to take pictures. But being small, discrete, with an excellent sensor for low-lighting conditions, I thought I would try it out. The pictures I took were praised by the paper I was commissioned by. They were, in their words, 'exactly what we were looking for'. The paper wanted pictures of clubbers in the club. I wanted to convey this, and I am sure you can see sufficient background detail to determine that the people were in a club. I think I have caught the atmosphere too. Sure, it could have gone horribly wrong. But it didn't, and it was a chance I was willing to take. That chance has now paid off, as they want me to go out again in a different venue on a Saturday night. My SLR would not have stood a chance in there. I can also comment that my output does not compare with the photos you would find in a magazine or book for clubbers. Had I produced wide, sweeping photos of the interior with another camera, there is a very good chance that the photos would not have been published. Why? Well, the paper is aimed at the residents of the town. Readers want to be able to recognise the venue, and the people in the photos. In this case, it is all about meeting the needs of the client, and I am relieved that I was able to do so. My original question was how to use this camera in a bar or nightclub. Apologies if I did not make my intentions very clear, but it is a shame I have had to spend so much time justifying myself here. Regarding permission from the clientele, they will take up any complaints directly with the paper, not with me. In support of this, I have shadowed the paper's resident photographer on shoots, and am away of the etiquette in approaching people.

Hi Malandro, Thanks for reply, and unfortunately, because I am a new member, my last reply was delayed because it had to be checked by this site's moderator. It is really helpful to get some advice on this type of work. Rather than knowing any differently, I had read on DpReview that some users had been successful with using the X100 for bars and clubs. As it is, I was commissioned by my local paper to do this shoot. They had contacted the bar beforehand so I was expected, and I got the permission of every patron before I had taken a single photo. It was a very challenging night with the constant switch between light and dark,and focusing was very testing, but thanks to the extraordinary sensor of the camera, I rejected using flash, and bumped up the ISO settings. I used the burst mode and S mode, without flash and produced this set, which has just been published by the paper:- http://m.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/pictures/PICTURES-best-images-Saturday-night-Reflex/pictures-28356670-detail/pictures.html I understand that my camera is not the ideal set-up but the weekend's shoot and the feedback from the paper, has given me confidence that this camera can produce some effective results even under extremely difficupt conditions. I did not have to PhotoShop any of the photos. I am looking at buying a 7D, but a camera as discrete and versatile as the X100 is already proving to be a worthy investment. Regards, Sean.

Thanks chaps! This brief is for commercial and not artistic ones, so it is a case of tapping drinks/revellers on the shoulders and asking them to pose. Setting up a tripod near a bar or on the edge of the dance floor on a Saturday night is simply not practical and won't win me points from the client. However, I do intend to take some perspective photos of the bar. On other forums, some photographers support that use of TTL flash, whilst others suggest using a high ISO. I do believe that this camera could be perfect for nightclubs and bars because I will be getting in close to people. Some examples I have seen on dpreview from the X100 have been superb. I only have an hour at the venue so I want to go in fairly well prepared. I tested my flash inside my house with the minimal of light, and the photos were very impressive, so I think this camera can work wonders. Perhaps F2 aperture, 6400 ISO, and burst setting will work? Appreciate your thoughts again!

Hi all, As the recent owner of a new X100t, and as someone still working their way through the full online manual, I would like some advice on the best settings for using my camera in a bar or club. This is for a potential commission, so it is important to have people posing, and to get some clear photos of the atmosphere and the venue. They could be used in a newspaper so the pictures need to be clear, sharp, and colourful. I have a cheap, exterior flash, but I am apprehensive about using it given the excellent low lighting performance of this camera. What settings would I use? There are a number of built-in filters for softening skin tones too. I would appreciate any expert advice. Many thanks!