Photographing inside Graceland - please help!

[srj1967]

Hi,

I'm travelling to Graceland in June, and I'm hoping anyone who's a reasonable photographer can help me.

I have a digital camera (Pentax K100) with an 18-50mm lens, f3.5-5.6.

There's an Auto mode on the camera, but in the dimly-lit areas that means the flash will pop up. As Graceland doesn't allow flash photography, I'll have to go to manual mode. So what should I have the ISO set to, and should I invest in another lens? I've been told to maybe get a "faster" lens, ie 50mm, f1.4-1.8) ... ?

So, does anyone know what's the best way to get the best pics? I'm obviously looking at getting shots in the trophy room, jumspuit exhibit etc, and I don't want them to be dark and grainy.

And I assume Graceland doesn't allow tripods in? They didn't when I was there in '88. I had a manual camera back then (400 ISO) but technology has changed a lot since then.

Hope someone can offer some good tips. Thanks.

[jak]

You will need a high ISO for the low light coditions.At least 400 but maybe a little higher even.I would think your lens wide open at 3.5 would be ok.I dont think I would buy a faster lens if Graceland might be the only time you really needed it.Im not familiar with your camera but if you have a shutter priority mode so it adjusts automatically I would use that.Your gonna want a fast shutter speed so you dont get blurry photos from camera vibration.If you adjust it manually just set it to a fast speed.Practice inside your house to get use to manual mode.The great thing about digital is that you can waste all the shots you need to.
Jak