FF fast lens options <50mm?

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Duncan.F

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Duncan
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Hi,
I am doing a lot of gig photgraphy and sometimes struggle to get a full length shot in with my Canon 50mm 1.4. What other low light primes or zooms could I consider?

Dunc
 
f/2.8 is the largest aperture you're going to get with a zoom - you'd be looking at the 24-70mm f/2.8 L or 16-35mm f/2.8 L for that.

In terms of primes, you've got a choice of 4 with the largest apertures.. 35mm f/1.4 L, 35mm f/2, 28mm f/1.8, 24mm f/1.4 L

(Handy to have a Canon lens catalogue on your coffee table! :D )

A.
 
If you have lots of cash to spare then take a look at the 85mm f/1.2 It's an amazing piece of glass.
 
Duncan.F said:
Hi,
I am doing a lot of gig photgraphy and sometimes struggle to get a full length shot in with my Canon 50mm 1.4. What other low light primes or zooms could I consider?
Click to expand...

Organic said:
If you have lots of cash to spare then take a look at the 85mm f/1.2 It's an amazing piece of glass.
Click to expand...

Great lens but OP is after a lens under 50mm
 
Hmmm - As you are thinking about primes, I wonder how a TS-E would work in a gig situation :thinking:
It would allow creative use of the focal plane to isolate a performer from clutter or allow more than one performer to be kept in focus with a wide open aperture.

Having just spent two intensive weeks mostly using mine handheld, I can say that although it's a bit mind-blowing at the start of the learning curve, by the end of the fortnight I was using it so instinctively it wasn't slowing me down much compared to my 24-105.

Probably too big a leap of faith to be taken seriously as a suggestion.
But I like the possibilities :)
 
Have a read of this concert photographer's gear guides.
He uses Nikon, but the info should help regardless.

Gear Guide
Choosing Lenses for Concert Photography

Also have a look at the canon lens list on camerapricebusters website.

Firstly copy the list of all the lenses under 50mm to a word doc.
Then remove from the list all the lenses over your budget.
Then remove any that aren't fast enough for you (2.8 and above)

You might find you now have your list dwindled down to only a few lenses.
Then do a big more research on those individual lenses by reading reviews etc.

If you are unsure of what focal lengths will suit you best, take your 5d & 50mm down to your local camera store and ask to try out the lenses you are interested in. By bringing the 50mm with you, you can compare the new focal lengths with what you can fit in the frame using your 50mm.
 
Canon EF 14mm.......... f2.8 L II USM.........£1698.9
Canon EF 15mm.......... f2.8 Fisheye...........£539.99
Canon EF 16-35mm..... f2.8L USM mkII.......£1129.99
Canon EF 20mm.......... f2.8 USM...............£390.99
Canon EF 20-35mm..... f3.5-4.5 USM..........£299.99
Canon EF 24mm.......... f1.4 L USM.............£1159.98
Canon EF 24mm.......... f1.4L II USM...........£1319.99
Canon EF 24mm.......... f2.8......................£334.80
Canon EF 24-70mm.......... f2.8L USM.........£929.99
Canon EF 28mm.......... f1.8 USM...............£349.99
Canon EF 28mm.................... f2.8............£155.99
Canon EF 35mm.......... f1.4 L USM.............£1119.99
Canon EF 35mm.......... f2.0......................£211.99
Canon TSE 24mm....................................£1035.34
Canon TSE 24mm........ f/3.5L...................£1820.00
Canon TSE 45mm ...................................£1015.96

:thumbs:
 
35mm f1.4
24mm f1.4

ect ect.

Or you could look at sigma. They make a 28mm, 24mm and 20mm f1.8. Not as good as the canon versions but it's about 1/4 of the price.
 
Having recently borrowed a 35mm F1.4 I can strongly recommend that lens - it's mint (And expensive).

Otherwise you have a Canon 35mm F2
 
Thanks for all the responses! I have a 24-70L but although you can frame shots really well the light often fails you. I try and avoid going up to 1600 as the noise gets too great but try and leave on 800-1000.
I am doing a local gig tommorow where there won't be the pressure of 3 songs and out!
I am generally really happy with the 50/1.4, although the DOF is 'challenging, bt just wish I could zoom it.....!

Cheers,

Dunc
 
Hi Duncan, what about a Sigma 17-35mm? It is only f2.8 at the wide end (f4 at the other). I have one of these out on loan at the moment to Slimbert - not sure if he is still using it - (I never use it so it is always out on loan to someone!)

You are still welcome to borrow the Sigma 12-24 if you wish. It can never be called "fast" but it certainly is "wide!"
 
RichardtheSane said:
Having recently borrowed a 35mm F1.4 I can strongly recommend that lens - it's mint (And expensive).

Otherwise you have a Canon 35mm F2
Click to expand...

With you on that one! I hired one for a wedding last year and fell in love with it. Unfortunately my bank manager didn't so I bought the f2 :) Which is actually a great little lens for the money. Not the best build quality and not as good as the 1.4 (obviously) but gets the job done and for the size I print at works just fine.
 
If you don't mind maual focus, i would look at the zeiss primes, not the cheapest lenses in the world but by christ they are sweet little things.
 
16-35mm 2.8 MKII - Killer lens - lots of dof at 2.8, focus hits infinity at 1.5 metres.

Other than that, 35L 1.4 but it's really a trade off, 1.4 or 16-34mm range?

I'd go with the 35L for low light but, take some test shots with another lens at 2.8, just to see if you really need that aperture as the flexibility in the former lens is excellent and leads to good things.
 
Duncan.F said:
Thanks for all the responses! I have a 24-70L but although you can frame shots really well the light often fails you. I try and avoid going up to 1600 as the noise gets too great but try and leave on 800-1000.
I am doing a local gig tommorow where there won't be the pressure of 3 songs and out!
I am generally really happy with the 50/1.4, although the DOF is 'challenging, bt just wish I could zoom it.....!

Cheers,

Dunc
Click to expand...

How about upgrading to a 5DII? With its better high ISO you could shoot happily with the 24-70 2.8, and solve the DoF problem at the same time?
 
That's a good point...
I've found I can print ISO 3200 at A3 with no noise reduction and ISO 6400 with no noise reduction and only slight noise visible in the print.
ISO 12800 the colours are no longer true and to print A3 you need noise reduction like Neat Image, but this may still be very good for you.
ISO 25600 - emergencies only. Will do an 800x600 for the web but that's as far I'd ever go.

All of these were shot at either ISO 12800 or ISO 25600 hand-held with the 70-200 f4 IS. Strewth it was dark in there! I should have done a custom WB, but the warm tone suits the mood.
If you can see subtle noise and banding then it was ISO 25600, at this size the ISO 12800 images appear clean. Noise reduction has not been used.


You might have to sell your soul though........
 
If you use a 5D, get that ISO up to 1600 and use the 24-70 f2.8. Minimal noise reduction on the files and you will have great images.
Do you print your images? If so, what size?
Or do you just use them as web images and if so what size?

If you just use them as web images and reach a maximum of like 1000x1000 then the noise seriously wont be an issue.
And if you print at a4 size, then there there seriously should be a noise problem at all

Mike
 
For the price of a fast prime lens also consider the reviews, comments on this forum re Panasonic G1 F1.7 £619.
 
Hi guys,
Many thanks for all the suggestions! I am off to do a local band tonight so I will start out with the 24-70 on 1600. I will take a few with the 1.4 afterward for comparison and post a few up for your analysis.
Like the idea of a 5DII, very much at the front of my mind but must earn some money first!

Hi Tim, ta for the offer, I would like to try sometime please. maybe catch u at the next meet?!


Cheers,

Dunc
 
Bloody hell that's really good for such ISO!! Mine are mainly for web at the mo...but you never know someone might want a print!

Cheers,

Dunc

DuncanDisorderly said:
That's a good point...
I've found I can print ISO 3200 at A3 with no noise reduction and ISO 6400 with no noise reduction and only slight noise visible in the print.
ISO 12800 the colours are no longer true and to print A3 you need noise reduction like Neat Image, but this may still be very good for you.
ISO 25600 - emergencies only. Will do an 800x600 for the web but that's as far I'd ever go.

All of these were shot at either ISO 12800 or ISO 25600 hand-held with the 70-200 f4 IS. Strewth it was dark in there! I should have done a custom WB, but the warm tone suits the mood.
If you can see subtle noise and banding then it was ISO 25600, at this size the ISO 12800 images appear clean. Noise reduction has not been used.


You might have to sell your soul though........
Click to expand...
 
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