How loud is the Nifty Fifty?

chris321

chris321

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Chris
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A simple question really! I'm looking into getting some fast primes after starting to do more indoor work. My plan is to acquire a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and a Canon 85mm f/1.8 over the next few months. However, money's a little tight at the moment (student living and all that), so I'm giving consideration to the nifty fifty.

It's not something I'd really given much thought to before, because it's a slightly strange focal lenth for a crop sensor and I have a Tamron 17-50 anyway. However, when recently shooting in a theatre, I opted not to use my Tamron as it lacks USM, and a sound like an electric drill going off every few minutes is a sure fire way to get asked to leave!

Soooo, if anyone has one, AND a Tamron 17-50, could they compare the noise levels please? :help: If it's reasonably quiet it may be a good stop-gap until I can afford the lenses I'm after!

Chris
 
If you can use an AF assist light from a speedlite, the Nifty won't hunt too much and focus should be quick, otherwise is does whirl a little.

Sorry, no info on the 17-50.
 
I know its not what you after but...

[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8Q1AKNcqtw4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8Q1AKNcqtw4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FacwlHAHzuM&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FacwlHAHzuM&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lrKWcmJa6Tc&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lrKWcmJa6Tc&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]
 
Thanks for the advice so far! The 50mm f/1.8 sounds pretty similar to the Tamron, which I wasn't really happy using, so I may put off the purchasing, keep with f/2.8 and bump up the ISO! Thanks everyone :thumbs:

Chris
 
that video's the Mk I, not the more popular + cheaper Mk II, Not sure if there's any difference in the noise though.
 
Or use a Leica rangefinder...one well-known photographer was once bought one by an orchestra as his existing camera was too loud... (I forget who and the various why's and wherefore's)...

But Leica was the preferred camera for theatre and stage for many years - and still is in some circles...
 
Thmaga said:
that video's the Mk I, not the more popular + cheaper Mk II, Not sure if there's any difference in the noise though.
Click to expand...

Its only more popular because its quite hard to get the mark 1 version as its discontinued. I think 9 people out of 10 would pick the mark 1 version over the mark 2.
 
Arkady said:
Or use a Leica rangefinder...one well-known photographer was once bought one by an orchestra as his existing camera was too loud... (I forget who and the various why's and wherefore's)...

But Leica was the preferred camera for theatre and stage for many years - and still is in some circles...
Click to expand...

Just a wee bit of useless trivia Rob but I believe it was 60's photographer Brian Duffy. There was a documentary on BBC4 recently about him, it was called 'The man who shot the 60's' I think. He was bought it to take photographs of some famous conductor (music as opposed to bus). When he first took the guys photograph at the end of the shoot the conductor asked him if it was normal practice to leave the lens? cover on:bang:
Anyhoo, this is completely off topic:D
 
Thanks for the input! I'm not particularly keen on manual focus and f/1.8, when the actors are getting a bit carried away and marching all around the place to be honest!

And I'd love a leica rangefinder, but I think I'll go for a lens as my next purchase :thumbs: :lol:

No worries about taking the thread off-topic, I've got my answers so please feel free to discuss Brian Duffy, BBC4, or whatever other trivia you want :D

Cheers everyone :thumbs:
 
LX3 - f/2.0 lens [but by virtue of the cropped sensor, decent DoF at f/2.0] plus absolutely silent shutter? 24-60mm equivalent? Decent ISO 1600? Image stabilisation may help in some instances, aswell.

There are advantages to a compact occasionally. Plus, there's always a manual focusing option, and video if you really need it.

Oh, and -edit - the Tamron screw driven on the Nikon is very quiet compared to the canon version, or to the motorised newer F-mount version. Tamron really need to work on their focus motors; I'll bet they lose a reasonable amount of sales to Sigma because of this...
 
My Sigma 10-20 is allegedly USM but I can hear it focussing...
 
chris321 said:
Thanks for the input! I'm not particularly keen on manual focus and f/1.8, when the actors are getting a bit carried away and marching all around the place to be honest!

And I'd love a leica rangefinder, but I think I'll go for a lens as my next purchase :thumbs: :lol:

No worries about taking the thread off-topic, I've got my answers so please feel free to discuss Brian Duffy, BBC4, or whatever other trivia you want :D

Cheers everyone :thumbs:
Click to expand...

lol...I used an Olympus OM-1n and manual lenses to do some of my first theatre jobs when I was a callow yoof...only back then we didn't have any choice in the matter...
Oxford Playhouse comissioned me to do some stuff for them... unfortunately I was a total k*****r in those days (ahhh nothing changes, you cry) and failed to follow-up what could have been a lucrative career opportunity...(sorry Mel, you were right, I was wrong).

Add that one to all the other missed opportunities, girls I didn't shag (but could have if only I'd realised), money-spinners unrecognised etc etc...
 
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