Small Home Studio-- Best all round Lens ? canon fit.

Seajay

Seajay

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Cathy
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Hi everyone just had my first set of lights delivered to set up a home studio.
My question today is!
What would you consider a suitable lens for a. Canon 55O D to allow good family and portrait shots in this setting.
I will more than likely have a free room or garage to use not sure of the size yet.Would hope to find something that I can keep my distance and get close up. Maybe a lens I can walk about with rather than have it on a tripod?

I already have the kit lens, Canon 50mm1.8 , Tamron 70-300

I have had some advice previously for a general lens for walk about / and landscape shots,but this time it is for studio work.
I have read some past posts and the Canon 70-200 f2.8 and Canon 85mm seems to pop up a lot, these might be too pricy so it may have to be something from the Sigma range
Just need a little help to decide
Thank you
Cathy
 
This is my personal opinion. I know a some may disagree.

Depends on the size of the room but don't forget distortion does apply to peoples faces at different focal lengths especially on the wide end.

The least distorted is an 85mm on my canon 5d mkii, if you are concerned about price of the L version the USM version is also quite respectable and is actually quicker at focusing than the L presumably because it is shifting close to half as much glass.

On the cropped sensor of the 550D a 50mm would come out as an 80mm equivalent on a full frame. The 50mm f/1.4 USM is also a good lens though I didn't quite like the L version.

Whilst this is great and everything it's not much use if your room is the size of a shoebox and you are having to shoot from the kitchen window.

As for the 70-200 you don't need a f/2.8.

Looking at mine and others exif data most portrait work seems to linger around the f/8-11 mark so I would recommend the Canon 70-200 f/4 IS L or even the non-IS version.

Testing them both hand in hand the IS version has a slightly better IQ as well as, you know, being IS. The Non-IS version is still optically great and both lenses are brilliant and will leave you wondering why you don't shoot more with them.
 
I would use your existing lenses first.
You have a range of 18 to 300mm covered by two lenses minus a small portion in the middle.
On a crop body your 50mm will weigh in close to that of an 85mm prime on FF.

My choice would be to bung the 50mm on your body stop it down to F8 and see what you get from that and and your other lenses before you think about spending money
 
Thank you all :)
This is helpful and gives me food for thought. We are between homes right now hence I can't give room size as we have not bought our next home yet.However it is allowing me time to gather info and purchase a few things I will need.
Cathy
 
I don't do much portrait stuff, but I did take a few at Christmas (new grandchild and all that.. :) ). For head and shoulders shots, the 85mm f/1.8 would have been a nice choice. For some shots I used my Sigma 70-200, which is a bit scary for the sitter (my daughter and son-in-law) IMHO. I ended up taking most of the shots on a borrowed 18-55 kit lens. Worked out OK, but not stellar. I am planning to get a 15-85mm in the near future and that would cover the focal lengths, but of course won't provide a fast aperture.

A while back I borrowed a Canon 50mm f/1.4, and I thought it was a very nice lens. Might get one myself for shallow DOF shots and portraits..
 
Depends what you mean by studio work?

I've used a Canon 70-200mm f4L and that is absolutely superb for product and portrait photography. Gives you a nice distance from the subject, so you don't have to be right on their noses. Guess it's down to personal preference really, but with good light and a white out background you wont necessarily have any requirement for a very fast lens.
 
GJ and Aserota thank you

I only will only be using my home studio lights for family and friend photos to include baby to adult, single portrait head shots, full body shots and
Small group shots of mum dad with kids.
Huh! Would you listen to me :) lol! I will be practising with my dogs for starters.
Cathy
 
My #1 go to is 100mm macro and then 85mm if I want crazy DOF. This is despite owning 70-200mm (not 2.8).

100mm is super sharp, just about long enough, stabilised and can focus rather close if needed!
 
daugirdas said:
My #1 go to is 100mm macro and then 85mm if I want crazy DOF. This is despite owning 70-200mm (not 2.8).

100mm is super sharp, just about long enough, stabilised and can focus rather close if needed!
Click to expand...

On a crop body, I think I would find 100mm too long for the space I have in my house, plus I think it would put too much distance between me and the sitter. On a full frame though, 85 or 100 would work nicely IMHO. YMMV of course..
 
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