Canon 50mm f1.8???

I read that this is great lens for indoor use.
I don't understand something here. How 50mm could be be good to make i.e.
group of people around the table?
isn't 50mm to narrow for that?

 

f1.8 is a very large apperture and therefore this lens can often be used
with ambient light, even artifical light, where other lenses would require a
flash already. That is what makes it well suited for indoor use.

The 50mm is a "normal" lens on full-frame and a light telephoto lens on DX.
Many photographers prefer a light telephoto lens for portraits for many
reasons, ranging from psychological (you don't have to stick the camera
right into the face of the model but you can keep some distance, making the
model more comfortable) over technical (reduces perspective distortion) to
artistic.

jue

 

For shooting tables I used to use a 35 or 24 on a 35mm, wide enough to
get everyone at the table in one shot, clients really liked that. Just
had to be careful not to get anyone large at the sides of the frame. I
would use an 85 to do individual head shots (close to the 50mm). In
the rooms I worked tables were always packed in tight, a 50 would have
been much too long in 35 equiv.

Tom

 

50mm can be great for indoor use, but it is a bit on the narrow side
when used with a cropped camera. I current favorite lens for indoor
use is a 28mm f/2.8, not as fast as the 50mm but a lot wider. Note on
a cropped camera, like mine, a 28mm lens has about the same FOV as a
45mm lens would on a FF camera.

The 50mm is so cheap and so sharp that everyone should have one.

Scott

 

It's a very good lens for the price.

please see the last picture on the page of
http://djmp.co.uk/slr 1/fes/fes.htm

DAVE
Bristol UK

 

It's the big aperture that makes it great indoors, as it lets more light in
and so usually no need for flash.

The focal length is great for single person shots on a 1.6 cropped sensor.
For group shots, a 24mm would be a better solution, although you need to be
careful using a big aperture to get the shutter speed, as the DOF could mean
that some of the people will be out of focus. This is where aperture
bracketing would be useful (hint, hint Canon)!

 

Whenever possible, I always used a longer lens for groups (back in film
days).

As for bracketing...a technique for losers.

 

You used to use a longer lens in your film days than 85mm for indoor group
shots? How many people in the group? How big was the interior?

As for your comment on bracketing being for losers, don't be a knob.

 

I think he meant a lens longer than 24mm, but I only think that
because I read what he wrote.

 

Its f1.8 , that makes a very good indoor lens for portrait @ 80$ .

 

I picked one up a couple of weeks ago. Nice and fast. Super cheap.
Takes nice photos. Issue is it turns into an 80mm lense on my 1.6 crop
30D. So you gotta stand back somewhat to get large groups of people.
Makes a nice portrait lens though.

 

I rarely did groups indoors. My studio was too small to do more than
three people, so most were done in homes or in a park. I never used
35mm (too frickin' small), but on a Hasselblad, I'd use the 150mm
whenever I could.

Bracketing is (for the most part) for people who are unable to
determine the correct exposure. Yes, there are circumstances where you
*must* make sure you get the shot...then just run through every F/stop
on the camera. But bracketing as a general practice is pretty lame-o.

 

Yes, using a wide-angle lens for groups (unless it's something like a
class reunion) distorts people on the ends.

 

Which is fine if you don't really like the people at the ends. (then
again, being paid for the photos might affect that judgment. )

 

I think what affects your judgment is NOT being paid for the photos.

 

Absolutely.. Then again, we're not sure what's affecting your sense of
humour. maybe you should book a massage or something.. try and relax.

 

I was smiling broadly when I wrote that! Perhaps I should have
included a smiley, but some people get irrationally upset when they
see one. ;-)

 

One of my studio competitors had a Widelux. He brought it to one of our
convention or seminars (don't remember) and did a group photo. While
the lens was moving, he ran behind the group from one end to the
other...so he ended up on both ends of the group. Funny...

 

or tall people

 

It's a fantastic lens! It's very inexpensive and the built is not as
good as the more expensive f1.4 but the end results are stunning. I
highly recommend it.
Helen