I am just starting my birth photography business and need some recommendations for new lens(s). In particular, I need something that does relatively well in low light, preferably telephoto (as in many situations the room is small and there are too many people/inanimate objects for me to move easily and freely), and does okay with action shots. I tried to solve my low light problem with a 50mm 1.4, but I just really need to be able to zoom in and out at a moments notice. Changing lenses at any point in the delivery is just a bad idea - you could literally miss the whole thing! Anyway, if you all could give me some suggestions, I would REALLY appreciate it. Thanks!
24-70 f2.8 L *IF* you have the patience to find a working copy, or a 70-200 mm f2.8 IS L, but it might not be wide enough. failing that you have a choice of 24mm,35mm,50mm and 85 mm primes
You have pretty much narrowed it down yourself here if you want a non prime lens. I best candidate for low light would be 70-200 f/2.8. it's heavy but the IS version would be real heavy I would think after a couple of hours. Another prime would be 135 f/2 or 85 f/1.2 just my thinking here
The 50mm tends to be too long actually, when working in these little rooms. With a 50mm the choice is usually to be right on top of the action, and be too close to really see what is going on, or to be squished to the wall trying get a wide view, yet being blocked out by everyone else in the room.
If you must have a zoom there are a plethora of good f2.8 zooms out there. Canon 24-70L, Sigma 24-70 HSM, Tamron 28-70 on the longer end. Canon 17-55IS, Sigma 18-50 and Tamron 17-50 on the wider.
If you're seriously going after this as a business, rent or buy a second body and keep a zoom on one and a prime on the other. You should'nt be in a situation like that without a backup body anyway.
bluefox9er wrote:
24-70 f2.8 L *IF* you have the patience to find a working copy,
from what I've been seeing lately this isn't as much of a problem as it used to be.
Therefore this lens has a bad rep on the net but sounds like it may suit your needs.
It has somewhat close minimum focussing distance as well for detail shots like little feet, hands etc.
My recent purchase was spot on out of the box.
Great all around on full frame.
for low light you need high ISO, so it depends on what body you have. I do recommend the 5Dmk2 for the job, ff is also better for you if you have to do some cropping, and since you dont really need the extra X1.6 in terms of distance.
I like my Rebel XT, but if you want to do this for money, I suggest you upgrade to at least a 40D or 50D simply for the higher ISO settings and performance. Hospitals can have some awfully wretched lighting.
for a crop body I would also recommend the 24-70L. lovely and versatile lens. should be perfect. don't know why you would get a 70-200 when 50 is generally too long. You could think about something prime in the 28-35 range as well for larger aperture.
You've got several options. 17-55IS (if staying with APS-C), 24-70, 70-200/2.8IS, 85/1.8, 135L. FWIW if you're shooting with available light you may find it worthwhile to upgrade to either a 5D or 5DII. Think of it as an investment.
Buy and learn how to use lights. Get some modifiers to soften and bounce. Pick up a few primes: 24, 35, to go with your 50 (they don't need to be ultra-fast, f/2 or 2.8 is fine, you'll probably want AT LEAST this much DOF).
Or get the lights and get a 17-55 IS (or Tammy 17-50) if you're on crop, or 24-70L (or Tammy 28-75 f/2.8) if FF, if you want to work with zoom lenses.
OOPS, strike my lights comment.... I misread and thought you were shooting babies... not babies on their way out (or in, as it may be... depending on your frame of reference).
Learn how to use your a speedlight on camera or held away in your hand. My lens recs stay the same.
