I am looking for some advice on the best way to deal with a relatively infrequent need.
A little about myself: I shoot primarily for myself. My preferred subjects are landscapes, with some dabbling in Wildlife and Architecture.
The body I use is the 5D M2
My Flash is a Bower sfd728c
My most used lens is a 24-105 F/4
I only have two primes, a Nifty 50 and a 100mm F/2
Occasionally (3 or 4 times a year) I end up taking pictures at family events with the principle subjects being my niece and nephew. (Ages 4 and 5) No Portraits, just candids’.
A sample environment would be a living room at night, two table lamps on, kids playing next to a Christmas tree.
The lens I use most often at these events is my 24-105. The issue is that at F/4, I need to use a flash more often than not. Now I am not opposed to a flash, but I think that my family sometimes could do with out. I get the occasional furrowed brow.
Also, the flash I have is a Bower SFD728C. It seems to be powerful enough, but the recycle time sometimes keeps me from getting a candid that I want.
I have given a lot of thought to a fast prime. Looking at my photos, 35mm looks about right, but is this really going to allow me to get the shots I want without a flash?
So,
Do I
1) Get a 430EX2 speed lite (supposed to have the great recycle time) and learn to more judicious in the use of the flash to keep from being too annoying?
2) Get a fast prime, say the 35mm F2. (I would use my 100mm f/2 as a benchmark for the IQ I would be happy with).
3) Do nothing (use the 24-105 and Bower) and just learn to be more selective in clicking the shutter release.
Have you experimented much with your 50mm? I would think it's an acceptable lens for this purpose. If the IQ doesn't suit you, you can also consider the 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 35/2… I'm personally a fan of available lighting if possible for candids.
Get a tripod. I don’t see how fast primes will help you with your landscapes and Architecture. For wildlife use 100/f2 for now until you can afford something longer.
If you are taking candids of kids (>1), unless they both are standing parallel to your camera; one of them will be seriously OOF if you use a fast lens.
I think you probably need f/4-f/5.6 most of the time. My suggestion is set your 5D2 to M, 1/100 and f/4, iso1600+ and bounce flash.
If it is only 1 kid, the above responses with fast primes will work.
5D2 + 24-105L + flash is great for candids of kids. Don't know about the Bower flash, but the 430exII is a great flash. Just bounce the flash if possible or use as fill outside.
