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	Username   Password FM Forum Rules Canon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews FM Forums | Canon-mount SLRs | Join Upload & Sell    Search Used end    Archive 2004 · Best lens for candid photography?

christo Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #1 · Best lens for candid photography? I'm curious to know what you guys think is the best lens for this purpose. What is the best compromise in terms of reach, bulkiness, discretion, image quality, bokeh, etc. and assuming the use of a 10D. Sheila takes great pictures with its 300 f/4, but I'm not too sure about the discretion with this big white thing.. On the other hand you have a great reach... I was thinking of the 135 f/2 L when reading a recent discussion about this lens. Might be a good deal using the 1.4 converter... Maybe the next DO zoom too, assuming its image quality is good... Feb 04, 2004 at 10:01 PM

Mike Hatam Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #2 · Best lens for candid photography? My favorites for candids are my 85/1.2, 135/2, and 200/1.8. What I like about those 3 lenses is that they produce fantastic image quality and great bokeh. I use them on my 10D, and I like to create 'tight shot' candids, where the person's face fills most of the frame. The 200/1.8 is certainly not discrete, but my 3 year old daughter is so used to being photographed that she just acts like I'm not there now, and goes on about her 'playing', while I'm firing off shots from about 20 feet away. Feb 04, 2004 at 10:14 PM

christo Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #3 · Best lens for candid photography? Thanks Mike. I should add I plan on using it for street candids. Feb 04, 2004 at 10:21 PM

Peter de Weerdt Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #4 · Best lens for candid photography? Maybe the question should not be what lens, but what camera is great for candids. In the past I preferred to shoot a Rolleiflex with a waist level finder, now I like my Nikon Coolpix best for candids. When you raise a camera to your face directing a lens, either black or white or with camouflage tape, the chance is big people notice you are taking a picture from them and you lose a spontaneous moment. Anyway if you need a real candid lens distance helps, I am sure that is one of the reasons of success of Sheila's pictures. The fact that the lens is white isn't a big problem, the distance makes people feel you are maybe shooting something else but them. Also you could add camouflage tape if you think it is necessary. A 200 would still do fine I think, but an 85 and even a 135 will not create enough distance and will make you as a photographer part of the scene. Whether you like it or not, you'll lose spontaneity in many situations. Good social habits and an open communication with your subject can help you to still get some good pictures, but they'll have a different character. Personally I like those photo's with a moment of contact very much as well. But by definition these are not candids anymore. My favorite people lens, candid or not, is the 70-200/2.8 IS. Zooming gives me the possibility to make contact and zoom out if I like. And yes I have a 1.4 converter too, to create more distance if necessary. Peter Feb 04, 2004 at 10:41 PM

rico Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #5 · Best lens for candid photography? christo wrote: I'm curious to know what you guys think is the best lens for this purpose. What is the best compromise in terms of reach, bulkiness, discretion, image quality, bokeh, etc. and assuming the use of a 10D. Sheila takes great pictures with its 300 f/4, but I'm not too sure about the discretion with this big white thing.. On the other hand you have a great reach... I was thinking of the 135 f/2 L when reading a recent discussion about this lens. Might be a good deal using the 1.4 converter... Maybe the next DO zoom too, assuming its image quality is good... My notion of candid is up close and personal but - hey - I live in Chicago. With a telephoto, you get just one kind of candid shot: horizonal with compressed depth. With WA, you get depth perception, and choice of shooting angle (up, down, across). Plus, you can step around your subject to find that perfect frame. With its size and noise, I consider a DSLR the wrong tool entirely. How about a Contax T (film), Dimage X (digital), or cell phone (wireless)? In tough 'hoods, the latter will get that last shot to your web site before they kill you. Feb 05, 2004 at 08:01 AM

christo Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #6 · Best lens for candid photography? Peter and RIco: Thanks. I think you have a very good point. The choice of the camera may very well be even more important for this kind of photography. I guess for example the sony F717 with its swivel and big zoom would be great... Thanks for the quality input! Feb 05, 2004 at 05:32 PM

genex Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #7 · Best lens for candid photography? Personally we shoot a ton of candids and event photos and my lens of choice on the 10D or 1D is the 24-70. The telephotos are too bulky when you are cramped and you can't get enough room to back up. If you'd like to see the stuff we generally do, check out this link: http://www.orangeexposure.com/highlights/ Most are shot with that lens, although not all... gene Feb 05, 2004 at 08:57 PM

Arka Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #8 · Best lens for candid photography? The last time I wandered through San Francisco seeking decent candids, I was using the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, and it got attention regardless of how far I was from my actual subject. There were random homeless people exclaiming that I should probably be able to see Canada through that thing.. etc etc etc. I presume you shoot city life in NYC, in which case you will be dealing with some of the same issues. The long white L's are great for getting close to a subject, but they will get attention from people around you, and sometimes, your subject. Such attention is not always going to be welcome,.so keep that in mind. Incidentally, I had been through the same districts in SF with a 70-200 f/4L just a few months earlier and no one really talked about it. But then, as it got darker, it became difficult to actually gather enough light for decent shots. You just can't win Arka C. Feb 06, 2004 at 01:33 AM

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