Could someone please tell me what lens would be best for indoor, very dimly lit, church pictures?

[KariBell67]

I am looking for a recommendation regarding a low light lens. I have a Canon 60D, and love it, but the lenses I have don't work well for low light indoor pictures. I want to be able to get clear sharp photos of my younger daughter at dance recital in an auditorium, as well as pictures of one of our other kids, who's a senior next year, in our church, which is really low lit. I had a friend who wants me to take some photos of her daughter's wedding, but it will be in a hotel conference room, with very poor lighting, and the kit lenses I have just don't work well for that. I am definitely ready to invest in a better lens. I have a Canon 50mm f1.4, and love it, but it's probably not the best when I'm farther away from the action, like in the auditorium for dance recital. It also wouldn't be good for a wedding, as you have to get fairly close to the action to catch some of those special moments. So, what 2 or 3 lenses would be good for all of these photo situations? Any help is truly appreciated! Thanks!!

[KariBell67]

Wadizzle,

The recital is always held at CY Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University. So, we are generally pretty far from the stage. I thought maybe a zoom lens but am not sure which would be best. Can I use the 85mm orime for wedding photos of posed groups, bride/groom, etc., and use the zoom for the ceremony and recital? What is it about the 85 that is better for wedding than a 50? I'm fairly new to all this and sometimes it makes my head spin when I'm trying to understand it all. I can't explain how to set my camera, but I know what to do regarding ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. I think I just need a bigger zoom for focal length? Did that make sense? If you can answer all those questions your a life saver!!

[KariBell67]

Scotty,

Can't go in ahead of time as lighting during rehearsal is different than lighting during actual show. Lighting would be similar to going to see a Broadway play in a very large theatre or auditorium. CY seats 2,747 people. We are usually about 15 rows back from the stage.

[Waddizzle]

"Can I use the 85mm orime for wedding photos of posed groups, bride/groom, etc., and use the zoom for the ceremony and recital?" 

The problem with social events is that they can be unpredictable.  Try attending the wedding rehearsal.  Like Ernie pointed out, the best lens to use will be highly dependent upon your location relative to the subjects.  It is also dependent upon how much you wish to frame head and shoulder shots, compared to full body shots.

"What is it about the 85 that is better for wedding than a 50?" 

I think they were citing the speed of the lens, more than anything else.  The 85mm will also give you longer reach, but then you can always zoom with your feet, too......hopefully, which is why you should attend the rehearsal, if possible.  Half of the time, the conduct those the night before because people are coming in from out of town.  I think you will want a wide lens to take a shot of the entire wedding party, too.

"I can't explain how to set my camera, but I know what to do regarding ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.' 

I cannot explain it, either.  I can only suggest a starting point, and the rest is up to you.  I'd start doing test shots in Av mode, with ISO set to 800, and the widest aperture setting.  Let the camera set the shutter speed, and note what it tells you in the viewfinder.  As long as shutter speed stays at 1/250, or higher, when the camera is handheld, then you should be in good shape.  Reset the camera to Tv mode, with the shutter set to 1/250, Auto-ISO, and as wide an aperture as you've got.  Make sure your ISO doesn't creep above 800, by dropping the shutter speed some.  If subjects are not moving, then you could get away with 1/125.

" I think I just need a bigger zoom for focal length?"   

You will get the best performance from zoom lenses that do not have a large ratio between their shortest and longest focal lengths.  The best zooms barely hit a 1:3 ratio: i.e; 24-70mm, 70-200mm.

I hope that I didn't answer the questions.  Instead, I hope it motivates you to think about what shot distances, directions, and angles will be available to you before you decide on a lens purchase.

[Waddizzle]

ScottyP wrote"

"If you do want a better brighter normal range zoom for your crop look at the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS. Same constant bright aperture as the lenses above, but 1.) the focal range is adjusted wider for a 1.6x crop sensor, and 2.) it costs only about $750.00.  If you don't plan to go full frame in the future it makes sense."  

That may be one of your best options for under a thousand.  You can almost always zoom closer with your feet.  But, you cannot always zoom further away because of walls and other obstacles.  See"  There I go with Ernie's "location, location, location" once again.

[KariBell67]

Thank you so very much for all the information! I was eyeing the 70-200, but am a bit hesitant. Is it good only for when you are further away from the subject/s? 

[kvbarkley]

70 is not that much different than 50, but if you have the fifty and the time, you can always switch.

[TTMartin]

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@KariBell67 wrote:
Wadizzle,

The recital is always held at CY Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University. So, we are generally pretty far from the stage. I thought maybe a zoom lens but am not sure which would be best. Can I use the 85mm orime for wedding photos of posed groups, bride/groom, etc., and use the zoom for the ceremony and recital? What is it about the 85 that is better for wedding than a 50? I'm fairly new to all this and sometimes it makes my head spin when I'm trying to understand it all. I can't explain how to set my camera, but I know what to do regarding ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. I think I just need a bigger zoom for focal length? Did that make sense? If you can answer all those questions your a life saver!!

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First if you get prime lenses, you aren't going to use just one. You wil choose the one that works best at that time. So when you need to do group photos, you would use the 50mm f/1.4. The 85mm f/1.8 isn't better than the 50mm f/1.4 it is only longer. And to be clear a longer lenses like the 85mm f/1.8 or 100mm f/2 will give you more of what you call 'zoom', but, that is not the correct term. A zoom lens is one that can be set at multiple focal lengths. With prime lenses you have to switch lenses to change focal lengths and get a narrower field of view (what you call zoom).

[Waddizzle]

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@KariBell67 wrote:

Thank you so very much for all the information! I was eyeing the 70-200, but am a bit hesitant. Is it good only for when you are further away from the subject/s? 

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The 70-200mm is a versatile range of focal lengths.  With your APS-C sensor you will get an apparent focal range of 112-320mm, which could be quite effective if you're sitting a dozen, or so, rows from the front.  Bear in mind, that it will be lengthy lens in the close quarters of audience seating.  It may make your arms weary, too, increasing camera/lens shake.  A monopod may be a good investment on that front.

I just recently picked up the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM, and I'm still discovering just how awesome the image quality is.  If you do go for a 70-200mm "L", definitely pick up the version, f/4 or f/2.8, with Image Stabilization, IS, because those are weather sealed.  Everybody who owns one around here will definitely advise getting the f/2.8L IS II USM, present company included.

Depending upon the size of the wedding venue, the 70-200mm may prevent you from getting full body shots.  Remember, you using an APS-C sensor camera body.  I think you will want something wider for some shots, just to capture the context and atmosphere of the event.  You will almost definitely want something shorter than 50mm to take a shot of the wedding party, if you shoot them indoors.  A better shot would be to shoot the wedding party outdoors with the 70-200..  

Pull the trigger on the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.  Pick up an in expensive EF-S 24mm f/2.8, if you do not have a kit 18-55mm lens for those occasional wide shots that will invariably present themselves.  It is slow to focus compared to more expensive lenses.  It's reasonably sharp, but I would definitely use a tripod with it in poor lighting. 

Or, pick up the 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, and the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 that was mentioned earlier. I think both of these lenses are compromises, though.  I think it would be better to go for the 70-200mm f/2.8L, and compromise on just one lens and not spend a lot money doing it.

[TTMartin]

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@KariBell67 wrote:
Scotty,

Can't go in ahead of time as lighting during rehearsal is different than lighting during actual show. Lighting would be similar to going to see a Broadway play in a very large theatre or auditorium. CY seats 2,747 people. We are usually about 15 rows back from the stage.

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Are you sure the 50mm f/1.4 isn't long enough from the 15th row? If not the 85mm f/1.8 will probably give you the extra reach you need and if not the 100mm f/2 certainly will. 

f/2.8 lenses work fine on full frame cameras, on crop sensor cameras they just don't have a wide enough aperture when you are light restricted. 

[Waddizzle]

"f/2.8 lenses work fine on full frame cameras, on crop sensor cameras they just don't have a wide enough aperture when you are light restricted."   

I don't know.  My crop sensor camera turned a few cartwheels with the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM attached to it.  Crop bodies love wide apertures.  It is what brings out the best in them.

The EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM is a real sleeper, IMHO.  Check out the sample photos at B&H compared to other lenses in the same price range.  IT ROCKS.  For the focal length, the price/performance ratio makes it an excellent value.  It's not fast to focus wide open, or at any focal length for that matter, which is my only serious knock against it.