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!!

[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.

[ScottyP]

Not sure a tripod is needed.  Using a wide-ish lens like a 24mm, your threshold shutter speed for avoiding handheld camera shake is pretty low (about 1/40th is all you need on a crop body).   If you are shooting people, they move too much for a 1/40th shutter speed anyway. 

The suggestion of 85 or 100mm was not about light or group photos, that was only to give you more telephoto reach for the dance recitals, where you said you needed reach. 

I am am not familiar with the 24mm STM lens but that focal length on a crop is about like 35mm on full frame, and that is maybe the most versatile fixed length there is. 

[TTMartin]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

"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.

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Yes, they do and the wider the better.  i.e. f/1.8 or f/2

And the EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS II is a great lens, but, I wasn't under the impression that the OP had $2000+ for a lens.

[Waddizzle]

"And the EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS II is a great lens, but, I wasn't under the impression that the OP had $2000+ for a lens." 

I wasn't trying to suggest it.  I used it as an example for an f/2.8 lens that I own on a crop body.  The EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens is a real sleeper of lens, IMHO.  I'd have to rate it on par with the new "nifty fifty" for image quality, with the added bonus of being a wide angle lens.

[TTMartin]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

"And the EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS II is a great lens, but, I wasn't under the impression that the OP had $2000+ for a lens." 

I wasn't trying to suggest it.  I used it as an example for an f/2.8 lens that I own on a crop body.  The EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens is a real sleeper of lens, IMHO.  I'd have to rate it on par with the new "nifty fifty" for image quality, with the added bonus of being a wide angle lens.

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STM lenses really are an amazing value. My next lens purchase may very well be the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM. I think it would be a great lens to put on my old XTi to keep in the car.

[ebiggs1]

Kari Bell,

I hope you have taken all this in.  Some is good, some is not so good. Believe me you do not want primes (single focal length) lenses.  I.E., like the 24mm, 50mm or 85mm.  They are single purpose lenses.  Besides you will need all of them and you will have to change them.  A lot!  For instance at your wedding job, an 85mm is great for portraits but it will do little to nothing else.

Whatever lens choice you decide on, try to get zooms with a constant f2.8 or faster (smaller f number) aperture.  They will offer you the best bang for the buck.

As to camera settings, again, no body here can tell you without seeing your specific situations.  And remember location is the most important consideration.  If you have no choice, you will have to work with what you are dealt.  Choose the best spot you can.

I doubt seriously they will allow you to use a tripod or monopod.  I do this kind of photography for the school. I do use a tripod but I am allowed in the sound/light booth at the rear of the auditorium.  I also always set a camera on a tripod at the back of the church with a long tele mounted on it.  It is the only way to get "the first kiss" without being 'involved', let us say!  Location, location, location.

Lastly I can't overstate, it is imperative you get whatever you decide on first and USE it.  First.  Use it and learn it.  Don't expect to go to where the event is an turn in a spectacular job, blindly.  Your young dancer rehearses doesn't she?  So you must 'rehearse' too.

[TTMartin]

Your ideal zoom lens would be the Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM, but, it doesn't start shipping until April.

With a constant f/1.8 aperture it gives you the best of both worlds. It is over a full stop faster than an f/2.8 zoom, which is really needed for your 60D in challenging lighting conditions. It's price is about the same as a set of primes. And it gives you all the convenience of a zoom lens.