EOS R50: Need lens recommendation for everyday photos & lowlight museum photographs

[JDH6120]

Hello! 

I own a Canon R50 and (currently) the 18-45 mm lens.

My use cases: daily life, my dog, and (the reason I'm here now) artwork/museum photography. Unfortunately, the 18-45 mm lens did not produce great results in low light.

I am looking at two lenses now: either the RF 24 mm f 1.8 or the RF 35 mm f 1.8. 

Will these lenses give me what I need for low-light settings? I like to capture both full-length shots of artworks as well as close-up detail. Do you have other recommendations? Thank you

P.S. I do not use flash in museums. Most museums I visit allow photography, though some specific artworks prohibit photography due to contractual agreements.

[Tintype_18]

Check with the museum as some do not allow flash photography. Found this in one place in New Mexico. One would need to adjust your settings accordingly for good photos.

If I ever won the big lottery, I would tour the US and visit every museum I could squeeze in my lifetime.

[ebiggs1]

Boy if you are ever in Washington and want to see the Declaration of Independence you better not use a flash.

Just like filters, a flash is becoming more and more of an obsolete thing. Perhaps not so much for in studio work but for GP it certainly is not as important as it once was. Although I have seven high dollar flashes in my inventory, I never even carry one any longer. Besides the cameras being so much better the editing software like Photoshop is light years ahead of where it once was. Things change.

[ebiggs1]

"Will these lenses give me what I need for low-light settings?"

Since both lenses are f1.8 they will perform the same in challenging light situations. If either will do what you want it is impossible for anyone here to say that without seeing the actual conditions.

[p4pictures · Accepted solution]

I would examine your current images first to help you have the information to make the right decision for you.

Your current RF-S 18-45mm lens covers the range of the 24mm and 35mm lenses you mentioned. Look at your current pictures with the 18-45mm, if they are mostly taken with the lens close to 24mm setting of your zoom, then go for the 24mm F1.8, if they are mostly close to 35mm, then go for the 35mm F1.8. Without spending over $600 these are the fastest aperture lenses to choose from. 

At the 24mm setting of your RF-S 18-45mm lens the maximum aperture is f/5, so the 24mm F1.8 is 3-stops faster, meaning that if you need to use ISO 6400 with the zoom, you can have the same shutter speed but with the F1.8 aperture you will be able to reduce the ISO to ISO 800. 

At the 35mm setting of your RF-S 18-45mm lens the maximum aperture is f/5.6, so the 24mm F1.8 is 3 1/3-stops faster, meaning that if you need to use ISO 6400 with the zoom, you can have the same shutter speed but with the F1.8 aperture you will be able to reduce the ISO to ISO 640. 

Of course depth of field will also reduce when you shoot with f/1.8 as your aperture value.

[JDH6120]

Thanks for the advice.

[ebiggs1]

"... though some specific artworks prohibit photography due to contractual agreements."

As a general rule any work that is part of the museum's own display is fair game but any art that is on loan may not be open to photography. And of course none is likely to be OK if you intend to use it for commercial offerings I.E., selling it. Basically anything that is left in plain sight is free to photograph. However, what comes into play if you are in a museum you can be trespassed and asked to leave. Copyrighted work of course it different and most likely you can never photograph it unless you receive written permission. 

Leave the flash at home.

[JDH6120]

Like I said, I do not use a flash in museums.