Looling for a good low light indoor lens.

[Justin]

I am looking for a good indoor low light lens for my Canon 60D.  I have been using a 50mm f/1.8 lens but it seems like I am always too close and I can't always back up because I run into furniture or I am up against a wall.  I usually take pictures of kids & pets so a fast lens is preffered.

I had my eye on Canon's 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM but it is a little on the spendy side and I'm not sure I need a zoom lens, when I can just take a step forward.

I am also looking at the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM and the EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM.  Other than the Image stabilation, is there much a difference between these two lenses?  Is image stabilation worth the extra $450.00?

[cale_kat]

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@Justin wrote:

Yes, the Canon 28mm f:1.8 lens is one that I am also considering as well as the EF-S 24mm
f/2.8 STM lens which is only $149.99 but I don’t think it is available yet.

Previous posters have a very good point about the dangers of a lens that can shoot at f1.8 because of the very shallow depth of field.  I often shoot using the TV mode (with exposure compensation) to avoid motion blur.  If I am using a lens that can go down to f1.8 there is a danger of accidentally shooting at too low of an f-stop.  Unfortunately there is no “lowest safe f-stop” mode in TV just like there is no “lowest safe shutter speed” option for shooting in AV mode with auto ISO.  At least not that I am aware of.  I can always shoot in Manual, but then I would lose the exposure compensation option.

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Justin, I honestly believe you would benefit from working in TV mode. The reason being that wide aperature settings are associated with high shutter speeds in normal lighting and therefore if you kept your shutter speed to 125th or 250th, then you could reasonably expect your aperture settings to offer a far deeper DOF than that of the f1.8 max.

[ebiggs1]

A 28mm f1.8 will have greater DOF than the 50mm f1.8.  A plus?

[Justin]

You are right!  For some reason I was thinking backwards and thought I would have less DOF.  But maybe I will since I will be able to get in closer.  At any rate, the Sigma lens is still not available because its on back order so that gives more time to contemplate.  I need to find a shop that will allow me to try both lenses out.