final lens purchase... for a while

[MediaMagic]

I'm looking at a final lens purchase to be used with the 10D for a while. This lens will be for candid shots/portraits indoors in a variety of lighting conditions. The lens I'm seriously considering is the 85mm 1.2L. The types of shooting I'll be doing will be awards banquets, dances, R.O.T.C. drill meets (usually in a gymnasium) etc.

I'm thinking that the 1.2 will give plenty of natural/available light speed and I can still use a 550ex to assist AF or fire if necessary.

My question really isn't about the quality of this lens but rather the practical use for this scenario considering the crop factor. If the 10D had a full size sensor, I'd have already made the purchase. What would you pro's use for these types of photos/lighting conditions if you were using the 10D? Is the effective 135mm too tight?

My other lenses are the 24-70L and 100-400L. The 100-400 obviously isn't a tool for this job, the 24-70 is a possibility (truly a fantastic lens) but 2.8 but seems a bit slow for many available light environments. Setting the ISO at 400 or 800 is an option, of course, but my concern then is the addition of noise/artifacts at the slower shutter speeds of 2.8 as opposed to 1.2. I rarely shoot a lens wide open anyway unless it is an absolute necessity. The crop factor does help wide open softness, but anyway, I'm beginning to ramble. As you can see, I'm really struggling with this one.

I forgot to mention the other lens I'm considering which is the 70-200L 2.8 IS. The "new generation" stabalizer is touted as being able to allow three stops speed increase while avoiding handheld shake. I think that's probably a bit of a stretch, but if can allow slower shutter speeds the equivalent of 1.5 to 2 stops in lower light conditions, it may serve my immediate purpose and be an overall excellent compliment to the 24-70.

Anyway, like I stated, this is the last lens purchase I'll be able to make for a while and really need to make this one count.

THanks,
David

[DaveG]

MediaMagic wrote:
I'm looking at a final lens purchase to be used with the 10D for a while. This lens will be for candid shots/portraits indoors in a variety of lighting conditions. The lens I'm seriously considering is the 85mm 1.2L. The types of shooting I'll be doing will be awards banquets, dances, R.O.T.C. drill meets (usually in a gymnasium) etc.

I'm thinking that the 1.2 will give plenty of natural/available light speed and I can still use a 520ex to assist AF or fire if necessary.

My question really isn't about the quality of this lens but rather the practical use for this scenario considering the crop factor. If the 10D had a full size sensor, I'd have already made the purchase. What would you pro's use for these types of photos/lighting conditions if you were using the 10D? Is the effective 135mm too tight?

My other lenses are the 24-70L and 100-400L. The 100-400 obviously isn't a tool for this job, the 24-70 is a possibility (truly a fantastic lens) but 2.8 but seems a bit slow for many available light environments. Setting the ISO at 400 or 800 is an option, of course, but my concern then is the addition of noise/artifacts at the slower shutter speeds of 2.8 as opposed to 1.2. I rarely shoot a lens wide open anyway unless it is an absolute necessity. The crop factor does help wide open softness, but anyway, I'm beginning to ramble. As you can see, I'm really struggling with this one.

I forgot to mention the other lens I'm considering which is the 70-200L 2.8 IS. The "new generation" stabalizer is touted as being able to allow three stops speed increase while avoiding handheld shake. I think that's probably a bit of a stretch, but if can allow slower shutter speeds the equivalent of 1.5 to 2 stops in lower light conditions, it may serve my immediate purpose and be an overall excellent compliment to the 24-70.

Anyway, like I stated, this is the last lens purchase I'll be able to make for a while and really need to make this one count.

THanks,
David

I always loved the 85 mm focal length. Speed, and exactly the right length for inside portraits where space is at at a premium - like weddings! But I always hated the 135 mm focal length. Too long for portraits and not long enough to be interesting in the way that a 180 was.

The problem is that that lovely 85 translates into a 135 when you use it with a 10D. I think what I'd suggest is either the 70-200 f2.8 (I have the non IS one) or the 100 mm f2. It's true that neither will give you the blinding speed of the 85. f1.2 but it'll give you a nicer focal length (the 100) with still a lot of speed, or a lens that will give you tons of choices.

For awards banquets, and especially speakers at podiums, I always suggest using flash as it gets rid of the racoon eyes, but here's the twist: Get a 420X flash to go along with your 550.

You can put the 420 on a light stand and have it right in front of the speaker. If you are to one side you can use the wireless TTL and do some amazing stuff. You could turn the 550's main flash tube of and just get the 420's light on the subject. Or you can choose a bit of "ratioed" fill. In either case it'll look a lot different than the run of the mill shot. I'm going to do this exact thing in about three hours. I'll use my 70-200 on a monopod (do it yourself IS!) and with the 550 on a Stoboframe bracket.

[Roger_Cavanagh]

I don't have this lens, but every comment I've seen from people who do says:

- It has fantastic image quality and attractive bokeh

- It is very heavy

- The AF is _really_ slow

For "formal" portraits, I'm sure the lens will be great, but it might struggle to capture "action". The 70-200 LIS is probably a safer choice and it's a great lens in its own right.

Regards,

[lightandlife]

For indoor portraits, nothing beats 85mm f1.2 L, but you have to be close enough to the subject. I like this lens best among all primes and zooms.

If you do not have freedom to move around, get 70-200mm IS L.

100-400mm L is no good indoors even with IS. It is for outdoors (It won't collect many photons at 400mm)

I used both 85mm and 100-400mm in an indoor gathering, and only the pics from 85mm saved the day.

[CyberDyneSystems]

That 70-200 IS is on sale at Dell for uder $1200.00 :D

[MediaMagic]

DaveG wrote:

I always loved the 85 mm focal length. Speed, and exactly the right length for inside portraits where space is at at a premium - like weddings! But I always hated the 135 mm focal length. Too long for portraits and not long enough to be interesting in the way that a 180 was.

The problem is that that lovely 85 translates into a 135 when you use it with a 10D. I think what I'd suggest is either the 70-200 f2.8 (I have the non IS one) or the 100 mm f2. It's true that neither will give you the blinding speed of the 85. f1.2 but it'll give you a nicer focal length (the 100) with still a lot of speed, or a lens that will give you tons of choices.

For awards banquets, and especially speakers at podiums, I always suggest using flash as it gets rid of the racoon eyes, but here's the twist: Get a 420X flash to go along with your 550.

You can put the 420 on a light stand and have it right in front of the speaker. If you are to one side you can use the wireless TTL and do some amazing stuff. You could turn the 550's main flash tube of and just get the 420's light on the subject. Or you can choose a bit of "ratioed" fill. In either case it'll look a lot different than the run of the mill shot. I'm going to do this exact thing in about three hours. I'll use my 70-200 on a monopod (do it yourself IS!) and with the 550 on a Stoboframe bracket.



I never thought of this approach, and probably never would have. That's an excellent idea for getting marvelous shots of the speaker(s). I can pick up a 420ex very inexpensively these days. I have two 380ex's here also but I don't think they'll work the same. I'll definately have to practice and experiment; there's a ton of possibility here. Thanks for this fantastic tip!

I did decide to go with the 70-200 because of the versatility and the simple fact that Dell does actually have them on sale for less than $1200 (very hard to pass up). So, I placed the order. It's supposed to ship on or before Oct 6, final price of $1169.96US with free S&H (it appears they are going up by a a few cents per day, others listed in the "Dell" thread sold for 1169.10 and 1169.59).

This is the same lens B&H is selling for $1649.99US. I made the rep read the description and the manufacturer numbers twice to make sure this is for real and it is.

Thanks for the responses!
David