Lens for taking pics of kids?

[shocksyde]

Hello all,

My coworker has asked me to come to her place and take some pics of her 2 little girls. They're around 3 or 4 I believe and pretty well behaved from what I've heard about them.

Currently I have a 400D, the kit lens, a 50mm 1.8, and a 28-105 3.5-4.5 II. I have used my 50mm 1.8 to take some pics of my friend that turned out pretty good, but I'm worried that the autofocus won't be fast enough to keep up with 2 young children. Can I get away with one of my other lenses or should I invest in a fast USM/HSM lens?

I am unsure what the lighting will be like as I have never been to the house, but I'd like to make sure I'm prepared for low light conditions.

Any suggestions would be welcome. Sorry if this thread topic is massively redundant, I did search around for similar threads but didn't find anything.

Thanks!

[SoundsGood]

I just wanna get in on this thread, since I mostly take pictures of 3 & 4 year old kids. :)

[adammazza]

I find the AF on my 50mm 1.8 isn't fast enough indoors for my 2 kids (2.5 + 4.5) I've resorted to moving back and using my 70-300 at 2.8. Though with the 2 lenses you have, you are probably better off with the 50mm.

Adam

[Dchemist]

The 50 mm F1/8 should work fine. I used my 50 F/1.4 with my grandson last week set at F/2 and ISO 800 in a moderately lit (window light and some Tungsten). I let the camera set the shutter speed which was typically about 1/100 sec. You are right that they move quickly but the solution is simple - just take lots of images. Good luck, Dennis

[braduardo]

Skip out on buying a new lens, and buy a 430EX instead. I use one with my 28-105 USM, and it works wonderful. With the AF assist beam, I can focus in near dark. It will also come in handy because you will be able to shoot in any light, and still keep a fast shutter speed (most likely A LOT faster than at f1.8) and not lose any DOF control. Bounce the flash off the ceiling, and you will be able to avoid the harsh shadows you would get by using the pop-up flash. It will also be easier on their eyes, hopefully causing them to sit still a bit longer. ;)

My 28-105 USM doesn't AF quite as fast as my 70-200, but it's pretty fast. If you can get them outside for some shots, then something in the 70-200 range will come in really handy.

[shocksyde]

I did tell her I wouldn't even charge her if I didn't get any good pics. I'm pretty much doing this as a learning experience.

Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to spend more money on lenses? heh.

Thank you for your replies.

Anyone have experience with Sigma's 17-70? I know it doesn't have HSM, but how's the AF?

[Skrim17]

bring M&M's, promise them each a bag if they behave :)

[shocksyde]

I don't know why, but I pretty much never use a flash. I guess depending on their house setup and the weather that day, I may have to though.

I see it going down in one of two ways:

1. Kids are well behaved and don't move around much, so I can get away with using the 50mm 1.8 (thus preventing need for flash if there's enough light)

2. Kids are goin nuts and I need zoom capability to keep up with them. My zoom is borderline slow, but has USM. I'd probably have to use the onboard flash unless it's nice and bright inside.

[braduardo]

I never used the flash much until I realized that I was losing a lot of DOF control in my shots, and I wanted the flexibility of using a zoom, but with normal 'average' lighting, you can't get a decent shutter speed to work with constistantly from one area to another. Now that I have a flash, my camera comes out a lot more often, especially since I can get handheld shots when it's almost completely dark.

It's been a bit tricky to learn how to use the flash in some situations, but for me it's like I've opened the door on a whole new world of photography.

[shocksyde]

Those are definately some good points, I'll keep that in mind.

[bluefox9er]

i have had really good fresults with the 85mm f1.8, but its long on a crop sensor camera.

[90c4]

Skip out on buying a new lens, and buy a 430EX instead.

I was going to say the same thing. Bounce a flash and you'll be better off. Wide apertures are tough with more than one kid unless they happen to all be on the exact same focal plane. I'd do the shoot outside this time of year - at least here in the Northeast right around dinner time the lighting is great, especially with a fill flash. Also, kids behave much better for people who aren't their parents, so you should be able to keep them still if you want them still.

[Canon Soldier]

200 2.0 IS. She'll pay you before you even start clicking.

[xarqi]

>>>>>FRANKENTHREAD<<<<<
Posted nearly 18 months ago.

[prime80]

LOL...I was wondering if anyone was going to notice the original post date in this thread.

[elysium]

50mm 1.4 or the 85 1.8. Both with USM

[bhardwaj.deepak]

nifty 50 should be a good one. But i like my 85 mm 1.8 a lot. These go good only for portraits..

[xarqi]

Oh well, I tried.:sad:

>>>>>FRANKENTHREAD<<<<<
Posted nearly 18 months ago.

[HoosierJoe]

Oh well, I tried.:sad:
Ha! just saw that. This is happening quite a bit recently. Ancient threads resurrected. You might call them the "undead".

[ShotByTom]

Well, I would think the kids are old enough now that they will follow direction, so you should be good with that 50mm 1.81

[braduardo]

Ha! just saw that. This is happening quite a bit recently. Ancient threads resurrected. You might call them the "undead".


People must be taking the "Do a search, idiot" posts to heart. ;)

[Canon Soldier]

LOL...I was wondering if anyone was going to notice the original post date in this thread.

O i didnt even notice. Why did someone ressurect this? Now i feel stupid.

[cito17]

People must be taking the "Do a search, idiot" posts to heart. ;)

Yeah, seriously. :p

[xarqi]

Maybe zombie-thread is a better term than frankenthread,

People must be taking the "Do a search, idiot" posts to heart.
Interesting point. Resurrecting an old thread to extend it by asking a closely related question not answered in the original sequence of posts makes sense, certainly, but to add comments addressing the OP's question, less so, especially if they duplicate something already said.

I just point them out when I see them because I don't want people to waste their time thinking they are responding to a current issue.

[lonelyjew]

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w148/superlonelyjew/pics/Thread-Crap-Wont_Die.jpg