28mm f1.8 or just use my 50mm f1.4???

[steve75]

Right i'll cut to the chase.... I've been asked by a couple to shoot an evening wedding party [the couple are getting maried abroad, but having a wedding party with family and friends before they go]

I'm wondering if i'm going to find myself struggling with group shots with my 50mm f1.4 and should i pick up the 28 f1.8.......??? I do want to pick up the 28 down the line but wasn't really planning on it yet, as at the moment i would rather put that money towards a 70-200 f2.8L that would get much more use....

So what would you do?

Make do with the 50 f1.4 or pick up a 28 f1.8???

[perfect_pixel]

If these shots are going to be indoors you will probably struggle with 50mm on a crop body to get wide enough for group shots.

I don't know anything about how the 28/1.8 performs but another option is the Sigma 30/1.4 which is an outstandingly sharp lens but if you do get one then make sure it focusses accurately in more distant shots. It's cheaper than the 28mm as well!

If this is just a one off then alternatively you could consider renting whatever you need. Calumet (http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/ctl?ac.ui.pn=common.IncSel&ac.ui.if=text/rentaldest.jsp) is the only place that I know off in the UK but I am sure there are others.

Good luck with it and post some pictures when you are done!


Steve

[Andy_T]

Hmm, what about using your 17-55/2.8 IS?

If it is sharp @ f/2.8 and the IS works, I'd think of using that over buying another lens.

Having said that, I quite like my Sigma 30/1.4 EX, and it is well capable of great shots @ f/2.0 and usable shots @ f/1.4-1.8. That would mean you get 1-2 stops over the 17-55 IS, so my guess it would be about on par with the IS. Also I normally do not use my lens wider open than f/2.0 (same with my 50/1.4).

I once had the possibility to compare my Sigma 30/1.4 to a 28/1.8 that I had bought used. Don't know if my copy of the 28/1.8 maybe was not the sharpest, but the Sigma was sharper @ f/1.4 than the Canon @ f/2.8. Little difference by f/2.8. So while I liked the 28/1.8, I liked the 30/1.4 EX better, so that one got to stay. Of course, if you plan to go FF anytime soon, the 30/1.4 won't be too usable (but with the 17-55/2.8 IS you are already showing some commitment to 1.6x crop bodies...)

Best regards,
Andy

[René Damkot]

Second the 17-55.
For group shots you don't want to use an aperture of 1.8 anyways: You want depth of field...

[steve75]

Thanks for the words of advise, although i haven't checked out the venue yet i'm expecting it to be really dark! i will still have the 17-55 with me but i was still worried that 2.8 might not cut it and the subjects may not stand still enough for the IS to be of help...... i've not been in a situation like this to see how well it performs in these conditions as yet, but as a few of you seem confident it will perform i think i will take the 17-55 and the 50 1.4 and see what what i can do with that combo.

thanks for the advise, and i'll definately post the results....

Cheers

Steve