Which lens as my 400D magnifys by 1.6x

[SupraWez]

Hello All,

I was wondering what lens would be best for my setup for low light indoor photography.

My 400D has a 1.6 magnification, with this in mind my 50mm becomes 80mm which makes it tricky to get some shots, should I invest in a 35mm to get around 56mm?

I am looking to upgrade to a 500D but this still has 1.6 magnification :(


Thanks

[Bob_A]

To get the field of view of a 50mm lens on a film/full format camera you will need a 35mm lens on your crop camera. However, even though you need more room you'll get more natural looking portraits of people using a longer lens.

Note, there is no "magnification" and the focal length of a 50mm lens on a crop camera does not change to 80mm. A crop camera simply has a smaller sensor that captures a smaller area of the image (circle) projected by the lens. :)

[SupraWez]

To get the field of view of a 50mm lens on a film/full format camera you will need a 35mm lens on your crop camera. However, even though you need more room you'll get more natural looking portraits of people using a longer lens.


Are you saying I should stick with the 50mm?



Note, there is no "magnification" and the focal length of a 50mm lens on a crop camera does not change to 80mm. A crop camera simply has a smaller sensor that captures a smaller area of the image (circle) projected by the lens. :)

I did wonder about this but according to What Digi Camera mag in the UK in the lens guide it states; under a heading Magnification Factor, unless you have a full frame camera model like the Canon 5D Mark II the lenses do not provide the same field of view as they would on a 35mm SLR. Nikon, Pentax, Fuji and Sony magnify by 1.5x, Canon 1.6x and Sigma 1.7x.

Is all this information wrong?

[SupraWez]

I have just read this article and I guess the information in the mag isnt 100% accurate.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/dslr-mag.shtml

[Bob_A]

I have just read this article and I guess the information in the mag isnt 100% accurate.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/dslr-mag.shtml

A quote straight from the article:

"‘Crop’ is a fairly good term – the imaging area is physically smaller. Less of the image circle projected by the lens is used, therefore it is a crop. The image remains the same size at the film plane for a given lens and subject distance – it is in no way magnified."

By the way, here's the source of the best info you can find on the subject: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45388

[johnj2803]

Hello All,

I was wondering what lens would be best for my setup for low light indoor photography.


Thanks

actually what will help you a lot better than a lens is a flash!:cool:

[Bob_A]

Are you saying I should stick with the 50mm?


Depends what you're shooting. For portraits 85mm on full frame is pretty popular, and 50mm on a crop camera would be pretty decent.

If you only have a 35mm then you need to get pretty close to the subject for a head and shoulders portrait, and there can be some perspective/distortion issues.

[SupraWez]

actually what will help you a lot better than a lens is a flash!:cool:

I am hoping to pickup a 430EX II or a 580EX II this week. Would it also be an idea to maybe invest in a softbox as well?

[SupraWez]

Depends what you're shooting. For portraits 85mm on full frame is pretty popular, and 50mm on a crop camera would be pretty decent.

If you only have a 35mm then you need to get pretty close to the subject for a head and shoulders portrait, and there can be some perspective/distortion issues.

Thanks for the info, great help indeed.

I already have the 50mm so will stick with that for now and see how I get on when I have added a flash.

[Bob_A]

I am hoping to pickup a 430EX II or a 580EX II this week. Would it also be an idea to maybe invest in a softbox as well?

I do some home portrait work and use two flashes off camera, one pointing into an umbrella on an umbrella stand and one mounted on a tripod (gotta get a second stand) shooting through a smallish (15" lastolite ezybox) softbox. The small softbox is ok for home portraits, but really is too small if you are looking for a "pro" result.

[SupraWez]

I do some home portrait work and use two flashes off camera, one pointing into an umbrella on an umbrella stand and one mounted on a tripod (gotta get a second stand) shooting through a smallish (15" lastolite ezybox) softbox. The small softbox is ok for home portraits, but really is too small if you are looking for a "pro" result.

Would it be a better idea for me to get two 430EX instead of a single 580EX?

[Bob_A]

Would it be a better idea for me to get two 430EX instead of a single 580EX?

If you can swing it I'd get at least one 580EX, especially if you want to try off camera flash with full ETTL. A 580EX with an off-shoe cord can wirelessly trigger a 420 or 430EX. A 420 or 430EX can't be used as a master to trigger other flashes.

Maybe get a 580EX II and pick up a used 420EX?

[SupraWez]

Maybe get a 580EX II and pick up a used 420EX?

I will go for a single 580EX II for now and then look at getting a 430EX II a bit later once I have played with the 580 for a bit.

Planning on looking at these lenses as well :-

Canon EF 28mm f2.8
Canon EF 35mm f2.0
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM

As well as some softboxes and umbrellas.

[SupraWez]

Jessops being jessops had none of what I wanted to look at in stock :(

[Stirfried]

I'd suggest getting one 580EXII just because its a great ETTL flash.
But when you (well, I) want more than one off-camera flash I end up setting everything to manual. In addition the Canon triggering needs almost line-of-sight to work.
This means you'll really want PWs or Cactus V4 radio triggers, which means no ETTL. IMO if you're happy with manual settings on your flashes then you're better off spending (less) money on other flash units that are more powerful than a 430EX etc.

[SupraWez]

I ended up going for a single 580EXII, what an amazing difference it makes, I also have a small diffuser which I picked up the other day to allow for more direct flash as I have been bouncing off the ceiling for all my previous shots.

My first play with the new flash and first attempts at portraits can be seen in the following thread, as mentioned by someone else they are a bit too red, I am hoping to fix this when we next get chance to take some more :)

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=754781