Please Help me! What is the best and fastest Canon lens to take photo of kittens?

ed rader wrote in post #2336641
PG -- those were with the F4 non-IS so i may have just saved you a bundle of money .

ed rader

these were with the f4 IS.

your just plain cruel....I've even unsubscribed from your F4IS thread to avoid temptation

PetKal wrote in post #2336829
What does that mean, Billy "who is not from Key West, he says" ?

hey i happen to like cats. i had a cat when i lived at home. but she died right before i graduated (at 12 years old). Alas im stuck in a dorm now... so no animals allowed

ed rader wrote in post #2336641
PG -- those were with the F4 non-IS so i may have just saved you a bundle of money .

ed rader

these were with the f4 IS.

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What lens was this photo take with please?

70-200L f4 IS.

ed rader

What do you think about those photos:
http://marcin.gilowie.​pl/galeria/v/bazylia

C&C much appreciated.

Look Sharon,

Your kitten photos are excellent...You have to give your self some credit for them...might I blatantly suggest that: (Take a course in Art Appreciation or read a book about it)...You will learn to love your work results deservedly more...

They are very good results from what we see so far...

How about the 50mm 1.2 lens than?

I have the 85mm 1.8, and the 50mm 1.4, but the 50mm 1.2, might just do the trick?

Has any one out there any info on it, Please?

Shekinah wrote in post #2335656
I would greatly appreciate your help with what lens would be the fastest and sharpest to take photos of kittens and cats as they move fast. I would like to hear from professional photographers please what lens is best. I am looking at the 85 1.2 but was told by my local shop that I would be better off to purchase the 85 1.8 lens is this true?

85/1.8 sounds good. But if you are trying to get in close for a one kitten you might want closer focus, so the 100mm f2.8 macro would be a good choice.

Shekinah wrote in post #2336245
Thanks for that, I thought that the larger f stop eg 85mm 1.2 was a faster lens because the glass is larger being an f/ 1.2, so I thought that meant that the lens was faster because it lets more light in. I have learn't today that this is not so. How do you get a faster shutter speed apart from putting the speed up? I use my camera on AV so I choose the aperture and most of the time the camera chooses the wrong shutter speed. How do I fix this as I do not know how to use the camera on full manual, I have no idea what apertures go with what shutter speeds?

Sharon, you learned wrong today. The term "fast" lens does in fact refer to a lens with a larger maximum aperture. That term has been around for several decades that I am aware of.

What was mentioned, though, is a different application of the word "fast" as applied to lenses. It has to do with the speed of the autofocus mechanism doing its thing. The context of what was said was in reference to potentially rapidly moving subjects and trying to keep up with it/them with autofocus being able to track their position(s).

Aside from that - you apparently have a fantastic collection of prime lenses, but with a need to fill an important gap in the available focal lengths. The jump from 50mm to 180mm is quite a jump in my opinion. I would strongly suggest something in the 80 to 105mm range to close the gap.

80 to 85mm is the "classic" portrait focal length for 35mm film cameras (and your 1Ds). Another focal length which I used for years (on my Nikon F's) that would do quite well for portraits as well as filling the gap is 105mm. Unfortunately, I don't see an "L" prime in that range in the Canon lineup. However, there is one choice that would be superb and that's the 70-200 f/2.8L IS zoom. I have one that I use with my 20D, but it would be a fantastic solution to fill out your collection of lenses. It's one of Canon's finest lenses without a doubt.

PetKal wrote in post #2336357
The questions are not silly at all. I am an amateur too, as are most people on this board, so we understand.
What I am trying to suggest to you is that you already own the two (arguably) sharpest lenses made by Canon. One of them has as fast AF as it gets, while the 180L AF is more then adequate for more sedentary shots.
I understand you've had the 200 f/1.8 in your possession for about a year now ? I'd think you know that lens inside out by now. As far as the 180L goes.....it's just like any other old telephoto......for you will not be shooting your cats at macro distances will ya ?

Good advice and suggestions are certainly always needed and helpful........then, thus fortified with those, one is best advised to explore and experiment with the gear one owns already before contemplating further acquisitions and such. That's the way I see it.

I am lucky if I get my camera and lenses out once a month, I don't do much photography at all, most people assume that because of the gear I have I do heaps of photography, as I have said I have 5 children and one on the way, I don't get a lot of time for anything. So I don't know the 200mm lens inside out as yet, I have done many test shots because when I had a 20D camera I had focuising problems that were a fault in the camera that Canon denied of course!!

jgh

HeyLeeMR2 wrote in post #2340109
The fact that you have all that equipment in your signature and you say stuff like this kinda makes me sick to my stomach if I'm being honest. Why do you have such high end stuff if you don't know what you're doing? I don't get that. Not only that but it's more complicated using a camera like the 1DS over say a 20D or 5D.

Well, I hope you are feeling better soon.

jioas

HeyLeeMR2 wrote in post #2340277
How nice. It almost makes me want to forgive you for wasting so much money.

how does her spending effect you? jeez man.

ed rader

Shekinah wrote in post #2339373
I am lucky if I get my camera and lenses out once a month, I don't do much photography at all, most people assume that because of the gear I have I do heaps of photography, as I have said I have 5 children and one on the way, I don't get a lot of time for anything. So I don't know the 200mm lens inside out as yet, I have done many test shots because when I had a 20D camera I had focuising problems that were a fault in the camera that Canon denied of course!!

I could not agree more....a big family like that is like having two full time jobs.
Seriously though, just try to use the 200 and the 180, as you would any other lens. Yes, they are fairly heavy to handhold, thus you will need a tripod, most definitely with the 200.

Someone (Skippy ?) suggested the 70-200 zoom to you. Well, that may not be such a bad idea....especially the new EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM......could be a perfect handholdable lens for you, to bridge the gap between the 50 f/1.4 and the big guns you've got.

Shekinah wrote in post #2339373
........ as I have said I have 5 children and one on the way........

Toxoplasmosis!!!!