What Lenses would be common for Long Exposure photography?

I looked at some long exposure photography, I don't know what you all would call it, but I found it interesting and would like to try it. For starters, I have a 70-200mm f/4L non-IS (with a 2x TC), a kit lens EF-S 17-55mm f/3.5-5.6, and a Canon 50mm f/1.4 using a Canon 7D.

Well hopefully that's a good start there. Will that be common or what would your lenses be if you were taking a long exposure shot? I've also had my eyes on the 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens for it as well. Just an eye, not buying it yet, but will that just help out? Is that lens common in these shots?

I also take shots for my school and what not (sports, events, portraits, etc., mainly indoor.), but I also take photography as a hobby. That's why I'm keeping an eye on that lens: indoor-dark lighted events such as dances.


Back to the main question...

Long exposures of what? Focal length will dictate much. If night sky, wide prime lens with the lowest f stop you can afford is my suggestion. Seems popular with folks photographing the northern lights and star trails. Much depends on your intended usage of course.


-Dan

Most likely street or since I'm close and have a lot of flexibility to move around, probably the ocean or landscape (looking up to the sky, or down towards a bridge above water).

I found interest in capturing light trails, too, from the street. But mainly street and "landscape" sorts, and mainly at night (I just enjoy the night)

Probably your 50 wide open. Just start experimenting with it

having a fast lens helps, especially when a subject is moving at night. but if its just for landscapes mostly - a tripod is all you need. I shot a lot of night and low light photography at one point in time. heres an example

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^^^ +1
The lens type is called a "tripod"

smithmaestro wrote in post #12192002
Will that be common or what would your lenses be if you were taking a long exposure shot? I've also had my eyes on the 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens for it as well. Just an eye, not buying it yet, but will that just help out? Is that lens common in these shots?

My lenses for long exposure shots are the same as my lenses for any other shot. I have several lenses and they have all been used at some time for long exposure, with focal lengths from 10mm up to 600 mm. There aren't really any specific features which you need for long exposure, so just use whatever lens has the suitable focal length for what you are shooting and how you want to frame it.

The focal length range of the 24-70 will suit some street photography, I use my 24-105 f/4 L quite a lot for city scenes at night, but your existing lenses will do the job well too. If you mean will it help out because it is a fairly fast lens, then no, it won't. You don't need fast apertures for long exposures, they are suited for keeping exposures short but long exposures can be shot at any aperture.

Use the same lens as you would for a regular short exposure, but stick the camera on a good tripod. That is the only piece of equipment you need to add, when using longer exposures.