Lenses for Parties/Events?

Hey all,

After all my time using the 7D with my 50mm f/1.4, 17-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (old and... done it's time, now is handicapped and rarely used) and 70-200mm f/4; I'm in a hunt for a new lens for dance parties or parties in general.

Yes, I'm a high school student and I saved up my money for this, I work as the school photographer (yearbook, magazine, and website) and I've been doing sports and prayer services and all, but I have trouble with dance parties and close quarter events that require LOW LIGHT and GROUP PHOTOS in a TIGHT SPACE (i always have to move back a lot with my 50mm).

I was looking at the 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-70mm f/2.8L, 35mm f/1.4L, 24mm f/1.4L and the 10-22mm f/3.5-5.6.

Here are my thoughts at the moment: My top two would be the 16-35 and the 24-70, don't remember why but I guess it's because of the zoom factors when needed. I also had the two primes because of their low light capabilities, and the EF-S lens because it's... just damn wide and probably something I need, but has its flaws as my teacher lent his to me for a day.

I heard that the 16-35's quality has some flaws and seems to be soft when it's wide open, the 24-70 looks like it could be in my camera bag but my conscious says that something is wrong with it and it's not what I need. The prime lenses are damn wide and the quality seems to be amazing, but it's limited to the group shots with the crop factor. 10-22 is.... wide.

Reason why I'm posting this is because I need help finding out what is right for my needs: dance party/mass/prayer services, close quarter group shots while 2-5 meters away in tight spaces such as a packed gymnasium or a packed cathedral/church, and in damn low light. Any opinions to help me?

I also do night photography outside of school, attempting to catch star trails one day.

Star trails require exposure times of over 30s, or exposure stacking --- doesn't require a low-light specific lens, just a good tripod.

Nightlife photography is best done with a flash (or two!). I shot for a couple nightlife/hospitality companies for a year and I used a sigma 18-50 f/2.8 (locked at 18mm, generally at f/3.5) with a 430exII on camera, and a YN 460 in hand.

Flash will help your way more than a new lens will (provided you can focus in the low light).

That is true. Well, I guess I found out the answer to that question, now towards the next one; which would be great for a group shot? Stupid question and self explanatory but depends on the quality with the flash being used... or am I just making myself confused even though all the image qualities look the same with the flash?

Flash it up!

smithmaestro wrote in post #13192532
That is true. Well, I guess I found out the answer to that question, now towards the next one; which would be great for a group shot? Stupid question and self explanatory but depends on the quality with the flash being used... or am I just making myself confused even though all the image qualities look the same with the flash?

pretty hard to understand what you are asking. i'll just say that you'll get excellent image quality with properly used flash.

ed rader

have you thought about the EF-S 17-55 f2.8? for the price of the 16-35L you could practically have a 17-55f2.8IS, an external flash like a 430EX, and a fast prime like a sigma 30mm f1.4...i'd do that...unless you're switching to FF next week

but yeah, as others suggested flash is key to indoors...especially with group shots, because you'll need the DOF to get them all in focus

Adding the Canon 28 1.8 and 85 1.8 lenses would be a decent combination for your application and (I assume) fit your budget needs. You wouldn't have the convience of zooms but the speed required for low light is there.

Sigma 30 was great at a near dark wedding I took some dance pictures at. I think it would a look.

for your situation go with the new 17-55 2.8 IS the other L lenses can wait until you go to full frame.

c2thew wrote in post #13193423
for your situation go with the new 17-55 2.8 IS the other L lenses can wait until you go to full frame.

^

Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 OS HSM or Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM. The only reason to go for one of the similar range L lenses is 'because its an L lens' and build quality/weather sealing.

The two lenses I listed are stabilized, have excellent optics, are pretty cheap and are f2.8.

Also, in your situation, i'd grab a flash. Maybe a Canon 430 or 580, or if you don't want to spend the cash, Yongnuo YN565 or maybe the Nissin 622-ii.

I love my YN565, its brilliant for the price, and basically feature identical to the canon 580 for one third the price.

FWIW, both me and my friend do club photography. I use a Sigma 17-50mm on my 60D with a YN565, and he uses a Sigma 17-50mm (he was convinced after I showed him mine, ordered one that night haha) on a 60D with a 580. Both setups give excellent photos.

Canon 17-55 doesn't have weather sealing and build quality isn't as good as the Sigma. Sigma is a better lens all over basically.

Raylon wrote in post #13194525
Canon 17-55 doesn't have weather sealing and build quality isn't as good as the Sigma. Sigma is a better lens all over basically.

I didn't say it did, I said thats one of the only reasons to go for the L lenses in that range on a crop body.

I agree though. I <3 the Sigma 17-50mm

Um... as said previously, a Sigma 30mm F1.4 and a flash would probably be the best combo.
The 24L would serve you well too, and on a crop, the FL is even better for your intended purpose, however it's far more expensive than the Sigma 30mm.
If I were you, I wouldn't bother with normal range zooms, even F2.8 isn't all that large an aperture and that's as large as they go on zooms.

moda wrote in post #13197753
I didn't say it did, I said thats one of the only reasons to go for the L lenses in that range on a crop body.

I agree though. I <3 the Sigma 17-50mm

Ahh gotcha I just reread your post and realized I read it wrong.

Defnitely for the price you can't really beat the Sigma. The Canon is waaay overpriced.

But I think OP should invest in the Sigma 30. It's amazing.

ed rader wrote in post #13192668
pretty hard to understand what you are asking. i'll just say that you'll get excellent image quality with properly used flash.

ed rader

This, IMO, is the best answer. In June, I shot a HS post-prom event. Took one body, one lens and a flash. Some shots were from point blank range, some I had the oppty to stage a shot.

IIRC, my lens choice as a 50mm on a 5D and used flash mounted on the camera with a bounce card. Everything worked out great. Here's an example of the results:

Staged: