Canon 15-85mm + Sigma 30mm f/1.4 or 15-85mm + 430EX II Which combo better Indoors ?

I currently have below lenses with 60D. I mainly shoot my daughter who is just about to turn 2 years mainly indoors and somtimes outdoors depending on day and activity. For outdoors, 15mm to 200mm range across 2 lenses seems fine. But with indoors I have been using built in flash with 15-85mm + 50mm f/1.4 and pictures come okay. I usually stop down 50mm with flash to get not so bad results.

I recently bought new Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and 430EX II. I am planning to get rid of 85mm f/1.8 since that range is just too long or too short for crop sensor. Just wanted to see which combo woud be better. I might keep both, but seems flash will fill in most of void for indoors. Any samples would be great ?

Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Canon 15-85mm
Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS

You should have a flash, especially when you are contemplating that vs. a second fast prime.

Flash is in many ways more flexible. It can not only solve low light, it can solve bad light, excessive contrast and motion issues.

flash is better for low light than a fast aperture. You have very small depth of field at f/1.4 whereas a flash with f/4 or so will have the whole subject in focus.

My daughter just turned 2 a couple months back. The 15-85 with a flash is a good tool indoors. It won't have the thin DOF like a fast prime, but that's already a known. For me, I've had the 30, and the 50 twice, and 85 twice. I prefer the convenience of zooms, especially for a 2yr old that won't stand still for more than a second. For me, the 15-85, and the 50-135 fit my needs and flash is used whenever lighting conditions warrant. I would say the flash is a must keep.

I think you are nuts to get rid of the 85/1.8. I think you also need both the 430 and 30.

FEChariot wrote in post #14148158
I think you are nuts to get rid of the 85/1.8. I think you also need both the 430 and 30.

Some would argue that 85mm f/1.8 is good for portraits on crop as compared to 135L on FF. I personally think that 85mm is just too long indoors and to fill in 85mm focal length void I have 70-200 f/4L IS and 15-85mm.

For Sigma 30mm f/1.4, I have seen amazing pictures and it is good FL on crop sensor. I might keep Sigma and 430EX II. I have them in box since last month and haven't even opened it while still debating.

as soon as i got to '2yrs old...mainly indoors' i figured out the answer....flash all the way

Flash will win over prime indoors practically every time unless you have no way of bouncing the light.

When she starts moving that flash isn't going to help much
.figure it is only good to 1/250 so check what shutter speeds you have been using.

mrbtd wrote in post #14150069
When she starts moving that flash isn't going to help much
.figure it is only good to 1/250 so check what shutter speeds you have been using.

It's good to 1/8000" if you use HSS

mrbtd wrote in post #14150069
When she starts moving that flash isn't going to help much
.figure it is only good to 1/250 so check what shutter speeds you have been using.

If flash at 1/250 isn't enough to freeze movement indoors, a fast prime likely won't fare any better. If ambient light is bright enough that you get ghosting at 1/200-250, HSS is available.

mrbtd wrote in post #14150069
When she starts moving that flash isn't going to help much
.figure it is only good to 1/250 so check what shutter speeds you have been using.

this is the most mind-boggling thing i've ever read....

i have to ask, have you ever used a flash? it freezes motion...

mrbtd wrote in post #14150069
When she starts moving that flash isn't going to help much
.figure it is only good to 1/250 so check what shutter speeds you have been using.

This does not make sense. The flash duration indoors is likely to be in the range of 1/1000th to 1/2000th of a second. I doubt the OP will find the flash duration is too long to freeze motion.

And the shutter speed when using flash as the main (only) light is irrelevant to stopping motion. If you see ghosting, you just lower the ISO or stop down to get rid of any ambient light in the shot.