Lens suggestion for newbie

Hello

I am new to photography and would like your suggestion for a new lens. My current gear is 60D, 24-105L f4 and 50mm 2.5 macro. So far I find myself taking group pictures of family and friends in my house where the light is low just like any normal place with one or two bulb lights. I have been looking at the 50mm 1.4 to use in low light situations. I am afraid that it might work in low light for portraits of 1-2 people, the aperture will need to be increased in order to get larger groups in focus which will defeat the purpose of having this lens. Please let me know if I can use large aperture ( lower f number) for group portraits in low light. Futhermore, if money is not an issue, would I be better served with the 24-70 L f2.8? Thank you for your help

you have a nice lens for outdoors use in the 24-105 which should suite you fine for the future for now until you decide what outdoors photography you wish to pursue. Indoors you need as fast as possible. I like my 50mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.8 for indoors where there is room to back up if needed but you state that seems to be a problem. If you are willing to spend the money to get 24-105mm 2.8 then I suggest that you seriously consider getting a 24mm L 1.4 Mk II, it is the best glass I have ever owned or used and the results will simply blow your mind (and the wide angle will eliminate your problem of getting everyone in the photo). A nice flash like the 430EX or 580EX II may help your problem at cheaper cost, just a thought. Good luck! you are more fortunate than most in your initial gear!!

Just use your 24-105 and a shoe-mounted flash..ie. 430EX II or 580EX II (bounced flash). Shallow DOF will be a problem for group shots.

Yeah if you're shooting groups inside and you want to ensure everyone is in focus then you're going to need a flash... the 24-105 would do the job nicely with a flash as you'll probably be at f4 for 2/3 people and f5.6 for 4 or more (unless of course they're all on the same plane of focus)...

As Kel suggested, take a look at the Canon 430EX II... the 580 is probably going to be overkill for you at this stage

I can see an area where the OP might be faced with issues using the 24-105L on a cropped body since the effective field of view is 38mm. But obviously going to a 50mm isn't the solution since that would yield 80mm equivalent field of view. I would suggest the OP move to something like the Sigma 17-50 f2.8 or even something shorter (Canon 10-40mm). Lots of options out there.

External flash helps a lot, especially when you can now bounce the light source. Having said that, the 60D is wonderful at moderately high ISO. I commonly use ISO = 800 when indoors for available light.

save your money, try the 50 f/1.8. if it doesn't give you the performance you want/need, they're very easy to sell and you can move on.

Yes, you are right that a very large aperture (very low f-stop number) is a problem for groups. You will usually have people out of focus. check this (http://www.dofmaster.c​om/dofjs.html) if you are not familiar with it.

The simplest solution is bounced flash, ideally with a bounce card like a Demb Flip-it to project a little light forward. You can get much more sophisticated lighting setups, but this simple rig does quite well.

I find that 24mm is fine for most indoor shots on a crop, but large group could be a problem. (I once nearly fell into a fireplace while backing up to do a group using my standard indoor lens, which is the Tamron 28-75). If you want something wider, there are a number of options. The cheapest well-reviewed one is the Tamron 17-50 non-VC (which tests sharper than the VC version). More expensive options are the Sigma 17-50 OS and the Canon 17-55 (not 18-55), neither of which I have used.

After examining what paddler4 referred to, keep in mind that if you line up the subjects of a large group in a straight line, then the people at the ends are further away from the camera than those in the middle. You can go smaller on the aperture to improve the depth of field, or place the subjects in an arc so that the ends are within the depth of field for the chosen aperture.

Liquid Dark wrote in post #14895341
you have a nice lens for outdoors use in the 24-105 which should suite you fine for the future for now until you decide what outdoors photography you wish to pursue. Indoors you need as fast as possible. I like my 50mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.8 for indoors where there is room to back up if needed but you state that seems to be a problem. If you are willing to spend the money to get 24-105mm 2.8 then I suggest that you seriously consider getting a 24mm L 1.4 Mk II, it is the best glass I have ever owned or used and the results will simply blow your mind (and the wide angle will eliminate your problem of getting everyone in the photo). A nice flash like the 430EX or 580EX II may help your problem at cheaper cost, just a thought. Good luck! you are more fortunate than most in your initial gear!!

Canon does not make a 24-105 f/2.8 lens. How is a 24mm prime going to be any wider than a 24-105 at 24mm? OP is shooting a 60D. Are you referring to using the 24 on your 5D?

razvanbuc wrote in post #14895324
Hello

The OP said "I have been looking at the 50mm 1.4 to use in low light situations. I am afraid that it might work in low light for portraits of 1-2 people

he was considering the 50 1.4, so I was pointing out that the 24 1.4 would enable him to get wider angle and include more people while maintaining low light capabilities

razvanbuc wrote in post #14895324
The OP said "Futhermore, if money is not an issue, would I be better served with the 24-70 L f2.8? Thank you for your help

so, sorry for the typo, my bad I have used the 24-70/2.8 and it can't compare to the 24 1.4 II which I said was the best glass I had ever shot with. Since he has the 24-105mm range covered then in my opinion it is better investment to go with 24mm prime indoors since he said he could afford the 24-70/2.8. His indoor needs would be met with a superb lens and he would still have a more capable zoom for outdoor or better lighting situations in the 24-105. If he found that he needed faster lens in the 24-70 range in the future then he could buy the nifty fifty and/or the great 85 1.8 for very low cost. Zooms are conveinent but primes make for far better photographs in my experience.

I say get a good flash and learn how to use it properly. Low light photography is all very well, but there'll still be very little contrast, in addition to the shallow depth of field already mentioned. Skillful use of flash can be so much better than shoe-mounted, and will give a good contrast and colour. If you're determined to shoot in low light, use what you already have and whack up the ISO. Modern DSLRs do very well with high ISO.

1Tanker wrote in post #14895392
Just use your 24-105 and a shoe-mounted flash..ie. 430EX II or 580EX II (bounced flash). Shallow DOF will be a problem for group shots.

I agree. Just got a flash myself and it makes a world of difference. Brings out features and reduces shadows and allows for more true color.

flash

+3 or 4 for the Flash.....

Thank you for all the replies. I did not realized that an external flash would be so important. I was under the impression that on-camera flash and off-camera flash should give aprox same results. The reason i did not consider to buy an shoe mount flash is I hate that effect where the subject's face/body is lit up and the background is very dark or black when shooting in low light. Also, i am dissapointed because i was looking for a good reason for a new lens lol.