Lens for Delivery Room

We are having a baby tomorrow and was just curious if a 50mm 1.8 will do in the operating room ( it's a c section). My 35mm is out being repaired.

I have a kit lens as well but with the lighting I was thinking the 50mm

Thanks

On a crop camera, 50mm is going to be much too tight IMO. Sure you could always take a few steps back, but in an OR you aren't going to have tons of space. I think you'd be better off with the 18055 and using the 430EX for bounce flash.

Yep, 50 on a crop is a tad long so hopefully you will be able to get right back, if not you are stuffed. There is usually a fair bit of light in the delivery room so natural light is the go, in fact there is no way I would subject a new born to flash photography even using bounce. They have just come into the world and are sensitive to the light as it is. I remember my first born squinting and closing his little eyes because it was the first time he had seen anything that bright. The other thing is you are going to be so gobsmacked photography is probably going to be one of the last things going through your head!! There will be plenty of opportunity in the days after the birth.

Take the 50, but that's tighter than I would like. So take the 18-55 and the 430EX as well. People have wierd notions about the fragility of babies, but a half dozen shots of a newborn with bounced flash isn't going to hurt them.

L.J.G. wrote in post #15011428
Yep, 50 on a crop is a tad long so hopefully you will be able to get right back, if not you are stuffed. There is usually a fair bit of light in the delivery room so natural light is the go, in fact there is no way I would subject a new born to flash photography even using bounce. They have just come into the world and are sensitive to the light as it is. I remember my first born squinting and closing his little eyes because it was the first time he had seen anything that bright. The other thing is you are going to be so gobsmacked photography is probably going to be one of the last things going through your head!! There will be plenty of opportunity in the days after the birth.

Not sure why I didn't think about this right away, but I agree 100%.

In the actual delivery room a flash won't be necessary. That place will be very well lit. I would use the 18-55 there and use the 50mm in the maternity room. You'll need something fast in there, and using a longer focal length (50mm) won't be too much of a detriment as nothing is moving very quickly.

I used my 24-105 with a bounced flash. Worked great. Most of the ambient light was from a huge window and a few very directional spot lights.

This is the second time around at a different hospital. The last time the operating room was huge.
It's a c-section so I really come into the room as the baby is coming out. They let me see the baby as they clean it up. Then I get kicked out with the baby as they tend to my wife

I was just going to use my cell phone but my wife wants pictures

I used the 16-35 when my first one was born, and although a c-section is different from a natural, there should be ample light in the OR. I am sure if you asked one of the nurses, they could turn one of the lights toward your baby for a few quick snaps.

So as not to restrict the DoF too much I'd go for the zoom and use bounce flash if necessary. The 50 wide open will be very difficult to focus usefully.

I used a 24L in the delivery room when my daughter was born. We had a ton of light in the delivery room. The nurses and doctor knew that I was a commercial photographer and adjusted some lights for me and stuff...With your kit I would bring the 18-55 into the OR.

Good luck!
Take kit lens, flash to bounce it. For wide shots.
50 1.8 is going to be OK for little one. I took our baby pictures with 90mm macro on the Rebel.

after being in multiple delivery and operating rooms and delivering a fair number of babies myself, I would say that the 18-55 would fit better.
a flash annoys the baby and, honestly, the staff too.
the baby when s/he comes out will have a full staff taking him to examine him, APGARS and whatnot. More light - bounced or otherwise might be...not welcome. I know that it annoyed the **** out of me.
And in the past, we requested not to bring flashes since there was a case of a broken flash which threw a spark around lines with oxygen...but that was before my time....

just my 2cents

Both my kids were C-section and i couldn't imagine that with the clothes I had to wear, mask, shoe coverings, etc that they would let me walk in with a large non sterile item like that. Wow...

Being a new dad twice in a little over a years time, I would have to say I have a differing opinion on this. If there is not a life threatening issue with the baby or momma I can honestly say my first concern is not whether or not the staff is annoyed by a flash. You guys might deliver babies every day but I will only be in that position a couple times in my life and Ill be taking pictures.

Sensibly bounced flashes have never disrupted my kids and if I waited for staff to leave to take pictures, I'd never get a picture taken. There is always one nurse or another coming in to check mom, baby or a machine at all hours of the day and night.

But, advice for the OP - don't get too hung up on bringing specialized gear. Enjoy the moment - our second baby was delivered within moments of getting to the hospital and Id have missed the entire delivery if I went out to get my camera from the trunk. It's good to have pictures, but remember to enjoy the moment.

ceriltheblade wrote in post #15013847
after being in multiple delivery and operating rooms and delivering a fair number of babies myself, I would say that the 18-55 would fit better.
a flash annoys the baby and, honestly, the staff too.
the baby when s/he comes out will have a full staff taking him to examine him, APGARS and whatnot. More light - bounced or otherwise might be...not welcome. I know that it annoyed the **** out of me.
And in the past, we requested not to bring flashes since there was a case of a broken flash which threw a spark around lines with oxygen...but that was before my time....

just my 2cents