Which lens for indoor pictures?

I'm taking a lot of pictures indoors with my 7D. You can see my gear in my signature, but I'm always looking for ways to take pictures without flash. The 7D isn't exactly stellar for low light, but a better lens might fix that a bit. I had a 50mm/F1.8 but never used it but now I'm really thinking about a (portrait) lens that does very very well indoors.

Any suggestions? I've considered going FF for a while, but a lot of people adviced against it, saying I wouldn't notice that much of a difference.

For indoors shots with my 7D, I chose the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Nice aperture, nice angle of view and beautiful IQ. I shoot portraits of friends and family and my baby girl.
But as you have the nifty fifty already, you should give it a try before investing in a new lens.

1.8 works out well in dimly low light, I get 1/100 at 1600.

Maybe the 85mm 1.8? it will also work great if you ever do decide to go FF.

The Sigma 30mm is a nice lens, and is more of a "standard" on crop bodies I guess. People always say that the 85mm is a lovely portrait lens for FF, therefore, to get the same field of view, you're looking at about 50mm on crop.

The main thing to consider is the space you're working in... 85 on crop is fine if you've got the room... similarly, 30mm is fine if you don't mind getting that bit closer! I would dig the 50mm out for now to see how you get on with it again - it's not going to be luxury prime quality or colours, but it's as fast as its bigger brothers so you'll get a feel for how much light you're getting and what ISO you require etc. etc.

As for FF vs crop... *personally* I think the difference is night and day. ISO 6400 on the 5d3 is about the same as ISO 1600 on my 50d imho.

85 is waaay too tight on a crop indoors, 50 is pushing it, I'd go for a wide prime i the 30mm range.

I use 100mm everyday indoor in my small apartment, And I don't find that tight at all for portraits like the OP wants.

You've already got 17-55/2.8 IS... one of the best indoor zooms.

Boost your ISO and learn to work with it. 7D is capable of making decent, usable shots at 1600 and even 3200. No crop camera on the market will give much better than that. Jumping to full frame would give you one or two stops higher usable ISO.

28/1.8 or 50/1.8 would give you 1.333 stops faster lens. 50/1.4 and 30/1.4, two stops faster.

However, using any of these wide open at portrait distances you are going to start running into problems with too shallow depth of field. You also have to be concerned with focus failing, being erratic or slowing a lot in low light.

Another solution... learn to use flash well.

I use the Canon 35F2 and Canon 50F1.4 for indoor shots in natural light. F2.8 is fine in my home during the day, but not at night with little window light.
I use the 35F2 more often. If you have the money available, I'd wait to see how the new Canon 35F2 IS works at F2. Mine is sharp at F2, but certainly better stopped down.

Agree with the Sigma 30 f/1.4 recommendations. But you say you are thinking about a FF, no matter what people say that nagging little voice inside your head isn't going to shut up till you get one! So the Sigma will be no good on a FF. Yes, it does screw on but vignettes so badly images are virtually unusable. So that puts you into the 35 range of lenses. Many are now saying the Sigma 35 f/1.4 is terrific but I cannot say because I have a 35L. It deliver great images on both my FF and crop body, so that is the way I would go in your shoes.

get a flash

Another vote for the Sigma 30mm F1.4, or if you find a good copy of the Canon 35mm F2. My 35mm F2 basically lived in my 7D when I still had that camera and I thought it performed pretty good in lower light indoor situations.

mike_311 wrote in post #15329482
85 is waaay too tight on a crop indoors, 50 is pushing it, I'd go for a wide prime i the 30mm range.

I noticed the same thing several years ago, so I bought the Canon 28 f1.8. It did a really fine job for non-flash shooting indoors, such as a family get together in someones home. If you are in a larger venue then the 50 or 85 might work.

Of course later I got the 17-55 f2.8 and a 580 II flash, and that was that.

You already have two good portrait lenses.
50 1.8 and 100L.
Get suitable camera for it. Or use the zoom you have with 7D.
If you want to do portraits, learn how to use multiple flashes and/or studio lights.
It will open more time frame and opportunities.
No portrait light - you ask for time convenient for you.
With portrait light - you ask for time convenient for those you are taking pictures.
Plus, portraits even with fast primes is not always 2.8 and larger. It is more with 5.6-8.

Since the 7D has MA I'd give the sigma 30/1.4 a shot. On the long end the 100L will do fine for stationary portraits, and have it too and it's a great portrait lens. For moving kids I'd go as wide and fast as possible.

Yes, Sigma 30mm f1.4.