Budget lens on a crop sensor for nightclub photos?

First let me start off by saying photography for me is a hobby. A "paid gig" for me is usually a friend buying me lunch/dinner for my time. I might be helping out a local bar/nightclub try to promote their spot by taking pictures for them at night, and uploading them to their website.

So I'm looking for a lens that has relatively closs working distances from the subject's I'd be shooting. Probably something a little wider, so I could get maybe mid thigh on up.

The lens would be mounted on my t2i. I've got the side mount flash setup like this one here

credit: Roostonmylens' setup.

What about the sigma 30 1.4?

Hear it's pretty good on a crop.

Upgrade your kit lens to either Sigma 17-50 OS or Tamron 17-50 non-vc combined with flash.

goaliejake22 wrote in post #15370831
What about the sigma 30 1.4?

Hear it's pretty good on a crop.

Aren't those like $800? I'd like to keep it more to around $400 if possible.

kin2son wrote in post #15370832
Upgrade your kit lens to either Sigma 17-50 OS or Tamron 17-50 non-vc combined with flash.

What is the VC on the tamron's? I've heard good things about that sigma.

Have you tried your 35F2? That should work for your needs.

I haven't yet, no. I actually just got that lens like last week. Only taken a handful of photos around the house with it. I just didn't think it'd be a lens that'd allow me to work close enough to the subjects inside a nightclub.

mikealicious wrote in post #15370838
Aren't those like $800? I'd like to keep it more to around $400 if possible.

What is the VC on the tamron's? I've heard good things about that sigma.

No, the sigma 30 1.4 is a lens made for crop sensor lenses, it is new at bh for 439 right now.

You're thinking of the new sigma 35 1.4, which is brand new and 899.99.

goaliejake22 wrote in post #15370904
No, the sigma 30 1.4 is a lens made for crop sensor lenses, it is new at bh for 439 right now.

You're thinking of the new sigma 35 1.4, which is brand new and 899.99.

my mistake. you are correct. I was thinking of the 35 1.4. I'll check out the 30 1.4. thank you

the 30mm and 35mm will probably be too long...have you tried using your kit lens and the flash?

DreDaze wrote in post #15371054
the 30mm and 35mm will probably be too long...have you tried using your kit lens and the flash?

That's what I would say, but wouldn't it struggle to have a quick AF that will fail to give sharp pictures?

EDIT: If you would consider getting a sigma 18-50mm 2.8/4.5 HSM unless you really need to go that wide (10-20mm). But for shooting indoors? Unless you have some more specific uses in mind, I don't think the difference would be worth the 200 extra dollars. Because the 18-50 is half the price of the 10-20, keep that in mind.

It would be just an upgrade for your kit lens, for a faster focusing, and sharper pictures.

Demazi wrote in post #15371280
That's what I would say, but wouldn't it struggle to have a quick AF that will fail to give sharp pictures?

who needs quick AF for nightclub shooting...most the people will be posing for the shot...the AF assist on a flash would also help...

DreDaze wrote in post #15371374
who needs quick AF for nightclub shooting...most the people will be posing for the shot...the AF assist on a flash would also help...

Apparently OP is going to need it.

mikealicious wrote in post #15370815
Things I'm looking for with this lens:
•AF (quick, and able to function well in low light)
•something sharp
•something not too heavy
•budget friendly

Honestly I can't really put anything better in there than replacing his kit lens.
Once again, I can't see a good reason for him to want such wide lens (sigma 10-20mm).

I share the same opinion as you, just tried to give mike the options he wanted to hear.

any lens paired with the AF assist beam from an external flash will focus quickly and accurately...my nifty fifty focuses in pitch black...

i think most nightclub shooters use really wide lenses...it just allows them to get everyone in...i don't think there's much care for how it distorts...at least from what i've seen...

Indoors, nightclubs, external flash, perhaps you can find a super deal on a Canon EF-S 10-22mm. It would work great on your T2i.

Mike