Event outdoors at night, is 50mm too narrow on a crop sensor?

As per topic. Also renting a 580exii since its night too. Any tips for shooting?

It all depends on the event. Could you provide more detail?

50mm is tight on a crop.
It's like using an 85mm on a FF.

For a more "normal" view on a crop you need use a 28mm or 24mm.
They are like using a 50mm or 35mm on a FF.

I prefer 28mm on a crop.

Ratjack wrote in post #16578787
It all depends on the event. Could you provide more detail?

A BBQ event at a park. Probably renting a 580exii to fill since its at night, 7pmish. Or i could rent a 35mm f1.4 to make it a normal 50mm to cover the narrowness. Thoughts?

If you are renting, get a 24-70 2.8 (I or II) or the Tamron model. In my opinion, fixed focal length in that situation is too limiting.

EOS5DC wrote in post #16579007
If you are renting, get a 24-70 2.8 (I or II) or the Tamron model. In my opinion, fixed focal length in that situation is too limiting.

Actually i have a 17-50 but i do like the bokeh effect the nifty fifty gives

Ev0d3vil wrote in post #16578784
As per topic. Also renting a 580exii since its night too. Any tips for shooting?

Heya,

Depends how close you want to be to everyone.

Also, the 50mm F1.8 II has a lot of trouble focusing at night. You'll want a flash with focus assist beam.

I would get a 28~35mm focal range.

Another trick is to get ultra wide, set it to infinity focus, and just use a fill flash or walk around with a glowing lamp and snap photos.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #16579055
Heya,

Depends how close you want to be to everyone.

Also, the 50mm F1.8 II has a lot of trouble focusing at night. You'll want a flash with focus assist beam.

I would get a 28~35mm focal range.

Another trick is to get ultra wide, set it to infinity focus, and just use a fill flash or walk around with a glowing lamp and snap photos.

Very best,

I agree with all of this except the infinity focus. Hyper-focal distance will get a lot more in focus for you.

MalVeauX wrote in post #16579055
Depends how close you want to be to everyone.

It also depends upon how far away you HAVE TO BE

I have shot stage performances at night with 100mm f/2 lens on APS-C body!
...at 30' it frames an area of 4.5' x 6.7', just enough for full length standing person when in Portrait orientation.
And if shooting a group, at 45' you would frame 6.7' x 10' for full length standing group when in Landscape orientation.

At an outdoor event I think the 50/ 1.4 would be more than fine. 20' or so to get a group full body shot isn't that bad, IMHO. Only around 10' if you just want head & shoulders. I assume this isn't a professional shoot or anything you are trying to do otherwise I agree with the others, use a f/2.8 zoom.

I'm guessing your body is a rebel, in which case you'll want to use only the center point as it is the most sensitive and the others may have trouble focusing in the low light.

The biggest thing is to screw around with the camera the night before to get use to shooting in low light.

PH68 wrote in post #16578855
50mm is tight on a crop.
It's like using an 85mm on a FF.

For a more "normal" view on a crop you need use a 28mm or 24mm.
They are like using a 50mm or 35mm on a FF.

I prefer 28mm on a crop.

in before all the idiots come in and argue that a lens is a lens and crops don't change focal lengths and whatnot.

To pontificate on the above, I HATED my 50 on crop, hardly used it. I shot an event yesterday, and I got my best shots with my Pentax 1.4 manual with adaptor....the other lenses I used were L's.....the 50 just gave me the best shots for the event style shooting. 50 is the jam on ff and very awkward on crop for my eye.

I really like my 24 on crop as a normal lens, so I would say something in the 20's would better serve you.

as long as you have the room to back up it should work fine...i'd think a park would have the space you need...also the external flash will help with the focusing, so learn how to disable the flash, and still use the AF assist beam in case you want to take some shots without the flash and your 50mm, as it will struggle in low light

Jerobean wrote in post #16579497
in before all the idiots come in and argue that a lens is a lens and crops don't change focal lengths and whatnot.

but he didn't say it changed focal length....it's the ones that say 50mm is an 85mm that are confusing...

Ev0d3vil

At 7PM in January, just what bokeh are you expecting with flash? I suggest you try a few test shots with your 17-50 plus flash. You are going to see a whole lot of black background at night outdoors with the flash, not the boken you are expecting.

Good luck,

Paul

Jerobean wrote in post #16579497
in before all the idiots come in and argue that a lens is a lens and crops don't change focal lengths and whatnot.

I'm glad the facts are starting to get through to the idiots. It's been an uphill battle for we geniuses.