Lens for Photoshoots - Rebel XSi

Hey,

A friend requested that I do a photo shoot for her in the summer, so I decider that I'd make my next lens one that is made for photo shoots, or would work well.

We haven't decided on either a indoor or outdoor location yet, but if it is outdoor, I would use my polarized filter with it.

If anyone has any suggestions as to which lens would be a good choice, then please offer them up!

Current camera is Canon Rebel XSi with the 17-55mm Lens, Built-in flash.

Thanks in advance!

I have the kit 18-55 and don't like it much. I have a 50mm and think it does a wonderful job. You might want an additional flash, the flash on the Xsi is very weak and does a poor job with flash fill.

This is probably obvious to you but make sure you are completely fluent in the use of your camera. If you are awkward, it'll make your subject uncomfortable and the photos won't be as good.

BTW, congrats on the Xsi. I love mine and have taken some fantastic photos with it.

Budget?

The 17-55 will be excellent indoors, and very good outdoors, but you may want something longer. The 85/1.8 might be a good choice, or even one of the 70-200s. Much depends on the style you want to adopt.

In that vein, you are committing far too early to the use of a CPL filter. Whether or not it is appropriate depends on a lot of factors, many of which you cannot know in advance unless you have a specific time and place in mind and will defer shooting until you get the weather you want.

You could also consider getting a dedicated flash, rather than a lens, particularly if you intend an indoor shoot.

(Just quietly, I suspect that you actually have the 18-55 IS; can you confirm this please?)

xarqi wrote in post #7376747
Budget?

The 17-55 will be excellent indoors, and very good outdoors, but you may want something longer. The 85/1.8 might be a good choice, or even one of the 70-200s. Much depends on the style you want to adopt.

In that vein, you are committing far too early to the use of a CPL filter. Whether or not it is appropriate depends on a lot of factors, many of which you cannot know in advance unless you have a specific time and place in mind and will defer shooting until you get the weather you want.

You could also consider getting a dedicated flash, rather than a lens, particularly if you intend an indoor shoot.

(Just quietly, I suspect that you actually have the 18-55 IS; can you confirm this please?)

Budget isn't set yet really, since I can save up for it, but nothing too high.

I suppose a cap for now would be $500ish.

I would keep it on hand, and the photo shoot would be during the day.
I was looking at a flash, but I've heard mixed responses on which one I should go for.
I don't mind my flash, but I don't like the recharge time on it, when using it multiple times. If the shoot was indoors, it would be good lighting, and I could bring in umbrellas and such.

Ah, you would be correct, I do have the 18-55. I suppose I should know my lens before I look for a new one, haha!

There's a -->Tamron 28-75/2.8<-- that might do the job well, giving an advantage over the 18-55 of a wider maximum aperture for shallow DoF effects and a better "portrait" focal length range.

If indoors though, lighting will be more important, and hiring some studio strobes might be an approach to take. (Hire them first ahead of time to get some practice.) Otherwise, it's the 430 EX II flash that you need, and you should be diffusing or bouncing it. The on-board flash is OK for outdoor fill, but as a main source of illumination it gives the "startled rabbit in the headlights" effect.

Outdoors where you may have more space (and presumably natural light) you could even consider the 55-250 IS.

Have you got a Budget?

Do you have the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS or the EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS? I would invest in a reflector, I can't even start to count how many times my reflector has helped me.

Randy McBum. wrote in post #7377637
Have you got a Budget?

brianch wrote in post #7377740
Do you have the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS or the EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS?.

ARK wrote in post #7376770
Budget isn't set yet really, since I can save up for it, but nothing too high.

I suppose a cap for now would be $500ish.
...

Ah, you would be correct, I do have the 18-55. I suppose I should know my lens before I look for a new one, haha!

I think its safe to assume that it is the IS since the body is an XSi.

brianch wrote in post #7377740
Do you have the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS or the EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS? I would invest in a reflector, I can't even start to count how many times my reflector has helped me.

^^^ Don't think this is expensive. Even a cheap car windshield sun reflector would work well.

Also, have you looked into the venerable 85/1.8? What about the 100/2 or 135/2 L? Stroll into the lens archive section and look at these lenses.

85/1.8
100/2
135L (more than your budget)
35L (even more than your budget)
50/1.4

If you want a zoom to complement your current focal lengths
70-200/4 L (non-IS within your budget) or (IS beyond your budget)
70-200/2.8 L (non-IS or IS -- both beyond your budget)
70-300 IS

Third party lenses
Sigma 50/1.4
Sigma 30/14
Sigma 70-200
Tamron 28-75

I know I mentioned lenses that cover or overlap with your current 18-55, but they offer wider apertures. It'll be a nicer portrait.

Also, do you have off camera flashes? They make a world of difference. Heck, even one will make a huge difference.

ARK wrote in post #7376770
I don't mind my flash

Flash flash flash. You've got a good solid lens, you now need to control the lighting and you can NOT do that effectively with the built-in flash. Even my 100-generations-ago 420ex will run rings around the builtin.

jgrussell wrote in post #7377948
Flash flash flash. You've got a good solid lens, you now need to control the lighting and you can NOT do that effectively with the built-in flash. Even my 100-generations-ago 420ex will run rings around the builtin.

Yes. Just pick up a used 420EX or 430EX, and you can bounce your light all over the place for some very nice depth that your popup flash cannot. Even using the Speedlight for fill lighting is nicer. Often times the popup flash will be blocked by the lens (if it's long enough).

So, say your budget is $500ish. For that you can get a nice used 85/1.8 AND a 420EX Speedlight... maybe even the lens and the 430EX. I think the 100/2 goes for near tthe 85/1.8 price on the used market. Something to think about.

Spend some time reading the lighting section for some insight before you shell out cash on a lens. Again, don't think wide aperture = low light situations. It does definitely come into play during those situations. But the depth of field and isolation is what the longer focal lengths and wider aperture offer.

Just to clarify he has the 18-55 IS not the 17-55 IS, BIG difference. I would get the 50mm f/1.8 and a reflector. Before we go ahead and and tell him to get the 135L and 35L maybe we should realize he owns a Rebel XSi and the kit lens. As for an external flash, one is usually enough for outdoor portraiture, even indoors if you have it set up right, it should be enough for most styles.

jgrussell wrote in post #7377948
Flash flash flash. You've got a good solid lens, you now need to control the lighting and you can NOT do that effectively with the built-in flash. Even my 100-generations-ago 420ex will run rings around the builtin.

This is a good tip, people often don't think too much about the flash. (beginners i mean

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Depending on where he is taking the photos an external flash might not be necessary. A reflector is a cheap and effective way of diffusing light outdoors. Depending on the OPs level of skill, adding an external flash to the equation might not make his/her photos any better.

I think I will go for the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens, and then save up and possibly buy a 420/430 EX flash later on.