Aqurium Lens?

Going to the aqurium in Atlanta tomorrow, want to take just one lens. Thinking either 85 F1.8 or 24-105 f4. Has anyone shot there and or what is good for that environment? Polorizer? Thanks for your help.

One focal length seems rather limiting. I used my 24-105 at the Montery Aquarium and was real happy with it's performance.

I would use as fast a lens as possible. The problem is 85mm is too long IMO.

I agree you'll want your fastest lenses. f4 in a dark room with the only light coming from the water/glass will be too slow. The 85 1.8 should work good but you'll probably need some distance between you and the glass itself, and depending on how busy the aquarium will be that could be difficult to get an open shot. Looks like your 50mm 2.8 is your next best bet. I'd bring the 24-105L along for the shots that are in well lit rooms though, just in case.

Fast glass and high ISO would never work. Look at these:

I'm interested in this as well.
I was quite upset when I went with 50/1.8 last time, it was too long, no IS, and soft at f/1.8
how do you use a single flash without getting all kinds of reflection? Assuming you can't get close enough to touch the lens to the glass.
here's another thing is, using a flash (even the built-in) in some aquariums are prohibited. A lot of in-informed people (and some small amount of d-bags that don't care about the animals) often violate this rule.

bigpow wrote in post #11233185
I'm interested in this as well.
I was quite upset when I went with 50/1.8 last time, it was too long, no IS, and soft at f/1.8
how do you use a single flash without getting all kinds of reflection? Assuming you can't get close enough to touch the lens to the glass.
here's another thing is, using a flash (even the built-in) in some aquariums are prohibited. A lot of in-informed people (and some small amount of d-bags that don't care about the animals) often violate this rule.

I posted this a while back. Scroll down a bit here:
https://photography-on-the.net …15191&highlight​=sea+world

Your flash is nothing comparing to kids and adults touching and taping the glass... You won't be the only person using flash BTW. Just look at all the P and S users flashing at the tank. You aren't going to use full power on the flash unit. Maybe 1/32 or 1/16.

Fast lens.

I made the mistake of bringing a f/4 lens before with a flash... mistake. Lighting only coming from the tank isn't enough light for f/4. flash in very tight quarters didn't work too well either.

85mm is probably too long... I would suggest trying to rent a 35L.

This one's from a different trip.. Brought 35L and 85L instead.

5DII
35L
f/2
1/250s
ISO 640

Only light source was from the tank. Because there were lots of people moving about, I didn't even pull out my 85L because I knew I couldn't frame the picture the way I wanted.

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Ditto on the fast lens. Even if you're just taking photos of eyeballs, having f/1.8 will save your tush. f/4 will give you nothing but blurry photos and flash will give you nothing but reflection. Honestly your 17-35/2.8 might not be bad...

Every time I don't take my Sigma 30/1.4 to an aquarium I regret it (and usually end-up not shooting indoors).

sangjiny wrote in post #11233510
Fast lens.

I made the mistake of bringing a f/4 lens before with a flash... mistake. Lighting only coming from the tank isn't enough light for f/4. flash in very tight quarters didn't work too well either.

85mm is probably too long... I would suggest trying to rent a 35L.

Ah...no. With a F1.4 lens you would need ISO 6400 to even get the shot. Mind you that's not even good enough to print. Of course, you better be shooting with either a 5dmarkII, 1dmarkIII, or 1dmark4 to get any usable ISO 6400 shots. To correctly use the flash is the way to go. 50mm is perfect. It gives you enough distance for you to use the flash. Any flash glare you can crop it out and it would not be on the subject. With a wider lens, you are forced to shoot too close to the glass, with a shorter distance between you and the subject. With the possibility to have the glare on the subject as well. This tends to produce even more harsher look with the flash. Look at these shots here:
http://www.flickr.com …g/sets/72157624​544799657/ I printed most of them at 18x12. They look as good as on the computer monitor.

These shots weren't the result of luck. Of course, you need a body and a lens that can AF fast and reliability.

sangjiny wrote in post #11233548
This one's from a different trip.. Brought 35L and 85L instead.

5DII
35L
f/2
1/250s
ISO 640

Only light source was from the tank. Because there were lots of people moving about, I didn't even pull out my 85L because I knew I couldn't frame the picture the way I wanted.

They are OK, not as good as this one...

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233554
Ah...no. With a F1.4 lens you would need ISO 6400 to even get the shot.

Sorry but this is not true. I've happily shot at a couple aquariums at f/2 and ISO 800 with my poor 40D. Just understand the lighting, understand the movement of the fish and there's no reason you should need f/1.4 and a crazy high ISO.

BTW here's a shot at ISO 800, f/2, 1/180 on the 40D with Sigma 30mm:

TooManyShots wrote in post #11233554
Ah...no. With a F1.4 lens you would need ISO 6400 to even get the shot. Mind you that's not even good enough to print. Of course, you better be shooting with either a 5dmarkII, 1dmarkIII, or 1dmark4 to get any usable ISO 6400 shots. To correctly use the flash is the way to go. 50mm is perfect. It gives you enough distance for you to use the flash. Any flash glare you can crop it out and it would not be on the subject. With a wider lens, you are forced to shoot too close to the glass, with a shorter distance between you and the subject. With the possibility to have the glare on the subject as well. This tends to produce even more harsher look with the flash. Look at these shots here:
http://www.flickr.com …g/sets/72157624​544799657/ I printed most of them at 18x12. They look as good as on the computer monitor.

These shots weren't the result of luck. Of course, you need a body and a lens that can AF fast and reliability.

Please explain your reasoning behind needing ISO6400 at f/1.4 to even get the shot.
The whole point of fast lens is to increase your shutter speed without having to increase your ISO too much.
Since OP has a 5D, shooting a 35L + ISO 1250-1600 should suffice.

in aquarium is always a lot of people and with 85mm it will be hard to shoot.... even if it's faster might become useless because of people which will glue their nose to the glasses.... I would recommend 24-105mm.... and higher ISO .... I was in aquarium with Canon 17-55mm f/2.8... and got a pretty good result.... some of photos was with f/4 and still that was enough to capture bright nice photos....

If you are going to shoot only a small objects... take 85mm but otherwise.. you will be more happy with 24-105mm.... f/4 should be good enough..... with higher ISO.