Best walk-around focal length for indoor event photography on full frame
Asked 1/20/2013
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2 answers
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I’m moving from a Canon 450D to a 6D and need a good prime for indoor, dark, crowded events where I’ll be walking around and photographing individuals or small groups in unpredictable lighting. I can use a Canon 430EX II flash, but I’d also like a lens that works well in low light.
Current lenses:
- Canon 35mm f/1.4L
- Canon 50mm f/1.8
- Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS
On APS-C, I liked the look of my 50mm for people, but it often felt cramped because I had to step back too much. On full frame, should I use 35mm or 50mm as my main walk-around lens for this kind of event? Will 35mm cause unflattering perspective if I’m too close, or is 50mm the better all-around choice? Do people commonly use 85mm for this, or is that usually too long indoors?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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Your 50mm prime will certainly get the job done, on full frame or APS-C. On APS-C for event photography 50mm works very well for 1 or 2 subjects, typically covering the torso. Unless you step back considerably, 15-20ft - you aren't going to get full body portraits or more then 2 people in the frame. When you switch over to full frame, the 50mm becomes better suited for 1-4 subjects and also full body portraits. You can comfortably shoot a group of 4 people standing near each other posing for you for example. With a 50mm on APS-C you would find yourself uncomfortably far away.
To directly answer your question - a 50mm prime will cut it for indoor event photography, and it will work especially well on a full frame camera. You will likely find it even better then your experiences on the APS-C camera because now you don't have to backup so far.
I would consider moving up to the 50mm f/1.4, as it is better built and gives you a bit of extra light. I don't want to get to far into it on this thread, but I have owned both and have found the f/1.4 version to perform better at f/2 over the f/1.8 version at f/2. I wouldn't shoot either wide open, and by f/2.8 they are similar - but I am assuming you would like to shoot at f/2 if possible. The 50mm f/1.4 is going to perform better for this.
I greatly enjoy the Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. That might be one that interests you, and it isn't very expensive. You don't have a general purpose zoom lens that you mentioned, and for indoor low light event photography - the big gun in the room is the 24-70L. This might be something that interests you down the road.
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
13y ago
0
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For this kind of indoor event on full frame, both 35mm and 50mm are useful, but 50mm is the safer all-around choice for people and small groups.
Based on the answers, 50mm on full frame works well for 1–4 people and can handle full-body shots more comfortably than it did on APS-C. It’s a strong event focal length when space is limited but you still want natural-looking people shots.
35mm can also work very well, especially in tight spaces, and one responder specifically preferred 35mm f/1.4 on full frame for this type of shooting. The tradeoff is that if you get too close, perspective can become less flattering, so it’s better when you need to include more environment or small groups.
An 85mm is usually less practical indoors in crowded spaces because you often won’t have room to back up.
So: use the 50mm when you want flattering portraits and small groups, and switch to the 35mm when the room is tight or you need a wider view. If you want one walk-around prime, 50mm is the best fit from your current lenses.
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