Does maximum aperture matter much for an ultra-wide lens when shooting indoor groups with flash?

Asked 8/24/2012

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I’m choosing between ultra-wide zooms for a Nikon DX camera, mainly for group photos in bars and nightclubs. One option is the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6, which is extremely wide, and the other is the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. I usually shoot with an SB-600 flash, my camera handles high ISO reasonably well, and I can do some noise reduction afterward. My concern is whether the slower maximum aperture of the Sigma will be a real problem indoors, or whether flash and the shorter focal length make aperture less critical. I’m also wondering if 8mm is more width than I really need for people shots.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

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First off 11mm is very wide, well into the so wide it's difficult to use territory. I can't imagine anyone feeling stuck with 11mm not being wide enough. You are likely however to run into problems with people looking stretched at the edges of your images, or getting too much unnecessary foreground detail in shot. Secondly you'll be able to use slower shutter speeds than you could with the 35mm lens so the aperture is less of an issue.

You should be aware though that ultra wide lenses are often not very Sharp wide open, particularly at the borders.

If you want wide and fast then you're a bit stuck on a crop body. I first upgraded to full frame for this very reason. I needed more options to shoot events in poor light where flash is not practical. On a full frame body you can get a 24mm f/1.4 lens. The fast lens matching that on a crop would be 16mm f/2.8, which is two stops slower. Two stops is a big deal.

I really don't think you need to go any wider than 24mm equiv. due to the problems mentioned above. Cutting through the crowds and making space for yourself are very useful skills. If I were you I'd stick with the 17 kit and save up for a full frame camera, used bodies are becoming available at good prices now.

Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1375

13y ago

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For your use, the slower aperture is usually not the biggest issue if you’re using flash. With an ultra-wide lens you can often shoot at slower shutter speeds than with a 35mm lens, and flash plus usable high ISO can make f/4.5 workable indoors.

The bigger concern is focal length and perspective. On DX, 11mm is already extremely wide. Going to 8mm adds a lot more environment, but it also makes people near the edges look stretched or distorted. For group photos, you’ll want faces kept away from the frame edges either way.

A faster lens still has benefits: easier low-light focusing, less chance of focus hunting, and better flexibility when flash isn’t practical. If budget allows, the 11-16mm f/2.8 is the safer all-around choice for indoor event work. If budget is tighter and you mostly use flash, the 8-16mm can still work well—but choose it more for its extreme width than for people photography.

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13y ago

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