Is a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 a good choice for indoor baby photos on a Canon 550D?
Asked 1/25/2013
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I shoot with a Canon 550D and currently have a 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, a 50mm f/1.8, and a Metz 44 AF-1 flash. The 15-85mm gives good image quality but is slow indoors, especially at the long end, and ISO 6400 results are poor. The 50mm f/1.8 works indoors but can feel too long in tight spaces, and autofocus is not very fast. The flash is useful but less convenient for candid shots.
I’m considering the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 for photographing a newborn and baby indoors over the next several months. On a crop body, would this be a practical upgrade for low-light baby photos? Are there other options in a similar budget that would make more sense as the child starts moving more?
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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When taking pictures babies have two annoying tendencies: They move a lot, and they run at the camera. Fast shutter speeds and the ability to change framing gives a preference for a f2.8 zoom. I don't know how fast the Tamron focuses, but if you are going to use it at f2.8, I sure hope it focuses fast. Children move a lot in unexpected directions.
I really love my 50mm f1.4 (on a crop censor) when I can get far enough away from the child. 50mm fits my style for these kinds of photos. It gives a close clean feeling which I think suits babies.
Originally by user3335. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3335
13y ago
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Yes—an f/2.8 zoom can be a very practical choice for indoor baby photos, especially as children start moving unpredictably. The main advantages are the faster aperture over your 15-85mm and the flexibility to reframe quickly without changing position, which is useful when babies move toward the camera or you’re working in tight spaces.
The key caveat is autofocus speed and accuracy: for active children, fast and reliable focusing matters a lot. If you expect to shoot wide open at f/2.8, the lens needs to lock focus well.
Your 50mm can still be excellent when you have enough room and want a tighter, more intimate look, but it may feel too long on APS-C indoors. A 28-75mm f/2.8 would give you more versatility than a single prime and should better suit changing situations.
So if your priority is indoor candids with flexibility, the 28-75mm f/2.8 is a sensible option. If your priority is maximum light-gathering and you can work around fixed focal lengths, a fast prime in the 24-50mm range is also worth considering.
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