What gear helps most for indoor event photography in low light: fast zoom, prime, or flash?
Asked 10/20/2014
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I’m shooting indoor events on a Canon 750D with the 18-55mm kit lens and a 50mm f/1.8. The 18-55mm often forces me to use very high ISO and slow shutter speeds indoors, while the 50mm f/1.8 works better in low light but is too tight in many spaces. For this kind of photography, what is the best way to improve results: a wider fast prime, an f/2.8 zoom, a bounce flash, or a combination of these?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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You've pretty much figured out your three options.
(Something else). f/2.8 zooms are the preferred choice for many event-shooting professionals for the reasons you state. So, this is probably the most effective route, but also the most expensive.
Flash (and many pros will do this in combination with f/2.8 zooms) can also help immeasurably with this type of shooting by giving you a tool to create good exposures in lower light with smaller apertures and higher shutter speeds.
A wider fast prime, such as the EF 35mm f/2 IS USM, might also be worth considering.
Of these three choices, the best bang for the buck is actually liable to be the flash. But for event shooting, you probably do not want to gt an all-manual cheapie like a Yongnuo YN-560, but rather a TTL-capable flash with 360-degree swivel, because bounce is going to be your go-to technique to diffuse the light and not get that harsh on-camera look most people associate with flash, and because you may not have time to dink the output light level in Manual, and having eTTL-II automation to get you in the ballpark can be a lifesaver if you're moving in and out of changing lighting situations.
See Neil van Niekerk's Tangents blog for information on using on-camera flash for event shooting.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For indoor event shooting, the usual solutions are exactly the ones you listed: a fast standard zoom, a flash, or a wider fast prime.
The most versatile lens upgrade is typically a constant f/2.8 zoom in the 17-50mm / 17-55mm range. It gives you much more flexibility than a 50mm prime while letting in more light than the kit lens.
A bounce-capable TTL flash is often the best value upgrade. It can dramatically improve indoor exposures, let you use faster shutter speeds and smaller apertures when needed, and many event photographers use flash together with f/2.8 zooms.
A wider fast prime can also help if you like available-light shooting and the 50mm feels too tight indoors.
Image stabilization can help with camera shake at slower shutter speeds, but it won’t stop subject movement. Better hand-holding technique may help a little too, but it won’t replace faster glass or flash.
If you want the biggest practical improvement for indoor events, start with a good TTL bounce flash; if budget allows, pair it with a 17-50mm or 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom.
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AI11y ago
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