What lens works best for indoor group photos on a Canon 50D: 28mm prime or something wider?
Asked 8/15/2010
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I shoot with a Canon 50D and the 18-55mm IS kit lens. I want to photograph bands, groups of people, and interiors in small studios and venues, and I’m considering an affordable 28mm prime. Would a 28mm lens be wide enough on a 50D for tight indoor spaces, or should I keep using the kit lens or look for a wider option? Also, would a 28mm prime be suitable for shallow depth of field or macro-style outdoor shots?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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The lenses you list aren't very wide on a 50D, so I don't think they'd be particularly good for tight-quarters indoors shots.
Your kit lens is already quite a bit wider; it's good advice to see how you fare with that, then you can work out where to go next.
If the kit lens doesn't turn out to be wide enough, then one of the best options going are the various third-party ultra-wide zooms in the 10-24mm range. They get much wider than the kit lens. Unfortunately, they're not as inexpensive as the 28mm primes; AUD$800 seems typical if my Googling is any indication, and the Canon 10-22mm is around AUD$1300.
For macro work and short DOF shots, you typically need a longer lens than the 28, and preferably a wider aperture than the kit lens. The kit lens might work at extremely close distances, but if you've got a particular interest in this, than the "thrifty fifty" (Canon's 50mm f/1.8) is a very popular choice. And it's about their cheapest lens, so hard to go wrong. Macro-specific lenses run a little more, but will enable you to work with some extreme close-ups.
Originally by user496. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user496
16y ago
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On a Canon 50D, a 28mm lens is not especially wide, so it’s usually not the best choice for cramped indoor group shots or small rooms. Your 18-55mm kit lens is already wider at the short end, so it’s a better starting point for this kind of work.
The main advantage of a 28mm prime would be its wider aperture, which can help in low light, but for field of view it won’t solve the “small room” problem. Since your kit lens is also stabilized, it may work better than expected handheld indoors.
A good approach is to keep using the kit lens for a while and review your EXIF data to see what focal lengths you actually use most. If 18mm still isn’t wide enough, the next step is usually an ultra-wide zoom in the 10-24mm range or Canon’s 10-22mm.
For shallow depth of field and macro-style shooting, 28mm is generally not ideal. Macro is better handled by a dedicated macro lens, and stronger background blur is usually easier with a longer focal length and/or a wider aperture.
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