Rex Photography

Which Canon lens to use for indoor event photography?

I will be shooting an indoor fund raising event or the first time. It is a sit down dinner with stage performances, Can anyone suggest the lenses that i should use. I have Canon digital rebel XT with 50mm and zoom lens 75-300. I will be using the 580ex flash as well. Does anyone have recommendations with lenses or other equipment. I may be buying/renting another lens for this event. I know i need a lens with small f value. Which one or two are recommended.? Actually, i was referring to 18-55mm kit lens (when i said 50mm)

Public Comments

1. Those of us who shoot a lot of indoor events, use the 24-70 mm f/2.8. Both Nikon and Canon make such a lens. You have the perfect flash unit.
2. Here are some photos taken with that lens (Canon 24-70 mm f 2.8 L) http://www.flickr.com/little_pooky Each photo is marked with the lens used. Keep in mind that your coverage will not be as wide-as I am using a full frame model.
3. Agreed... The 24-70 f/2.8L is the lens you need. I'm guessing you have the 50mm f/1.8. After a few more indoor events, you'll probably want to get at least the 50mm f/1.4 if not the 50mm f/1.2L. If you can rent a 70-200 f/2.8L (IS or non), you'd find that a better lens than the 75-300mm you have. (Unless you have some restrictions about where you can go and how you can shoot, the 200-300mm range won't be all that useful.) Your flash is good. Are you going to be using the flash on camera or off? (Off camera gives more pleasing results most of the time.) A Canon OC-E3 or ST-E2 is what you'd need for off camera flash along with something like a Stroboframe flash bracket. It might also be good to get a diffuser or reflector for your flash. If you only have 1 camera body, I suggest renting another one. You'd be fine renting a 40D or 5D. You never know if your camera will start acting up. These are just mere suggestions. It may not be practical to rent all that equipment. At the bare minimum, I'd suggest another body and the 24-70 f/2.8L. That way you could have the 24-70 2.8L on the rented body and your 50mm on your XTi and use flash when appropriate on either camera. Ok. Then you might want to buy one of the 50mm lenses (f/1.8 or f/1.4). Both are sharp lenses. If you won't do much assignment shooting, the 50mm f/1.8 is the way to go. It's a good lens for under $100. If you will be, spend the extra few hundred dollars and get the f/1.4 version. You won't be sorry you bought that lens. I rarely recommend the 50mm f/1.2L. It's not that its a bad lens, but you should know it when you need that lens.