Flash or faster lens?

UbuNoir

Hi,

This is my 1st post here. I'm brand new to dSLR's, recently bought a Canon5D with 24-105 F4 L kit lens and I'm looking for suggestions on which might benefit me more... a flash or a faster lens.

I'll be traveling to Germany this fall and my main priority is to make sure I've got what I need for good travel/vacation photos. I feel that the 24-105 will cover me for most of my outdoor needs, but what about low-light interiors? We'll be doing all the tourist-y stuff like castles, museums, black forest and such. A flash would obviously give me the light that I'd need, but I suspect that there are a lot of places where I won't be able to use a flash. A flash would also make a bulky camera like the 5D even bulkier and I'd have to learn how to use it.

A faster lens, like the canon 50mm F1.4 would let me shoot where no flashes are allowed, but is it enough to let me photograph indoors, without flash at reasonable shutter speeds in most cases. I'm attracted to this option because I'd also like to experiment with shallow DOF and since my wife is in a band, it might be useful for concert photography as well.

What do you all think? Money is an object and I don't want to spend more than around 4-5 hundred. If you were in my situation, what would you do? Maybe there's a better lens than the 50 1.4 for this use?

Thanks!

Scott_Quier

I think I would go with the 50mm f/1.4 or a Sigma 30mm f/1.4. These, in combination with faster ISO, will give you the speed you will need for most indoor shooting. Remember that the 5D does a wonderful job with the high ISO noise.

ziggy53

I really recommend both the addition of a good low light lens "and" a flash. Even a Sunpak 383 Super flash with a couple of simple modifiers would be nice compared to the on-board flash.

Germany can be a splendid vista landscape opportunity so I also recommend a superwide zoom if you can swing it.

Renting might make more sense than purchase if it means the difference between having and not having the right equipment.

PineapplePhoto

if you are interested!
I am selling a Sigma 28mm f1.8

It is a great wide/angle lens and It may be just what you need. It is in excellent condition, I got it a few months ago, I just need to go wider.

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=833625#post833625

Robinivich

Scott_Quier wrote:

I think I would go with the 50mm f/1.4 or a Sigma 30mm f/1.4. These, in combination with faster ISO, will give you the speed you will need for most indoor shooting. Remember that the 5D does a wonderful job with the high ISO noise.

I agree with the 50mm suggestion, I'd lean away from the sigma 30mm though as we're talking about a full-frame 5D

Also a 28 or 35mm, which can be had for fairly cheap, dependent on the aperture (thinking 35 f2 if budget really squeezes). I wouldn't reccomend travelling with a bagful of lenses, but you could easily get both a 35mm and a 50mm (the f1.8) within your budget, and each would be a full 2 stops faster than your current lens.

Overall, I'd go 50f1.4, or maybe 50f1.8+35f2, the 50f1.4 has better build and focus though.

Art Scott

You've been give the info an lenses and flases now to sorta rain on your trip before getting there.....do not be surprised if you are told NO PHOTOS inside of the castles......some castles will allow pics with out flash some will not allow photos at all and some will even tell you to leave your camera at the box office(where you purchased your tickets).....I had to leave my camera equip at several Czech castles when I was there ......it is how they make their maoney fro mthe sale of photos.....so I often purchased small unfolding cards of photos of the castle and that actually got me the in with camera......but of course Nikon (which is what I was shooting at thetime was considered PRO) and Canon are PRO equipt compared to Herr Deutchman that carries a Kiev knock off of a Nikon or Canon (this would be film cameras....Kiev isn;t making any digitals....) this was an argument I gave when asked to leave camera behind at ticket office....I pointed to several tourists that had "off brand"" cams and asked why......I was told...YOU PRO....them NOT. all I had was an F70....euro-version of the N70....not a PRO cam but I did not argue as we americans are already considered arrogant jerks to start with (and that is putting it nicely)

Good Luck on your vacation be sure to have plenty of insurance on your family and also all equipment.......some insurances do not cover travle outside of USA!!!!

UbuNoir

I really appreciate the feedback everyone. Thanks. I'll probably get the 50mm on order and then see if there is any way i can justify a flash when October gets closer. A wide angle lens is on my wish list, but for this trip I'll probably have to rely on stitching and/or borrowing the 8mm sigma fisheye from work. Also thanks for the advice about possibly not being able to bring the camera into some places. I ran into that a little bit in when i went to Romania, but they were happy as long as I kept the camera in the bag. I'll have to see if there is any way to find out in advance for each place once we have our itinerary together. I don't leaving the camera in a secure place, but I don't want to have to leave it at the front counter with strangers.

Thanks again everyone.

Tee Why

Depending how wide you want I'd probably go for either a 35mm f2 or a 50mm 1.4 or even a 50mm f1.8 lens if you are using this lens occassionally.

Sigma has a nice 28mm f1.8 as well which I really like.

I don't think flash is an option in many indoor places like museums and I'm not sure that the 24-105 is enough even with the IS as if you shoot people, you'll get blur from subject movement. If it's just museum interiors and such a high ISO and the 24-105 shot with the IS on and shot wide open at f4 may do just fine.

Photoskipper

I have been using the 5D and 24-105 F4 as my main gear for the trip to Swiss/Gemany/Italy and Tibet last year as well as Sichuan early this year.

The combination can do most of the indoor jobs without problem. Just for fun, I took quite a bit of photo in Vatican city and the library without flash. I think the situation is very similar to the castles in other European countries.

With the combination of IS and low noise in high ISO (upto 800), I managed to take those photo at F4 and 1/10 without tripod.

You can check out my site www.flickr.com/photos/photoskipper for some samples.

UbuNoir

Thanks again. I'm sure the flexability of being able to use my zoom will come in handy. There are some really nice pictures in your galleries. I have a LOT to learn.

Manfr3d

Tough call. I would get a 430EX (~$250) or 580EX II (~$450)
AND a 50mm/1.8 ($100) or 50mm/1.4 (300$). A flash can
be indispensible when photographing your travelmates -
think groupshot in front of sunset background etc. And a 50mm
will allow you to play with DOF. But if you main concertn is to take pictures
in darker place I think the 24-105mm with IS will serve
you very well as it is.

BigAl

In the churches and castles, 50mm would probably be too long (the 24 of the 24-105 is probably also too long). You want 18mm or shorter. I got away with quite a few shots with a Sigma 18-125 handheld at very low shutter speeds. I very seldom used a flash when I was over there.

Mosel Valley
Sulz am Neckar and surrounding towns