Looking for lens advice

djspinner2k · March 26, 2009

I want to do strictly event photography from now on. so festivals, car shows, etc... I need a lens that can capture a great car picture at a close distance. there is usually hardly any room to move back. so my 24-70 is not cut out for the job. I will also be taking portrait pictures but mostly candid shots. looking for advise on a good wide angle lens. any advise would be greatly appreciated.

djspinner2k · March 26, 2009

here's a link to the kind of stuff i want to do.

http://petrovphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/5161093_Yg4KY

http://petrovphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/3820433_SV4wi

i know they are not perfect but, it was my first attempt

catspaw · March 26, 2009

Curious, why do you feel that the 24-70mm is not cut out for the job? I would take that, a 50mm or my 85mm for event candids. The 85mm might be too close, but it depends on the setting. The 50mm has the benefit of being VERY unobtrusive on the front of a camera as well as lightweight.

mercphoto · March 26, 2009

djspinner2k wrote:

I want to do strictly event photography from now on. so festivals, car shows, etc... I need a lens that can capture a great car picture at a close distance. there is usually hardly any room to move back. so my 24-70 is not cut out for the job. I will also be taking portrait pictures but mostly candid shots. looking for advise on a good wide angle lens. any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Car shows can be pretty crowded events and you don't have a lot of room to position yourself. I took the photos in this link at a carshow with a 40D and Canon's 10-22. I'm glad I took that lens and not my 24-70.

http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/6096249_s2oBP#382889713_fwzaq

Art Scott · March 26, 2009

catspaw wrote:

Curious, why do you feel that the 24-70mm is not cut out for the job? I would take that, a 50mm or my 85mm for event candids. The 85mm might be too close, but it depends on the setting. The 50mm has the benefit of being VERY unobtrusive on the front of a camera as well as lightweight.

he is correct the 24-70 is too long expecially for car shows. in my area the cars are crammed together so tightly that a gnat can't fly between and if there is any space a custom bike is squeezed in .....it all about the dollars made per sqft.

A 10-22 as Bill mention or 12-24 on one body and the 24-70 on another....use the 24-70 for people so yu don't get that wide angle distortion......

amg2833 · March 26, 2009

mercphoto wrote:

Car shows can be pretty crowded events and you don't have a lot of room to position yourself. I took the photos in this link at a carshow with a 40D and Canon's 10-22. I'm glad I took that lens and not my 24-70.

Does the 10-22 not belong to you?

ziggy53 · March 26, 2009

mercphoto wrote:

Car shows can be pretty crowded events and you don't have a lot of room to position yourself. I took the photos in this link at a carshow with a 40D and Canon's 10-22. I'm glad I took that lens and not my 24-70.

http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/6096249_s2oBP#382889713_fwzaq

Plus a camera with "Live View" would allow you to accurately hold your camera up high to gain a bit more dramatic angle as well as eliminating some of the typically distracting background. You can do the same thing with the Canon 30D but aim will be more hit and miss.

Art Scott · March 26, 2009

ziggy53 wrote:

Plus a camera with "Live View" would allow you to accurately hold your camera up high to gain a bit more dramatic angle as well as eliminating some of the typically distracting background. You can do the same thing with the Canon 30D but aim will be more hit and miss.

If shooting from a high angle would not the live view need to be movable, tiltable???

Of course there is always the guy with the 8-10' step ladder trying to set up a shot

ziggy53 · March 26, 2009

Art Scott wrote:

If shooting from a high angle would not the live view need to be movable, tiltable???

Of course there is always the guy with the 8-10' step ladder trying to set up a shot

Yes, a tilting display would be nice but I've composed these sorts of shots using the 40D and I was able to see enough for composition.

Some people also use the "ZigView" for this kind of shot.

mercphoto · March 26, 2009

amg2833 wrote:

Does the 10-22 not belong to you?

I'm puzzled by your question. Why do you assume its not mine?

[Deleted User] · March 26, 2009

Bill,

I think Anthony missed the change from the OP's posts to your post and figured the OP was writing about his 10-22.

Art Scott · March 26, 2009

ziggy53 wrote:

Yes, a tilting display would be nice but I've composed these sorts of shots using the 40D and I was able to see enough for composition.

Some people also use the "ZigView" for this kind of shot.

I had completely forgotten 'bout the Zig View......thanks for the 'minder

djspinner2k · March 26, 2009

sorry guys. let me clarify the question. I'm looking for brand/model so that i know what people think takes good pictures and which lenses to avoid.

mercphoto · March 26, 2009

djspinner2k wrote:

sorry guys. let me clarify the question. I'm looking for brand/model so that i know what people think takes good pictures and which lenses to avoid.

Canon EF-S 10-22, or the Canon EF 17-40/4L. Depends on how wide you need to go, and if you want a full-frame capable lens or not.

djspinner2k · March 26, 2009

anyone ever use Tamron AF11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) ?

it's pretty cheap in price.

I have only the 30D so i can't take full frame shots

mercphoto · March 26, 2009

djspinner2k wrote:

anyone ever use Tamron AF11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) ?

it's pretty cheap in price.

I have only the 30D so i can't take full frame shots

I have not, but then again, I usually don't even consider using third-party lenses. Having said that, the Canon 10-22 is a wider range of focal lengths (on both ends) and is also a faster lens (though barely). Consider a used 10-22? That's what I did.

Looking for lens advice

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