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Hand holding a 70-200 2.8 IS - Part Deux Anonymous
Hey guys, I made a thread about a week ago asking if it was reasonable to hand hold a 70-200 2.8 IS for a fashion show with not too much trouble. I only have a 50mm 1.4 so I couldn't really know.

Anyway, I just realized that at 70mm I can only get a torso shot when I'm 2 car lengths away, which is where I would be.

So now, I'm pretty sure it's a bad idea to rent the 70-200 2.8. What other alternatives should I get? The other 2.8 available to me are the EF-S 17-55 and the 24-70 L.

Or will a 4.0 lens give me enough background blur at the distance I'm at?

This is on a 30D for those who forgot or just didn't care to remember.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
You might want to consider a 50mm f/1.4.
>> Anonymous
I'm pretty set on a zoom rather than a prime for the versatility. Can't really be running back and forth for each shot.

That narrows it down to these available at the shop I'm renting from:

10-22 3.5-4.5
16-35 2.8 L
17-40 4.0 L
17-55 2.8 IS
24-70 2.8 L

They have a few 1.8 primes and also the 85mm 1.2 L but I would like to avoid foot zooming.

I'd like the 17-55 for the convenient range and the IS. But it flares like a bitch.
>> Anonymous
>>101274

Oops, you posted this before my previous post. But it's like I was replying to what you said.

Anyway, I have the 50/1.4 and will have it with me. I might want to do group shots and go in closer and the 50mm is a bit long sometimes on a crop.
>> Anonymous
>>101277
Ideally, what's the widest focal length you would want to use and the longest?
>> Anonymous
>>101283

I'd love a 17mm wide and possibly 75-100 for the longer range shots when the people are walking out.

So 24-70 2.8 L? Good compromise?
>> Anonymous
>>101289
Probably your best choice, yes.

I'd also get the 85/1.2 if you can, just in case the light is too horrible even for your 50/1.4. Unless you know it won't be.
>> Anonymous
>>101291

I'll have a Speedlite 580 with me.
>> Anonymous
>>101292
If you'll be using that, then the 17-40 is something else you'd want to look at. Which is more important here- the 17mm or the 70? That's your lens.
>> Anonymous
you really cant go wrong with that lens. I had to switch down to a sigma 70-300, wich is a great lens for the price, but it's nothing compared to the 70-200.

however, it is very heavy. if your using anything other then a canon xti wich is pretty light - your going to want a monopod.

even with the image stabilization, if your having to shoot slower then 1/250th at 200mm, your going to want to stabalize it on something, even the chair in front of you because after 20 minutes of holding it your shoulders will be on fire.

also, note that the image stabilization is a running motor that takes a second to kick in, so test out the lens before going to the show to get used to it.
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>101294
Well you can, because if you read the post its TOO LONG.

Op I advise you to try and borrow some of the lenses and if you know how far away you are going to be then practice in store. I know catwalk photographers who shoot with 500mm because they are right at the back and then some who shoot with 20~mm becase they are right next to it.
>> BlackAdder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
That's a point. Do you know for certain where you are going to be? Have you looked around the place you are going to be? A lot of these events with many photographers can have spots marked out for you or you have to get in early to avoid the scrum for them and mark your own in the designated area. How are they working this and what kind or scale of event is it?

You've got to try those lenses or at least the focal lengths to know what will suit you, what you are shooting and where you will be.
>> Anonymous
>>101309

BA, if you remember it's just a small thing and I'm just there for fun and learning.

It's pretty much a toss up between the 17-55 or the 24-70 like I said in my first post. The first one is a wider and shorter but has IS, the second one has longer range.

I'll probably get the 24-70 L because I'll have a flash.
>> BlackAdder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>101328

Ah, yeah. I remember you mentioned that now.

I'd say you should go with the 24-70 out of those choices. It's a good range for you. Make sure you know how to work the flash before using it. If it's a smaller event then you'll likely have plenty freedom to move back and around if for some reason you want more in shot so 24 shouldn't be restricting. I've done a couple of smaller events and that'd be the kind of range I'd be using most of the time unless group shots were called for in cramped spaces or I wanted to get portrait style head shots or sneaky shots photojournalist style from a distance.

You should be fine without the IS. That lens is f/2.8, isn't it? That and the flash should be enough for you to manage just fine. If you went for the wider 17-55 you might end up hurting for the long end in that situation more than you would for the wide end.

You could try getting away with the 50mm 1.4 and you'd probably get some great shots with that too. Depends on what you find more fun. I'd lean towards the zoom though for flexibility, especially with an unknown like that. It's an excellent lens and good quality.
>> Anonymous
>>101338

The flash is borrowed so I'll need to play with it beforehand.

But will I still be able to blur the background when using flash? Dragging the shutter will accomplish the same thing?
>> eku !8cibvLQ11s
>>101343
Yeah, you will. Unless there's too much light (which would make speeds like 1/250 and f/4 burn the photo. And in that case you wouldn't need the flash in the first place...)
Don't worry about it.
>> Anonymous
>>101343
youre the guy who was asking about slow sync flash a couple days ago, arent you
>> Anonymous
>>101346

The internet detective is on the case!

Remember to post up the results of the shoot, OP.
>> Anonymous
Man, site was offline for a long time.

I was asking how to avoid the 'cavern' look when taking pictures with an external flash. Which prompted me to learn about dragging the shutter.

Then I asked about fill flash but no one replied. ;_;
>> Anonymous
>>101386
>;_;

And you wonder why?
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>101386

what's the cavern look?
>> elf_man !!DdAnyoDMfCe
>>101453
He means a solid black background.
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>101455

oooh... like having the shutter speed too fast?

you just gotta slow the shutter down so the ambient lights get in. I do this for nightclub shots...rear curtain helps, but isn't necessary

let me dig one up...
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>101456
>oooh... like having the extrem fast shutter speed?
Fix'd
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>101524

hahah what?
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
The places i shoot at require a .4-.6" exposure at f5.6 (go stupidly slow 11-18) since they can be almost pitch black. In a well lit fashion show you really shouldnt have any problem getting in enough background light and you only need a fill flash.
>> Anonymous
Sigma makes a 70-200 2.8 Macro (retail for about $890) that works quite well, no need for the IS really. As far as focusing, You can be about 2 feet away and be able to focus, not that 2 car lengths non-sense.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>101534

The 2 car lengths the OP mentioned was not for focusing issues, it was for getting a torso shot in frame at that focal length.