New Camera or new lens?

[NJnectarine38]

Hi ...I am a mom of 3 little kids- would love to be able to capture their every moment with a better camera/lens. I currently own Canon rebel xsi and a 50mm 1.4 lens. I would like to upgrade but I am not sure where to put my money into...(ok, actually my husband wants to buy me something for my bday (app. $1500-$2000) do I need a better camera body or a better lens? I want to be able to capture close ups in the natural light mostly with some movement as well (my little ones are getting fast Thank you for your advice

 

[Gary_Scotland]

Hello,

Your 50mm, f1.4 is a great lens, but as you are noticing that you need a bit more reach, then I would definitely say that a lens is the best investment. An upgrade to your camera isn't going to benefit with that or make a massive difference to your photo quality.

I am not overly familiar with Canon, but they should have a lens in the range of 70-200mm, f2.8. That would be my recommendation as it is going to give you that extra reach, and that range is very versatile.

Regards,

Gary

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Muris%D1%BBn-Ph%D1%BBt%D1%BBgraphy/215744688457537

 

[confyushis]

I currently own Canon rebel xsi and a 50mm 1.4 lens. I would like to upgrade but I am not sure where to put my money into...

you already have an f/1.4 lens -- a wider aperture can only do so much if there is no light and the plane of focus is razor thin (not so hot for focusing running kids) ... f/1.2, f/1.0, f/0.95 lenses are extremely expensive ... canon's f/1.2 lenses are $1500-2000 ...

a full-frame body generally does better in low light than the aps-c body you have, but are also very expensive and much larger than your current camera ... they also do not use ef-s lenses designed for your current camera, if you have any, so you couldn't share all of your lenses between the two unless you have all ef lenses ... the canon 5d mark II is $2200 and the mark III is $3500 and they are the cheapest full-frame canon bodies that you can find brand new ...

i would invest in a good flash with a swivel/tilt head ... canon's absolute top-of-the-line cutting-edge flash only costs $630 compared to $1500-3500 on new lens or body, but even a $60 external flash can do wonders ... many people dislike flash because they don't (want to) know how to use flash properly ... when diffused or bounced, flash pictures can create amazing pictures any time of day, indoors or out ...

see the strobist for unbelievable pictures created with lighting equipment that could cost less than $100 ...

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

taking photos is all about capturing light ... if there is no light, what's $2000 going to do?

 

[dcassat]

The lens you have now will do an amazing job in low light (depending on what low light is to you.) The only problem is that you probably wind up getting too close to get candid shots.

Your next step is to either find a prime lens in the 75mm to 100mm range(good portrait range) with a 2.8 or faster (2.0, 1.8, 1.4) aperture OR a fast zoom that covers the range.

Generally speaking the faster the lens, the more it costs, so be prepared.

But keep the camera.

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Dan

 

[ARShutterbug]

If all you want is better gear, I suggest a Canon 5D with a 24 f/1.4, 85 f/1.2, and a 70-200 IS lens.

If you actually want to fix the problem, if there is a problem, you first have to understand what your existing camera and lens kit doesn't do that you need it to do, or what you need it to do better. You sound like you don't know what you're doing, and that you are equating the burning of money (but not too much money) on new gear that you expect will give you better photos. The trouble is that if you don't understand what needs fixing, you could be buying the wrong thing.

A preferred camera kit for doing candid child photography is a Canon 7D with the 50 f/1.4 lens. I prefer this 50 mm focal length to the 70-200 zoom. To get a closer shot, I simply move the camera closer to the child. The background blurring and sharpness at wide-apertures is excellent. If you're not happy with what your similar kit is returning, you're either doing something wrong or your expectations are high enough that you need a much more expensive kit.

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http://www.alexanderrogge.net/arshutterbug

 

[mgd43]

I think that the 50mm is a good lens, especially for low light, but its a little too long for general use. I'd keep the camera you have now and get two lenses. For shooting outdoors I suggest a Canon 18-135 IS. It gives you a wideangle to medium telelphoto range that should cover most outdoor shooting. When the light gets low, raise the ISO. For indoors I suggest a Sigma 30mm f/1.4. It's wider than the 50mm you have now so you can shoot from closer which is important indoors.

I also suggest a flash that allows you to bounce the light off the ceiling (you must have white ceilings) for softer more flattering light. You want a flash that swings sideways and tilts up. I'm not that familiar with Canon, but you can check B&H's website for what's available.

Maybe next birthday, anniversary, or Christmas you can get your husband to get you a new DSLR or get it yourself.

 

[howardruns]

Hi there.

I would recommend that you experiment with a couple or a few lenses in a camera store to see which focal length works for you.

I use a Canon 70-200mm 2.8 IS on a full frame camera [70mm is like 70mm]. This might be a little too long on your XSi which is a crop camera. 70mm becomes 112mm and 200mm become 320mm.

The autofocus on this camera is very fast.

The Canon 100mm f2 has very fast autofocus too.

A zoom lens gives you flexibility in that you can adjust how much of your subject you are capturing by zooming rather than walking closer or farther away from your subject.

Flash is also a great suggestion (especially with swivel and bounce). The drawback is that once you take the first shot, the element of surprise is lost.

Actually that is also a vote for the 70-200mm 2.8 IS. It enables you to shoot from far enough away that you won't be noticed a lot of the time. I recommend the IS (image stabilization) version since it allows you to hand hold your camera at slower shutter speeds and when zoomed to 200mm (320mm equivalent) and keep your camera steady.

I would go with the better lens initially. By the way, your 50mm f1.4 is a great lens for portraits and low light photography. I don't know how fast the autofocus is.

Be sure to shoot using A1 servo. Continuous focusing while the shutter button is pushed halfway. That will help you to capture your little ones in focus. I would recommend using just the centre point to focus and when they are moving quickly, keep the centre point on an item of clothing with a pattern. This helps the camera to lock focus.

If the children are sitting still, use single shot and keep the centre spot on an eye. If your little ones sit still for a posed shot, be sure to keep their eyes in the same focal plane (equidistant from your camera's lens) which will keep them all in focus.

If you buy a flash one day, I would recommend that you learn to use fill flash. Aiming the flash directly at your subject during outdoor shots on a sunny day, with your flash set to manual and low power output, you will eliminate the shadow cast on their eyes by their eyebrows.

When you upgrade your camera in the future, be sure to get a camera with at least a Digic 4 sensor built in. The XSi probably has a Digic 3 sensor.

One last suggestion is to buy a reflector [recommend a 5-in-one. multiple colours]. When the little ones are sitting still (on occasion), get your hubby to hold the reflector for you. You use the reflector to light up the side of the face away from your main light, etc.

Howard

 

[Guidenet]

I want to be able to capture close ups in the natural light mostly with some movement as

One problem with the answers you're getting or will get is that your combination you are using is just about the best for what you say you want to do. You'd have to spend a lot of money for a marginally better combination for a fast portrait class lens. That pretty much is what a 50 f/1.4 on a crop camera is.

My advise would be to either invest is a better all-around lens or in a true portrait lens. The portrait lens might be the 135 f/2 or 85 f/1.8, the first maybe too long but I like that.

A great all around lens might be a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS HSM. That way you'd have the versatility of a zoom with OS stabilization and the speed of hypersonic focusing. You'd have a good wide angle too. The f/2.8 should be fast enough for most situations.

Like others have said, you might want to consider flash photography. I know it can look harsh when improperly done. Get one that can aim in any direction. Now consider the flash just to be the creator of a blob of light you'll use to light your subject. It's not to be used to light directly except as fill flash outdoors.

So, a bright blob of light on a ceiling, wall, curtains, or sofa becomes a beautiful soft box type studio light source. Don't call it bounce or you'll try to think of angles or what the background is made of. Just think about using the flash to create blobs or softboxes of lights on something else. If you want a nice side light, you might want to put that blob high up on a side wall. If you want side with some hair lighting, put that blob the same place but a little higher so some of the blob is on the ceiling.

If you want dramatic side light, aim the flash sideways at a close wall, sofa, curtains or something. When the blob is smaller, it's more direct, less soft. It's still not a harsh direct flash, just more focused than a distant blob of light. Get the idea? You might wish to look at a tutorial in studio lighting to get some ideas what you can do with a flash used in this way. The principles are the same.

http://www.portraitlighting.net/examples.htm

http://lumitouch.com/benstudiotutorial/index.html

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Cheers, Craig

Follow me on Twitter @craighardingsr : Equipment in Profile

 

[Red13]

Does your camera hunt for focus and you miss the moment? Autofocus speed is the biggest reason to upgrade a serviceable body now. Even then check with the Canon forum as they may suggest another lens that affects the speed of focus. Image quality isn't going to huge jump in your price range.

If speed of operation is good, are you missing reach? Are the little tykes small specks in your images? Then a longer lens is in order

Etc, etc. Think about what is lacking and apply it to your equipment you have a better chance of growing your hobby.

The one accessory I hesitate to suggest is a flash. In my experience, adding a flash for family photos makes the process more of a production to be endured rather than something you do with the family.

Mike