16mm or 16-55mm lens? Help!

[precognito]

Due to the slim depth of field close up, I doubt that the babies would demand f:1.4. In terms of focal length, which has worked best with your zoom? Should help in deciding between an 18 or 23. The choice should really be determined by comfortable working distance, camera angle and light source direction. My recommendation to use your zoom to sort out the optimal focal length seems before making a prime purchase may make sense.

 

[Kiwiprincess76]

Yep, this is what I'm going to do. I definitely don't need F1.4 for babies. No way. So I've got a practice baby tomorrow and I'll use my zoom to get photos at different focal lengths and then I will be going straight home to buy the prime I need. They are for sale secondhand on auctions and I need to buy them quick before someone else snaps them up, however as you say I need to be sure which focal length I need. 16 is possibly too wide and I already have a 12mm wide angle for landscapes which I do occasionally! So guessing the 18 or 23mm will be goers!

 

[mjh04]

Mike, I've been standing on a stepladder, but I've just watched a safety video and this is a BIG no no with babies. Huge in fact in terms of safety! It also may put parents on edge if I'm standing up over the baby on a step stool. If I passed out or something happened and I fell on the baby - it is terrible for the industry as a whole, not just me, hence why I need something wider.

Good point I hadn't really thought of the safety issues. I hope you never pass out and fall on the baby

 

[Kiwiprincess76]

Mike, it's health and safety gone mad, but you have to abide by the industry rules! I've never passed out in my life!

 

[Kiwiprincess76]

For those of you interested, I took several photos of my basket, which is about the largest prop I'll ever use for newborns and at 18mm I had lots of space around it and at 23mm I was cropped in tighter. I then raced to the photo shop and the guy said that 16mm is way too wide for babies, and 18 or 23 were better. He had a secondhand 23mm which I had seen they had and snapped it up. It was like brand new - bought last November and virtually never used and I got it for a steal and saved $500 on the new price. Super stoked!

Really happy with the lens and wanted to thank everyone on here for their advice. I now have a lovely trio of Fujinon primes 23, 35 and 56, so super happy!

 

[Photography201]

the 10-24 zoom would be a better buy.

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

Assuming you wanted a wide angle zoom which is one stop slower.

If she wanted constant f4, she could just get the the 18-55 and leave it on f4; that would be significantly cheaper.

--
www.darngoodphotos.com

 

[bowportes]

You can't go wrong with the 16-55, but the 23mm is better than the 16mm for what you're describing

 

[cilucia]

Woohoo! That's fabulous!