To zoom or not to zoom indoors?

SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Been noticing how LOTS, and LOTS of pro/semi-pro photogs in DC area use basic zooms + flash indoors almost exclusively. Quite a few, just stick to kit-level stuff for years and don't really look back or anything.

That got me thinking that perhaps I'd like to get an 18-70 once again, since I've gotten quite comfortable using a proper flash unlike the days when I owned one of those w/o a flash. Primes used to appeal much more to me, but now flexible framing without moving and AF seem appealing once again.

So, thoughts? Stick to my 35 1.8G and footwork or get 18-70 once again and enjoy that proper wide end + zoom flexibility?
 
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stmv

Senior Member
both of course, the zooms are hard to beat for flexibility, and buy the higher end zooms if you can, when I am doing a walkabout, not knowing what the subject may bring, I typically have a zoom on, for those split second framing decisions, and I tend to use the primes for macro, and when I pre know the subject matter I am planning to shoot, or just plain want the smallest setup possible.

I used to manually focus all the time, but lately have been using the single point and back cursor control to place the focus point exactly where I want, and focus is right every time. when I macro shoot, I tend to move the whole camera plane and never use auto focus.

Each their own way of course. find what works for you.
 
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gqtuazon

Gear Head
SkvLTD said:
Yeiks! $800 is just a bit over my possible budget.
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I never like kit lenses. They need a lot of light especially indoors. You'll know what I mean if you try using your 70-300mm lens indoor. I would save up and follow Rick's suggestion on the 18-35mm f1.8. Huge difference especially for indoors.
 
SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
gqtuazon said:
I never like kit lenses. They need a lot of light especially indoors. You'll know what I mean if you try using your 70-300mm lens indoor. I would save up and follow Rick's suggestion on the 18-35mm f1.8. Huge difference especially for indoors.
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Well, I have w/ my 565 EX and it fares quite well. And I see lots use stock-level lenses w/ proper flashes just fine as well.
 
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Lee

Senior Member
I love my 50 mm AF-D F1.8 for indoors. Yes, it's a bit tight but I still prefer it to the 35 mm AF-S version. I can't give a good reason other than I tried both and prefer this one. I don't mind a bit of legwork. I do tend to prefer a fairly tight crop on my photos, so if your preference for portraits is to get head and shoulders I could see this not working. I am actually very happy with the 18-105 mm which was the kit lens on my D90 and would have been if I'd bought my current D7000 as a kit; it's my second choice, but only if I am unable to back up any more. I had my 50 mm mounted to my camera for most of Christmas Day. My feeling is, if it aint broke, don't fix it. Do you want a new lens, or do you need a new lens? If you can answer yes to either of those, you can safely go ahead and change without having to justify it to anyone but yourself.

50 mm, F2.2 and I did use some form of flash, in my very compact living room. This is quite possibly my favorite, although the least expensive, of all my lenses. I dont' think it costs much over $100


Deep in thought by MisfitLee, on Flickr
 
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dramtastic

Senior Member
Rick M said:
I'd take a look at the sigma 18-35 1.8 for indoors, kinda like a "prime zoom".
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No understatement to say I love mine so far. Oh and if Nikon/Canon made a zoom this fast it would cost over 2K. Just got back from Osaka, never took it off the camera and never felt I needed any other lens for the type of shooting I was doing. Candids, wildlife(close), flora, architecture, streetscapes, indoors.......
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
dramtastic said:
No understatement to say I love mine so far. Oh and if Nikon/Canon made a zoom this fast it would cost over 2K. Just got back from Osaka, never took it off the camera and never felt I needed any other lens for the type of shooting I was doing. Candids, wildlife(close), flora, architecture, streetscapes, indoors.......
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Lets see some pics!
 
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dramtastic

Senior Member
Rick M said:
Lets see some pics!
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Have already posted a few. In the wildlife thread under Jellyfish, taken at Osaka Aquarium. In the architecture thread under The Chapel, taken on level 22 of the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Namba Osaka. The cityscape of Osaka taken from our hotel room window in, post your nighttime cityscapes photo's. Only arrived back in Australia this morning our time. Have others of course.
 
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