Low light lens advice

[Richard Lane]

Here's my issue. I have a 7D... That leaves me with the EF 85 f1.8 and the EF 70-200 f4. The long, indoor shooting season is upon me, and the 85 is too long. I used to have the 50 f1.4 but found it too long on my 7D in many cases.


What should I get? I find f2.8 to be inadequate for some indoor work without a flash, so I'm thinking prime (although I have had good results with the Tamron).


I could be convinced to spent over $1000, but I'm not thrilled about it.


Brian

How about a used 5DI for $1000 with a 50/1.4


Rich

[scalesusa]

You can definitely add a stop or two over f/2.8 with a faster lens, but depth of field problems crop up as well. I have a 35mm f/1.4 which is very sharp even at F:/1.4. Many wide aperture lenses need to be stopped down to be sharp, and then you lose the extra light.


Beyond that, adding some additional lighting is most cost effective.


Here is a photo shot in dim light at our local small town county fair just after I bought the lens this summer. The hall was dimly lighted, so I used f/1.4 to see how well it would do. It came out suprisingly sharp in the center, but the shallow depth of field does take a toll.


[View:http://www.mount-spokane-photography.com/Photography/Canon-35mm-14-L/IMG0486/1076271323_GAdBy-XL.jpg]