Lens Choice

[Markk9]

I will be shooting a church at night, under fluorescent lights. I will shooting my daughter who is in the choir, her first time. I will be shooting Kodak 400Tmax, using an EOS 3. My question is lens choice, I'm having a hard time choosing between the EF100/2 or EF 24-105/4 IS. At first I was thinking of using the 24-105 and push the film to 1600, relying on the IS for a lower shutter speed. But I do have the 100/2, and would I really gain anything by using it.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Within reason, shooting under fluorescent lights gives me 1/30 at f2.8 with film rated at 320 ASA. This gives me reasonable shadow detail using either Neopan 400 or Ilford HP5+. A few times I have rated those films at 640 ASA when things were stretched, still reasonable shadow detail, but I wouldn't be enlarging too much above 8x10"

I would suspect that you will be using the long end of a zoom lens if she is in a choir, so I would be tempted to use the 100 prime lens.

If you also have a fast 50mm lens I would also bring that along.

If you are able, have your lens fitted with a lens hood.

When my wife graduated about 15 years ago I used my 85 1.4 and was able to get quite good stuff of her and others whilst they were up on a stage. I was about 3 rows back and to one side, which was about correct for that situation. Your situation would obviously be different, but you get the idea.

Mick.

 

[fschifano]

As I see it, you can get f/4 with image stabilization or f/2 without. Figure image stabilization is good for about 2 stops slower shutter speed and you've got a wash on that front. The faster lens, if used wide open, will deliver a much more shallow depth of field than the slower lens. It is something to consider. Because you'll know the distances involved the choice of which to use it is a decision only you can make. If you aren't already, become familiar with the depth of field scales on your lenses and start figuring how much you'll need and the distances at which you'll be working. That said, image quality from a prime lens used wide open should be a better than the zoom used under the same conditions, though I'd be surprised if the image quality of the zoom isn't good enough.

 

[Laurent]

I'd go for the 100/2, since the IS will not stabilize the subject... I used my 85/1.8 in this kind of circumstances (I quit using zooms when I bought my EOS3, so I had no hard choices to make) and was always pleased with the results.

The shallow DOF was something I wanted. If you're not too close from her, I'm not sure it'll make quite a difference in terms of DOF between f/2 and f/4, though.

 

[SilverGlow]

Markk9, you are shooting A church at night, or IN a church at night? How far from her will you be? Stage lighting or normal auditorium? Will you be flashing? Your question is confusing and lacks lots of details.

As to lens, I would go with the 100mm F2. I assume you'll be in the audience. IS is not going to freeze her movements, only yours! I find it strange that any poster would suggest IS..wow! For people, even!

If outside, here is what I'd do:

1. EOS-3 body in manual, ISO 400, F8 if you want the background sharp, F4 or faster if you want just your daughter sharp.
2. Shutter speed 1/20s, or 1/15s depending on how bright you want the background. If you want the background to be brighter use a slower speed, dimmer a faster. How bright will the outside lights be? Use the camera's meter to help you determine shutter speed. 1/20s or slower shutter will often not often cause hand held or subject blur because the flash will freeze the movements.
3. Frame the shot and manually pick and choose the appropriate focus point, and have no though to reframing before shutter release.
4. Put flash in full auto so that it will be controlled by the camera's E-TTL logic.
5. Frame the shot, DO NOT RECOMPOSE, then release the shutter.

Now if your shoot is INSIDE the church, and I assume the daughter will be on a stage or something, then use the same set up, however depending upon the brightness of the stage, you will need to use a faster or slower shutter.

Now if you're shooting inside and with no flash, then you better bring ISO 800 or 1600 ISO film, depending upon how much depth-of-field you require.