I have a few gaps left in my lens collection. One is a fast prime for low light/available darkness situations; one is a macro lens; and one is a wide angle zoom.
I was recently asked to shoot some band images in what amounts to a nightmare scenario. Extremely low light, black walls and ceiling, and lots of fast movement. My 2.8 lenses could only keep up at ISO6400 and 1/30th to 1/60th of a second. Motion blur and noise are major problems in these images, and focus was inconsistent because of the darkness. The flash and diffuser worked, but killed the natural light ambiance, and made for some horrid shadows even when a diffuser was used. Black ceilings did not help.
So I need to fill the "low light lens" gap in my kit. I'm looking at the 50/1.4 and the 50/1.2, and that led to considering the 85/1.2, which led to the 85/1.8.... starting to see stars and have headspin here.
Anyone have any of these lenses? Any suggestions? My inner perfectionist says "Only the best!" but my pragmatic wallet says $1,500 for a lens I won't use much for most situations is a bit hard to swallow right now. The 50/1.4 isn't an L, and won't last me a lifetime, and I have read about it dying during weddings... not acceptable. The 85/1.2 is $400+ more ($1,900+) optically superior in almost every way, but has even shallower DOF, is bigger than a grapefruit and heavy, and isn't going to allow me to be as close... and the 1.8/85 is not really fast enough.
Opinions? Suggestions? Comments? Donations? (Just kiddng! lol)
I was recently asked to shoot some band images in what amounts to a nightmare scenario. Extremely low light, black walls and ceiling, and lots of fast movement. My 2.8 lenses could only keep up at ISO6400 and 1/30th to 1/60th of a second. Motion blur and noise are major problems in these images, and focus was inconsistent because of the darkness. The flash and diffuser worked, but killed the natural light ambiance, and made for some horrid shadows even when a diffuser was used. Black ceilings did not help.
So I need to fill the "low light lens" gap in my kit. I'm looking at the 50/1.4 and the 50/1.2, and that led to considering the 85/1.2, which led to the 85/1.8.... starting to see stars and have headspin here.
Anyone have any of these lenses? Any suggestions? My inner perfectionist says "Only the best!" but my pragmatic wallet says $1,500 for a lens I won't use much for most situations is a bit hard to swallow right now. The 50/1.4 isn't an L, and won't last me a lifetime, and I have read about it dying during weddings... not acceptable. The 85/1.2 is $400+ more ($1,900+) optically superior in almost every way, but has even shallower DOF, is bigger than a grapefruit and heavy, and isn't going to allow me to be as close... and the 1.8/85 is not really fast enough.
Opinions? Suggestions? Comments? Donations? (Just kiddng! lol)
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The scientist has a question to find an answer for. The pseudo-scientist has an answer to find a question for. ~ "Failure is the path of least persistence." - Chinese Fortune Cookie ~ Logic left. Emotion right. But thinking, straight ahead. ~ Sperate supra omnia in valorem. (The value of trust is above all else.) ~ Meowsomeness!
The scientist has a question to find an answer for. The pseudo-scientist has an answer to find a question for. ~ "Failure is the path of least persistence." - Chinese Fortune Cookie ~ Logic left. Emotion right. But thinking, straight ahead. ~ Sperate supra omnia in valorem. (The value of trust is above all else.) ~ Meowsomeness!
