Help with a lens Question

[DVC Eric]

Which lens would be best for using inside dark attractions and also for fireworks? I have a Cannon Rebel XTI.

50 mm F/1.4 usm auto focus
or
28-135 mm F3.5-5.6 USM IS Image Stabilizer

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Eric

[boBQuincy]

Interesting question! At 50mm the zoom lens is probably already at f/4, 3 stops less light than the f/1.4. The IS may compensate that much *but* only when neither you or the subject is moving. In a dark attraction both you and the subject may be moving so the IS will not help much.
To me the 50 f/1.4 is a better choice for the dark rides and it focuses faster too.

For fireworks the wide aperture doesn't buy us much, most fireworks will not look good at the fast shutter speeds that take advantage of the wide aperture. Fireworks look best with a long exposure and f/11 or so works well there. In that case the wider angle of view of the zoom would be nice.

Buy both! ;)

[DVC Eric]

Thank you for your response.

[Groucho]

Fireworks are dark rides are about as different applications as you can get. What's great for one may be lousy for the other. Dark rides are difficult, you'll want a fast lens, like Bob said.

But fireworks can be taken fairly well with almost any lens, since ideally, you'll be using a medium aperture, around F8-F11, and most lenses do fairly well in that range.

[DVC Eric]

Dark rides are difficult, you'll want a fast lens, like Bob said.



The 50 mm 1.4 would that be better for dark rides?

[Groucho]

Yes, the lower the F-number (aperture), the "faster" it is - in other words, the more light it lets in. At 50mm, the F1.4 is probably letting in about 4x as much light as the 28-135mm is, which means faster shutter speeds, plus it's easier for the camera to focus with the extra light coming in.

F2.8 is the fastest you'll be able to find a zoom lens. The 50mm F1.4 will let in three times as much light as an F2.8 zoom.

[DVC Eric]

Thank you for your information Groucho, i also enjoyed your trip report.