Question about a Lens, aperture and shutter speed

[DVC Jen]

I have decided on the canon rebel. Now I want to know what lenses I need to get.

I have been reading a lot on the net tonight - trying to learn as much as I can.

I want to take pictures at my DDs dance recital next month. The pictures always turn out blurry because she is moving.

So if I get a lens with a (forgive me if I get the terminology wrong) large aperture say f/1.8 and use an ISO of 800 this should make my pictures of her turn out ok and NOT blurry?

If I am correct and if I am not please correct me - I want to learn as much as I can... is this a good lens for what I am looking to do? It is Canon EF 50MM f/1.8 II lens.

I really can't afford a lot more than that. It is on amazon for 64.99 right now.

What about a lens to use when I want to take night shots and or firework shots at WDW when we go?

.. OK it just dawned on me - I don't think that was a digital lens and it needs to be, correct? Grrr this is all so confusing - but I will get it.
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[MarkBarbieri]

So if I get a lens with a (forgive me if I get the terminology wrong) large aperture say f/1.8 and use an ISO of 800 this should make my pictures of her turn out ok and NOT blurry?

Yes. With an aperture of f/1.8 and an ISO of 800, you should be able to get reasonably quick shutter speeds even in relatively low light.

The thing that might bother you is the field of view. A 50mm lens is not a zoom lens (it can't be zoomed in or out) nor is a telephoto (it doesn't make things look a lot closer). If you are 50 feet from your subject, using a 50mm lens on a Canon Rebel (focal length multiplier of 1.6), your field of view will be 22.5' wide and 15' tall. That would be good for capturing the stage, but not great for a closeup of your DD.

To get more of a closeup, you need to either get closer to the stage or get a lens with more of a telephoto. The problem with telephoto lenses is that ones with wide apertures are quite expensive and heavy. If you want to gather enough light from a dimly lit object far away, it takes a lot of glass.

If you want to play around with the field of view of different lenses, go to http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm. The Dimensional Field of View calculator is the one you want. Use 1.6 for the "Focal Length Multiplier".

I don't think that was a digital lens and it needs to be

First "digital lens" is a marketing term. All Canon lenses (except the ancient manual focus lenses from eons ago) will work on the Rebel. The only people that need to be cautious are people with older Canon digital cameras (D30/D60/10D) and people with large sensor Canon digital cameras (1D/1Ds/5D). Those cameras cannot use the newer EF-S lenses.

What people call a "digital lens" is really just a lens that creates a smaller image. That saves glass, which makes them cheaper to build. This trick works because most digital cameras use a sensor that is smaller than a piece of 35mm film. Cameras with bigger sensors (1D/1Ds/5D) don't work with these lenses because their sensor is too big. The older Canon digital cameras don't work because these new lenses stick further back into the camera and they were designed to accomodate them. I'm pretty sure that they came out with EF-S lenses when they came out with the first Rebel, so all Rebels can handle them. All Canon digitals can use their old film lenses.

What about a lens to use when I want to take night shots and or firework shots at WDW when we go?

The 50mm f/1.8 lens is good for night shots (assuming that you don't need to zoom in or out). Just about any lens will work with fireworks. A lot of people use an inexpensive zoom or two to cover most of their shooting and fall back on the 50mm when they need extreme low light performance.

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks so much.

So this lens Lens will work on the Canon Rebel?

We usually sit pretty close to the stage - since the door that leads to the hallway where the dressing room is - is closer to the stage and I have to pop in and out for costume changes.

I am more concerned about getting a picture that is not blurry right now than getting a really close up shot.

Also DH and I are storm spotters and I want a lens that will allow us to take pictures of lightening at night. Would this one work for that as well?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

So this lens Lens will work on the Canon Rebel?

Yes

Also DH and I are storm spotters and I want a lens that will allow us to take pictures of lightening at night. Would this one work for that as well?

Just about any lens will work with lightning. The trick is to set up the camera on a tripod and then take a very long exposure shot - typically anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. It will capture any lightning that happens to strike during that time.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I tried clicking the link (tabaware) and it didn't work - Would you post again - I would love to see that web-site -

I am glad she asked this question, like DVC Jen - I am getting a Rebel for Christmas - (surprise, Dh doesn't know I know - long story - but our printer was out of paper - When I reloaded paper, pushed OK - out printed a receipt - oops!)

I too have been researching for a 2nd lens to get - From what I have been reading, the brand doesn't always matter - All brands do make some lenses that aren't alway the best -

I really can't spend more than $350 - 200mm would be the more than enough - I love the 24-105 - but I can't afford the $1000+ price Canon wants for it -

Do you happen to have any recommendations or can you give me or some sort of starting point? Is there another brand besides Canon I should look at (like Sigma, Tamaron)The lady at Ritz Camera wanted me to get this one:
http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/2...digital-cameras;cislr-lens;cilenses-for-canon


Thanks!!

Karen

 

[MarkBarbieri]

http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm

Sigma and Tamron make some good lenses and some real stinkers. I guess the same is true with Canon as well. You've got to research lens by lens.

Picking lenses is hard because there are always trade-offs. The most obvious is cost. Zooms tend to have smaller maximum apertures compared with primes. Expensive zooms sometimes have wide apertures, but they are expensive AND heavy. Image Stabilization is nice, but it adds cost and doesn't work in some situations (like when your subject is moving).

Some lenses cover a really wide zoom range, so you don't have to change lenses as often. The downside is that these lenses have more optical problems (distortion, color fringing, softness, etc) than similarly priced lenses that don't cover as wide a range.

 

[handicap18]

The 50mm f/1.8 lens is a great lens. Don't be affraid to use it with ISO 1600 too. The only caution I give you using this lens at the f/1.8 aperture (or any aperture below f/5.6) is to make sure your focusing is right on. With an aperture that wide you will get a very very shallow depth of field (everything but what you focus on will be out of focus).

Here is an example: Shot with a 50mm f/1.8 lens at f/4 ISO 1600 shutter speed was 1/60th.

Notice what is in focus and what is out of focus. At a wider aperture it is even more dramatic. I have an example, but don't have it on the net yet.

Don't let this discourage you. Use it as a tool and reminded to make sure your technique and focusing is right on. When that is done, then you will be very happy with your photos.

Re: the other lens posted here. I would stay away from the Quantaray. Go with the Sigma version of the 18-125mm. Quite a few people here have one and seem to be happy and get good results with it. Sigma also makes a nice 17-70 lens, which at the wide end has a wider aperture (f/3.5 @ 18mm on the 18-125 vs f/2.8 @ 17mm on the 17-70mm).