shooting character meals

[Tnkrbelle565]

This is an offshoot of something I saw mentioned on another thread....character meals. What lens do people generally use to get shots when you are just sitting across the table from the subject?

 

[ukcatfan]

If you want no flash, then I suggest a fast zoom b/c you are so close to the subject. A 30mm prime might be wide enough, but a 50mm is not. With flash, even a standard kit should be good enough. I would recommend an external flash though and possibly a diffuser. It is not like you are going to bounce a flash at Chef Mickey's

Kevin

 

[The Grays]

I like useing my 18 - 75, this way I am ready if they get close and I need that very wide.

 

[webshark3]

"A 30mm prime might be wide enough, but a 50mm is not."

On a APS-C, that's a 45mm FOV. I use my 18-55 (stress 18) for a 28-82 equilvent. And I would use a flash, even the on-board. Even if it's only for a Fill.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

If I took the Sigma 18-200mm would I be able to do it?

 

[webshark3]

If I took the Sigma 18-200mm would I be able to do it?

I think so. Just make sure that if you're using the flash, it'll clear the barrel (Shouldn't be an issue at 18mm, but may cause a shadow when zooming).

If I'm not mistaken, the lens isn't that large, and shouldn't be a real problem.

 

[ukcatfan]

If I took the Sigma 18-200mm would I be able to do it?

Pretty much any standard range zoom (i.e. starts around 18-24mm) will be fine if you use a flash or bump the ISO up. It depends on how much noise you find acceptable when not using a flash. Even 1600 might not be enough in some restaurants.

 

[Groucho]

I don't think a 30mm will cut it, width-wise. Last night, I processed photos from the character dinner at Garden Grill, and there's a great shot of Chip (or is it Dale? I can never tell ) and my son and wife, taken with my 28-75mm - and the edges of the faces are all cut off. Argh! Actually, I just checked the focal length and it wasn't zoomed out all the way, but other 28mm shots are just barely wide enough, and I remember sliding my chair back to get everyone in (and forget it unless everyone was crammed together.)

I did often use my standalone flash unit, with the built-in diffuser flipped down. This usually gave good results without overpowering things too much. Actually, at Garden Grill, I was even able to bounce some off the low white roof - which is often not an option - you couldn't do it on the outside row of tables there, or at Crystal Palace, or Liberty Tree Tavern, or Chef Mickey's, etc...

 

[frugal_mar]

I used my external SB800 flash with a Gary Fong diffuser at the Crystal Palace. I don't remember if I had the 18-135 or the 18-200 lens on the camera. It was a pain to carry the flash, but the pictures were worth the extra effort.

 

[Suburbanmom]

and there's a great shot of Chip (or is it Dale? I can never tell )

Dale's nose is brown. Chip's nose is black and looks like a chocolate chip. That's how I remember.

 

[mikamah]

I use my 18-55 kit lens. I have the 28-135, but found at 28, it is not wide enough for those big characters. I think in crystal palace, I did not use a flash because it was so bright, but at chef mickey's I did. (just the on camera flash)

 

[dpuck1998]

Dale's nose is brown. Chip's nose is black and looks like a chocolate chip. That's how I remember.

Dale has a red nose

 

[Amy]

And Dale has 2 teeth - Duo = two, D for Dale - that's how I remember them.

 

[Suburbanmom]

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thanks all! Oh and thanks for the tip on Chip and Dale. I could never tell them apart either!

 

[webshark3]

Girl I know use to play Chip and/or Dale. They even got confused in costume. Sometimes they would sign the wrong name, and have to tell the other Chip/Dale to sign wrong also, so the kids wouldn't get double signatures.

 

[Groucho]

Good tips on C&D. My wife usually can tell them apart, and I tell her not to even bother explaining it to me since I'll never remember!

As for brown vs red, I think it depends on the context - we've been watching the original Donald Ducks with C&D with my son and sometimes the nose is brown and sometimes it's red.

I just checked a SpectroMagic shot I took (where they have a "C" and "D" on the back of their jackets) and in that one, the nose is brown, and yes, Chip has a black nose like a chocolate chip and Dale has duo teeth.