Photography Oppos

"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
05/22/2016 at 12:38 • Filed to: Photography

I have a body that ive been dying to use for a little while now, and I’m wondering what the best lense for night time street photography would be. I know some of you guys have experience with these and could maybe help me out? I was thinking a prime lense will do but I’ll take advice from as many people as I can.

Thanks in advance.

DISCUSSION (21)

TheHondaBro > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/22/2016 at 12:52

For nighttime you’d want a larger aperture. I’m not familiar with Canon DSLRs though, so I can’t recommend a specific lens. Depending on how dark your subject is, I’d look for an f 1.4.

The Snowman > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/22/2016 at 13:03

50mm 1.4 is nice but on a crop sensor might seem a little long, they also make a 35mm 2.0 which might be good. I like to rent before I buy...

aebome > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/22/2016 at 13:04

Try starting here for a little background and some recommendations:

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-fi…

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/i…

phenotyp > The Snowman
05/22/2016 at 13:32

Right answer, right here.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > The Snowman
05/22/2016 at 14:19

Looks good! I was looking at the 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens which was quite a bit cheaper too, but renting is something I’m considering, and the one you mentioned looks quite good...

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/22/2016 at 14:38

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1028…

Kinja'd!!!

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/22/2016 at 20:41

An EF-S 24mm f2.8 prime would be a great lens. Night photography really needs a tripod though. Did that come with a kit lens? If it did, go for a tripod instead.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Stephen the Canuck
05/22/2016 at 21:28

Yeah I’ve been looking at a few with F2.8 and was wondering if it would be enough, but I think I’d like to take photos outside at night under street lights so it wouldn’t be completely dark, I was also most likely going to get a tripod and maybe a remote thing too, but I think this camera has a delay option and mirror lock up.

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/23/2016 at 10:39

It should have the delay and mirror lock up, but a cable remote release is pretty cheap so it’s worth it. Definitely get a tripod. They’re pretty much necessary for any shutter speeds longer than 1/4 of a second even if you have super steady hands. F2.8 is definitely going to be enough. Especially with the T6s you can crank up the iso to make up the difference.

Edit: what's your budget? The sigma 15-35mm f1.8 lens would be really good too.

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/23/2016 at 10:41

The T6s has a crop factor of 1.6, so any lens will have a full frame equivalent of 1.6 times the focal length. So the 40mm will be 64mm equivalent.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Stephen the Canuck
05/23/2016 at 11:00

I don’t really want to spend more than 350 on a lens, but this is mostly because it’s my first one and I want to be able to learn the manual controls on the camera first, so really I dont want to get something too expensive that wont fit my needs when I actually start going out at night to take photos. I’ve been looking at the pancake lenses though, especially the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, and for $200 (new) I might just go through with it.

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/23/2016 at 16:04

I think that lens will be your best bet. I really like mine. It's an incredible value for the price and quite a decent lens.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Stephen the Canuck
05/23/2016 at 16:30

Good to know, thanks for the help, I’m probably going to make a post with some pics once I get my hands on one.

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/23/2016 at 17:41

Nice.

Would you like authorship on photography.kinja.com?

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Stephen the Canuck
05/23/2016 at 19:31

Sure thing, I also just talked to my dad who dabbles and instead might be looking at a Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3, he said that at night I’ll need flash regardless of aperture size, and the zoom will give me some more options as I start out, so I’m going to Henry’s tomorrow and hopefully I’ll leave with something I can post about!

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/23/2016 at 20:01

Flash can be used, but that would freeze any motion. My suggestion would be to have a larger aperture. The amount of brightness in a photo is a combination of the length of the shutter speed, the size of the aperture, and the iso. Cranking up iso will increase the amount of noise (hot pixels) in the photo, opening the aperture will allow more light but decrease the depth of the field. Shutter speed being longer will let in more light but show motion, and the camera needs to be still so as not to shake.

Flash will produce plenty of light, but is not easy the learn and use. Especially. If you’re just starting out.

The taken lens will work for a lot of situations, but won’t really excel in any. A long zoom range and such a wide aperture range and comes with compromises in quality. Pro grade lenses are widely expensive because they’re built to minimize those compromises.

A better option might be to find an older tamron 28-75mm F2.8 would work. It’s got a larger aperture.

A sigma or tamron 17-55mm F2.8 or canon 17-55mm F2.8 would also be a nice lens.

I take it you only got the body and no lens? Does your dad have any lenses you could borrow to try out?

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Stephen the Canuck
05/23/2016 at 21:57

Yeah I’m not sure about flash either but I’m going to see what I can do with a tripod and a long exposure first. The lenses you recommended look great but for my first lens I want to stick to something that I can try and adapt with (plus, I’m planning on going to the track near me soon so zoom will come in handy). Also my dad lives in England (I’m in Toronto) so for now I can’t borrow any of his stuff, but I have used it before so I have a little familiarity with cameras, but mostly on auto settings.

These are some of the images that make me want to go out and shoot (they come from fb pages that have color themes that are edited in but that’s besides the point):

Kinja'd!!!

I love to go out and drive at night and see the city without people (I could also wake up early with the sun out too I suppose) and I want to start capturing what I see. I know those aren’t the highest quality photos or anything but they have the atmosphere that I want to capture.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Stephen the Canuck
05/23/2016 at 22:24

Also forgot to mention it didn’t come with a lens.

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/23/2016 at 22:27

Pretty much anything would work for you then. The 18-200 range should be good for starting out and capturing those kind of scenes. May be a little short for the track though.

That’s a little too far to borrow anything then. I’m actually just east of this Toronto in the Durham region.

Tripod and practice are going to be your best bet. You’ll get used to shooting and know better what you want in equipment.

You going to the Henry's outlet? Their used section seems to be pretty good.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Stephen the Canuck
05/23/2016 at 22:45

I’m not too worried about the track use, because I won’t be going too often, and of course I’m not doing anything professional (yet????). I was going to go to the one on church st, but the outlet actually seems more convenient, only a 15 minute drive... I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet, but I’ll make sure to post on the photography blog, and many thanks for the help!

Stephen the Canuck > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/24/2016 at 12:43

No problem. Henry's is one of my favourite stores. The one in Oshawa is the one I go to.