What lense settings for baby pics?

[stuh]

Been trying to catch the funny expressions of our 1 month old girl. This is mostly indoors, early evening. I can use the 20D flash, but it tends to be a little harsh. However without flash i'm finding it tough to get a good handheld shot in the artificial light. I'm using my 28-135 IS.

So, question is, can someone advise what f-stop and shutter speed etc might work best or should i splash out on say a 50mm prime?

Be gentle with me, i'm a newbie

[Bee_Jay]

Go out, spend £75 on a 50mm/1.8, don't use flash and never look back - simple.

I promise you, it is amazing...

[Bee_Jay]

P.S - you will find f2.2-f2.8 best (f1.8 DOF is too shallow!), and try 800 or 1600 ISO - noise is more than acceptable at 1600, and if you really care, then Noiseware them afterwards.

[stuh]

Cheers Bee-Jay!

After your initial post i found this as a likely candidate?

www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=29&sort=7&thecat=2

However if their is a better low light portrair lens i wouldn't mind a specific product. Quality is much more important than price......also i like to be able to have nice DOF blur.

[simpo two]

stuh said:

However without flash i'm finding it tough to get a good handheld shot in the artificial light.

Try an anglepoise lamp - not too bright and you can - uh - angle it

This was taken handheld at 50mm and 1/40th sec at f4.5 - just an opportune shot under a tablelamp:

[luca brazzi]

stuh, get the 580EX flash, and bounce it....stunning results....truly stunning...£244 on Ebay.

Better value than getting a prime lens just for portraits. This way you still use your decent zoom, and its flexibility. Trust me, get the right flash for your camera.

I've taken loads of pics with it now, and it just does the job, spot on, totally natural effect and at 100ISO.

LB

[Bee_Jay]

The 50 1.4 is better than the 1.8 if you can afford it, of course buy that if you can (I would if the 'financial controller' would let me!). To be honest the only one really better than that is the f1.0L, but that's over £1500 !!!

I also have the 85mm 1.8, I was a big zoom fan having forgotten how different the quality is with primes, but once I dug this out and put it on my 20D I never looked back, you can become seriously addicted to non-flash shooting.

In the house, the 50mm lives on my camera for shots of the kids, and is always in my pocket/bag when I am out with the camera.

Top tip if shooting wide aperture portraits, focus on the eyes...

I have the 580EX and it is truly an excellent flash and really the only flash you should get for the 20D, but once you have a fast lens you realise how little you actually need the flash and can end up with some truly beautiful shots.

This shot was taken using the B/W in-camera setting on the 20D at 1600 using the 50mm 1.8 (f2.8, 1/125) and an under-kitchen-cabinets mini-striplight for a light source. I was having a play and got some really cool results...



This was taken using bounced 580EX with Sto-fen and an 85mm 1.8 (ISO400, 1/80, f1.8):

[stuh]

Thanks again chaps.

Some wonderful pics there!

Looks like a 50mm prime is the way to go then. I'll mail sometthing up when i've taken a few snaps with it.

Muchos gracias.

[simpo two]

stuh said:

Looks like a 50mm prime is the way to go then. I'll mail sometthing up when i've taken a few snaps with it.

Actually my '50mm' was from an 18-70mm. The main benefit of prime lenses is bigger aperture, if that's important for low light or shallow DOF. I have a 50mm f1.8 but it's not used often.

[parrot of doom]

Easiest way is just to move your baby into the light.

Simple, but effective.

[LongQ]

parrot of doom said:

Easiest way is just to move your baby into the light. Simple, but effective.

Select your baby carefully though. Having been there and done that I prefer a lens with the lens cap still fitted when in the proximity of babies these days. That way it doesn't matter which lens you have fitted at the time.