"Fast" lens vs flash

<p>I would recomend the faster lens before the flash.</p>

<p>If you want to shoot indoors on a regular basis, you need a flash regardless of what lenses you own. There are many situations where there simply isn't enough light, any many other situations where there may be enough light but not good light, or where flash simply makes your life a lot easier. Most of the natural-light-only crowd seems to be comparing natural light against on-camera direct flash. Getting your flash off the camera and using it properly can create beautiful light so don't fall for the anti-flash rhetoric. If you were going to buy new lenses I would replace your current dreadfully slow lenses with 2.8 zooms rather than go to the 30 1.4 that gives you only one focal length and so little depth of field wide open that you're going to stop it down to 2.8 or smaller most of the time anyhow.</p>

<p>Remember that it is not just about lighting; a fast lens, when shot wide open also minimizes your DOF.<br>

The saving grace here is that you are looking at a wide angle lens, so you'll have more DOF to play with.<br>

Example: On your XSI, a 30mm shot at f1.4 at a distance of 10 feet gives you a DOF of less than 2 feet. </p>

<p>Thanks again for everyone for your replies.<br>

The question was what to get FIRST. And I completely understand that I have to get flash anyway. I spent all my childhood with cameras like Kiev and Smena, so 30mm should be natural for me :)</p>

 

<p>Ivan<br>

There is no right or wrong which ever you choose.<br>

Myself I would get the flash first and start saving for the lens. The 30 f1.4 is a nice lens that I am sure you would enjoy it, but the flash opens more possibilities for you. I have come to really enjoy what I can do with a couple flashes.<br>

I am not familiar with your camera weather it has a built in flash or not, if it does then you could get by and get the lens first.<br>

I think it is a shame that every one doesn't have access to at least two flashes to experiment with different lighting setups, it would amaze you how much the photo can be altered by just changing the position of the flash.<br>

I don't know if you are considering used, but used verse new price you might be able to get both.<br>

Good luck with your choice</p>

<p>Hi Ivan,</p>

<p>As someone who can relate, who has little money and has to make due with what one has. I would go with the 30mm f/1.4 lens. This Sigma is my primary lens that I use for all my indoor family photos (mostly of my son). I almost never use my on-camera flash. In fact, if you take a look at my portfolio, only one of my photos is taken with a flash. The rest are taken via natural light (window light and a reflector -- any white or silver poster board), mostly indoors.</p>

<p>I've been looking into artificial lighting and reading the strobist diligently. For me, it seems like the road to really great artifical lighting is an expensive one and currently out of my stay-at-home Mom/student budget.</p>

<p>So like I said above, I'd recommend the lens and ALSO a tripod. Mine is supposed to come today (WOO HOO! My Christmas gift!), along with a remote control. When shooting without a flash, sometimes the lens will be open longer than one can keep absolutely still. I can't tell you how frustrating non-tripod/non-artificial lighting photography has been for me when lighting isn't optimal, so I'm really looking forward to it. And tripod's are relatively cheap. I picked mine up for $129.00. And from what I've read on the boards, it's an invaluable photography tool.</p>

<p>Just my two cents, Ivan. Good luck!</p>

<p>-Maija</p><div></div>

<p>I think Craig Shearman made a good point. You say that you want to shoot friends and family indoors. In my experience, a flash will be much more useful to you than a fast prime. I have one, the 50mm f/1.8, but it's often not fast enough to compensate for poor lighting conditions. A flash will allow you to use more effectively the lenses that you already have. Yes, shooting with a fast prime is fun--I am smitten with the idea myself--but in my humble opinion, I think a decent flash with a swivel head will serve you better for the time being.</p>

<p>Just reviewed photos from Xmas... My wife likes photos with P&S-like flash ("people faces are flat and you cannot see many defects, wrinkles etc") :), Looks like next party I'll give her my old Canon A630. Last time I played with friend's 430EX there was dialog like this "Look, this shot was made with flash pointed to your face, and here flash is bounced from the ceiling. Which one do you like?" - She pointed to "In your face". See the reason why above.</p>

<p>Also, at the end of April I'll have the second most important photoshoot in my live - birth of my son. At my daughter birth I heard all the time comments like "turn off your f!king flash". :) So I think "fast" lens right now will be more important for me :)</p>

 

<p>Ivan... Congratulations on your new addition. Note the phenomenon of diminishing kid pictures. So that my wife and I have lots of baby pictures of our first two kids and very few of the last two kids :)<br>

Fast prime lenses are great for candids as you mention, but you might want to keep an eye out for a cheap used potato masher flash (and a quick release bracket) for the future prom and wedding pictures :). These babies have really high output so that you can shoot with a bounce diffuser off camera extending your arm up and out at say f4 ISO 100 with an f2.8 zoom.</p>

<p>Ivan. . you made me laugh!</p>

<p>To me, there is no substitute for *well executed* flash photography. Unless, perhaps, you have lots of time to set up reflectors like Maija (what a great shot!). Most kids I know will be *eating* the first reflector by the time you get the second one set up.</p>

<p>And if I am at a party. . I am simply not sober enough to do the reflector routine.</p>

 

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>i think i am the most novice person here with a camera. Currently i own a Canon EOS 50D equiped with a Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS f/3.5-5.6.</p>

<p>I got this camera a few months ago. I have googled a lot and subscribed to many forums and newsletters.</p>

<p>I've read all post of this forum and must say that i've learned a lot from you guys! <br />I had this same question a month ago, but then, hadn't think of googling on internet.</p>

<p>I've choosed for an external flash unit rather than for a faster prime lens.<br />I am really for that natural light thing, but when a look at professional photographers... they usually carry an external flash unit ( full flash or just fill ). <br />I usually have my flash on my camera, but whenever possible i turn it off and try to shoot as natural as possible, but whenever it's too dark i start to think of bouncing with my flash.<br />When my subject has the light source from behind, i start to think of fill light.</p>

<p>I totally agree with the fact that a wide aperture ( f1.4-1.8 ) has a narrow dept of field, which is a disadvantage for indoor ( large ) group pictures ( like in a church ).</p>

<p>I have chosen for the flash unit because i want to enable more possiblities for me to explore. Meanwhile, i will do as much research as i can to buy a good lens that i need... there prime lenses are very expensive. So my opinion is buy flash first, then fast lens.</p>

<p>My purchases so far...</p>

<p>1) Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS 3.5-5.6 <br />2) Arivvo medium camera bag<br />3) 2 x Kingston Elite Pro 16GB ( 133X )<br />+ 2 x SanDisk Extreme III 8 GB ( 30MB/s )<br />+ 1 x spare battery ( 1620mAh )<br />4) Massa UV filter + Massa Circ. Polarizing filter<br />5) 72mm lenshood <br />6) Hama tripod star 63<br />7) Canon EX430 II external flash unit + omnibounce cap<br />8) Wireless remote of hahnel + Expodisc neutral<br />9) Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible</p>

<p>My main photo shoots are :<br />*) Friends weddings ( outdoor/indoor )<br />*) Parties <br />*) Landscapes<br />*) night photography</p>

<p>I try to stick on my current equipment as long as i can and explore as much as i can, before i buy a fast lens. This is because most fast lenses are pricey and thus i want to make sure i have the knowledge to buy a good one.</p>

<p> </p>