50mm 1.8 for wedding?

Anyone using a Canon 50 mm 1.8 for wedding shots in low lit churches?

 

I'm considering buying one for my 20D. Great for low-light situations. However, I'm somewhat concerned

about the low DOF blurring some of the wedding party on formal shots.

 

What do you think?

Great lens for low light in churches. I have one as a back-up for my 50mm f1.4. Also great lens for formals. Just don't use it at f1.8 for the formals. Something like f5.6 or so is good.

No, but I use the Nikon 50mm 1.8 :) Don't use it at 1.8 though!

So then, I take it I should use the 1.8 for shots of bride at altar during the ceremony, etc...

(without flash). and bump up to 5.6 for the formals (with flash in low-light areas)?

I had an older metal mount 1.8 that I used with a 10d until I purchased the 1.4. The main

reason I switched is that the 1.4 is USM while the 1.8 is EF (slower focus). Both lenses are

excellent for wedding use, and at the price it is a real bargain.

Marc...yes. You don't HAVE to use it f1.8 for anything if you don't want to. But generally, DOF is greater the smaller the aperture, the farther away you are from your subject, and with the wide angle lenses. f1.8 is just useful if you can handhold at ISO 400 or 800 in low light (in the church) at 1/60th (slowest shutter speed still somewhat adhering to the handholding, focal length/shutter speed guideline).

You almost have to think of it in the sense of a wide angle. Give yourself some distance.

 

Consult www.dofmaster.com and plug in the camera, lense and distance and voilah....

Thanks. One thing that is throwing me is the 20D's actual focal length with a 50 mm lens is

actually 80 mm. (50 x 1.6). How that would effect my DOF, I'm not sure. And while I wouldn't

always shoot on 1.8, that is one of the main reasons for purchasing the lens: shooting in dim

areas.

 

Another trip to the camera store......

 

Regards,

Marc S

Great website Robbie. I posted my last message prior to seeing your post. You answer most

of what I'm looking for.

 

Thanks

BTW,

 

I saw your Saturday night fight picture. It's a really nice shot! I also noticed that it was shot

using the same lens at an even wider aperture. DOF looks good. I can see how this lens

would be great at a wedding.

The DOF of a lens at various apertures and distances remains the same if you put that lens on a crop camera. Bob Atkins wrote an article which is still on this site about this. Do a search. In effect, you are "gaining" some DOF when using a crop camera. On the other hand, you are "missing" the shallow DOF possible with the widest apertures. While consulting a DOF table is good, try just shooting some test images so you get a first hand feel for the DOF of that lens (on that camera) at the wider apertures.

Thanks Nadine.

 

I'll take the kids out to the park and try some shots. Better yet...I'll take them to our church

and do a test there. After all, that's the same type of venue and shooting I can expect.

I just shot a wedding and used a Pentax *ist DS and a Pentax-A SMC 50mm f/1.7 to shoot available light. I shot it wide open, at f/2.8, and stopped down when light/shutter speeds permitted. Worked a treat - that Pentax SMC glass is mighty sharp.

Its a nice lens - bear in mind your Dig SLR will turn it into roughly a 75mm lens so you have to get back a fair bit to shoot groups.

Thanks for the kind comments.

 

I'm on a roll. I shot a county football jamboree Friday and will be published in four maybe five weeklies. Booked my second freebie wedding today for portfolio material.

 

Now if I can find a way to make money at this...

I think that's one of the first lenses I would have bought if I had a canon. It's cheap and f1.8 ohhh yehhh toss the flash. I would get it for portraits if anything. I have a pentax 50mm f2 I took this shot with it and plan to buy the 77mm f1.8 this month.<div></div>