Hi ... are you recommending 85mm F1.8 as a portrait lens for full frame or crop user? Thanks
Prime lens or external flash?
- Thread starter cargocube
- Start date
Hi ... are you recommending 85mm F1.8 as a portrait lens for full frame or crop user? Thanks
Get a flash first. I have not ventured into off camera flash yet, but I can safely say that bouncing on camera flash indoors is not too difficult and can produce much better results than just relying on a 50 1.4.
Relying on a 50 has it's limitations, and I find the biggest limitation is the DOF. While you can blur the background nicely, you will often find it unsatisfactory for photos with more than one person. Furthermore, I've felt that a 50 on a crop is a bit too tight for indoor use at times.
That's not to say that you should rule out fast glass. At least with my limited experience in on camera flash, you can stretch the limits of bounce flash when the ceilings are higher etc, produce shallow DOF. So the flash and fast glass do complement each other.
So I say get the flash. I started with an 18-200 too, and relying on that alone is never going to get you anything decent in low light.
Relying on a 50 has it's limitations, and I find the biggest limitation is the DOF. While you can blur the background nicely, you will often find it unsatisfactory for photos with more than one person. Furthermore, I've felt that a 50 on a crop is a bit too tight for indoor use at times.
That's not to say that you should rule out fast glass. At least with my limited experience in on camera flash, you can stretch the limits of bounce flash when the ceilings are higher etc, produce shallow DOF. So the flash and fast glass do complement each other.
So I say get the flash. I started with an 18-200 too, and relying on that alone is never going to get you anything decent in low light.
IF i were you (heh), id get the 50mm first and a cheaper 3rd party flash (say the di622). play around with it for a couple of months (good training as well) and see whether u really are buying into all these flash hype or not. Ok then, say if u really like all these flash thingy, then go out buy the expensive 580II because uve already saved up enough for the last 2 months. best part is, u also have a 2nd flash/backup to do all the lighting effects etc. IF u don't, be glad that u didn't pay 400plus extra for a white elephant.
50mm --> there's always usage, day and night.
flash --> u cant use this thing outdoor on a bright sunny day.
prioritize, man. :thumbsup:
50mm --> there's always usage, day and night.
flash --> u cant use this thing outdoor on a bright sunny day.
prioritize, man. :thumbsup:
denniskee
Senior Member
u might want to read up more about this.
GRbenji
New Member
This is definitely not true. Flash can be used to remove shadows, eg when sun is behind subject.
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This is definitely not true. Flash can be used to remove shadows, eg when sun is behind subject.
yeap, fill flash :thumbsup:
engrmariano
Senior Member
move to D3s lor! :sweat:
blackreplica
Member
I dont use flash at all but i still have to say that statement is very incorrect. The best outdoor portraits i have seen use flash in one way or another. Macro photography uses flash as well even in bright daylight
With creative use of (powerful)flash you can almost completely block out ambient light even in sunny outdoor conditions and use your flash to creatively illuminate your subjects
The possibilities are endless.
Personally i'd suggest a small, cheapish prime combined with a decent flash...should really take the TS's photos to another level if he is prepared to study a little about how to use his equipment effectively
Anson
Senior Member
Hi ... are you recommending 85mm F1.8 as a portrait lens for full frame or crop user? Thanks
Unless you are shooting mostly outdoor, the 85mm lens is more suitable for FF users.
You can't use just a lens in a room without any light source. With flash, you can.
without getting too ridiculously technical, im pretty sure everyone knows what im trying to say generally.
denniskee
Senior Member
without getting too ridiculously technical, im pretty sure everyone knows what im trying to say generally.
ok, u might want to include reading up on the replies to ur statement.
maybe this will help u to better understand that it is not tech. the camera will handle the tech stuff. photog just shoot. with more practice and reading and understanding, you will enjoy photography more.
Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=656979
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nitewalk
Senior Member
without getting too ridiculously technical, im pretty sure everyone knows what im trying to say generally.
I think it is not technical leh. I was advised the same way by my family member who was into photography too, meaning if facing sunlight then can use flash to eliminate shadow.
Shen siung
Senior Member
ok lets put it this way. long time ago i gave this advice to someone else also.
Currently, you already can do what a new prime lens can do. unless you really know what kind of effects the prime lens can give, its almost the same as a zoom lens.
with a flash head, you can do alot of those things you cannot do now. even with a zoom lens. there are many different plays with what a flash head can do. (off camera flash, cto-gel or ctb gel, overpowering the sun, just to name a few) It opens up a new dimension of playing (for the lack of a better word) with cameras.
(ps, using fill flash also got skill one leh. wanna fill properly or make your subject pop, producing surreal colors. different modifiers etc SKILL leh~~)
of course, got money then get ALL la.
Body with high iso
flash
primes =D
Who dun wantttt???/ but cannot la hahaha. i not rich man son.
Currently, you already can do what a new prime lens can do. unless you really know what kind of effects the prime lens can give, its almost the same as a zoom lens.
with a flash head, you can do alot of those things you cannot do now. even with a zoom lens. there are many different plays with what a flash head can do. (off camera flash, cto-gel or ctb gel, overpowering the sun, just to name a few) It opens up a new dimension of playing (for the lack of a better word) with cameras.
(ps, using fill flash also got skill one leh. wanna fill properly or make your subject pop, producing surreal colors. different modifiers etc SKILL leh~~)
of course, got money then get ALL la.
Body with high iso
flash
primes =D
Who dun wantttt???/ but cannot la hahaha. i not rich man son.
denniskee
Senior Member
:bigeyes::bigeyes::sweat::sweat:
KeeFy
New Member
without getting too ridiculously technical, im pretty sure everyone knows what im trying to say generally.
No i don't. Please enlighten me. Don't worry about any technical jargons, if there is a chance i haven't come across it before, i can google it.
Also to the overpowering the sun comment. It's really not that easy with a flash on a bright sunny day. I'm not saying it's not possible. You need along the lines of a studio strobe to attain that effect with more ease.
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