Camera Labs

Hey,

here I am again..
This time with a question about nightclub photography.

Nowadays I shoot at (crowded) parties, and I'm finding the 18-105 too 'crappy' for this, I want some nice DoF and better sharpness in my pictures. So I'm planning to upgrade (also because my 50mm 1.8D is too much zoomed for this kind of photography).

First I wanted to buy the 35mm 1.8 almost directly, after reading some good reviews about it. But now I'm thinking it would be also not wide enough for this kinda photography..(?)

So maybe the Nikon 28mm 2.8 AF (haven't read alot about it), or something else? (price range 0-300€)

Got some tips?
Thanks in advance


Joren.

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D90

Hmm this is a tricky one. If you find the 35mm too much you'll want wider than this. Your kit lens is also f3.5 when this wide, which isnt too far from f2.8 so chances are f2.8 wont be enough if you dont find the kit lens sufficient. There arent many options in this price range for a f2 or faster prime of the required focal length.

Sigma make a 28mm f1.4 I think which might be an option, although its not too much wider than the 35mm

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

Sigma makes: 20 - 24 - 28 /1.8 lenses.

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700

Ah yes I meant f1.8, didnt realise they had a 20 and 24 though, they may well be lenses to look into

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

Haha, I read so fast I didnt even see you had the aperture wrong I dont understand why Nikon doesnt bring us a set up like this for DX, hope that will come sooner than later too.

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700

I know, Id love a 12mm, 24mm and 85mm DX set priced and built as per the 35mm or 50mm

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

First of all thanks for the fast replies..

Secondly, I didn't say the 35mm 1.8 is too wide, I'm more like questioning this.. Do you think it's possible to make group shots of about 5 people with the 35mm?

I also forgot to say that I recently found a Nikkor 24mm 2.8 AF-D and a Nikkor 28mm 2.8 AF (second hand) in that price-range. So I'm also considering those lenses.

(And last but not least, keep in mind that the 18-105mm kit lens has F4.0 at 24mm-28mm.)

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D90

Try it out, set your 18-105 to 35mm (24 or 28mm is also an option to try) and see if you can fit 5 people in the frame the way you like.

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700

Close quarters are very tough: If you don't have enough space you long for a zoom. And as it's dark you long for a large aperture.
So as f/2.8 zooms are the max you'll get you have to decide what is more important for you:
- dof and subject isolation?
or
- flexibility with "only" f/2.8?

Now: What is it?

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Yea, probably flexibility with 2.8..
But I tested it out, I think it's possible to fit like 5 ppl in the frame with a 35mm at a decent distance.

So maybe I'll just use the 35mm and if it's not wide enough I can still swap to my 18-105. (Hopefully I don't need to do that too much..)

Any other advice?

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D90

It really depends on the size of the room. But also remember if you buy a wider lens then you need you can always walk forward. Whereas if your lens is not wide enough it may be hard to step back.

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Camera: Canon 550D with battery grip
Lenses: Canon 24-105mm f/4L, Canon 50mm f1.4, Canon 18-55mm, Tamron 70-300mm,
Accessories: Manfrotto 055XPROB with 808RC4 head, Canon 430ex II speedlite, Lowepro Nova 180AW and Lowepro Pro Runner 450AW

Oh that is so lame, every hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she’s a photographer -Stewie Griffin

"you can always walk forward" or crop.
A stabilized 24-70/2.8 would be a pretty good instrument for your needs.
But alas, so such lens exists
Btw.: A Sigma AF 24mm 1.8 EX DG Asp Macro is not a bad lens (and works on a FX-body too). Price is around 450 EUR (incl. 19% VAT).

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Perhaps the Nikon 20mm F2.8 AF or the 24mm F2.8 AF. On a crop frame body that would range anywhere from 30-36mm, which should be good enough. The 28mm F2.8 AF I think would be too long, as it would be about 42mm which would barely fit 4 in the frame.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

Why not the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8?

Because of distortions on group shots

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- Wout -
Lowepro Nova 200 AW filled with Nikon D90 + MB-D80
18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX, SB-700