da 35mm 2.4 or fa 50mm 1.4 for indoor shots

rtrox · 11-09-2010, 09:56 AM

New K20d owner looking to take pics of newborn and 8yr old. I have 2 lens now (50-135 2.8 & 16-45 4) I am looking for indoor lower light shots and have been leaning towards the 50 1.4 but for the $ the new Da looks good plus I think I can use it more in our small house and use the extra $ to save up for something else down the road. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks so much.

chalion · 11-09-2010, 10:09 AM

I'd say go for the 50 1.7. MY reason: The DA 35mm 2.4 may be less expensive, but it is nearly the same speed as your f2.8 50-135 when it's wide open. The FA 50mm (or even the cheaper F50mm) will be serveral stops faster and can be stopped down to f2.0

Parallax · 11-09-2010, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by chalion

I'd say go for the 50 1.7. MY reason: The DA 35mm 2.4 may be less expensive, but it is nearly the same speed as your f2.8 50-135 when it's wide open. The FA 50mm (or even the cheaper F50mm) will be serveral stops faster and can be stopped down to f2.0

Actually, f1.4 is less than 2 stops faster than than the DA35, not several. The 1.7 is roughly only one stop faster than the f2.4 of the DA35. The other thing to factor in to the decision is that when indoors, it is usually possible to get closer to your subject if need be when using a shorter lens, but you are limited in how far away you can get so sometimes you just can't back away far enough to get the shot you want with a longer lens.

jolepp · 11-09-2010, 10:50 AM

My 0.02 €: I would suspect that with APS-C the 35mm is the more useful lens for the kind of thing you have in mind: as said above you can usually zoom in by getting closer, but zooming out doesn't always work inside.

sterretje · 11-09-2010, 10:55 AM

First determine the focal length that will work for you in the intended environment. You can do this by putting your zoom lenses on a fixed focal length and check if you can get the composition that you want.

Reportage · 11-09-2010, 11:04 AM

The FA 50/1.4 will do the job but i recommend use at F/2.8 or F/3.2 to get the whole body as sharp as possible.

Andi Lo · 11-09-2010, 11:37 AM

Do you find 2.8 of your 50/135 enough in terms of shutter speed? Is it wide enough? Imho you should aim for the Sigma 30/1.4 (buy legit so you can keep returning bad copies, or buy one that you can test), but in the meantime get the 35/2.4. Imho 50mm just isn't wide enough for indoor shots, but I don't know how big your house is or what kind of shots that you like.

LucyGoosey · 11-09-2010, 11:54 AM

@rtrox,I'm in the same boat as you. Wife's pregnant and can't wait to get shots of the newborn, but don't think my 40mm is wide enough. I haven't seen much samples from the 35mm 2.4 yet, so haven't pulled the trigger. Anyone know if B&H or Adorama have a sample available in stores?

**NaClH2O** · 11-09-2010, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by sterretje

First determine the focal length that will work for you in the intended environment. You can do this by putting your zoom lenses on a fixed focal length and check if you can get the composition that you want.

+1 on this idea, you can set the 16-45 to both 45 (close enough to 50) and take a few shots, then move the zoom to 35mm and take a few shots. Which one is best for you? That will give you an idea of which way you want to go. I'd recommend the 35mm f/2.4 but I like wide so I'm predjudiced. :P

NaCl(if you really want to be precise use the 50-135 for the 50mm shots)H2O

rtrox · 11-09-2010, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by LucyGoosey

@rtrox,I'm in the same boat as you. Wife's pregnant and can't wait to get shots of the newborn, but don't think my 40mm is wide enough. I haven't seen much samples from the 35mm 2.4 yet, so haven't pulled the trigger. Anyone know if B&H or Adorama have a sample available in stores?

I am leaning towards 35mm 2.4 at the moment. I am finding the 50mm a little too long for small house. Great outdoors though!

rtrox · 11-09-2010, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by NaClH2O

+1 on this idea, you can set the 16-45 to both 45 (close enough to 50) and take a few shots, then move the zoom to 35mm and take a few shots. Which one is best for you? That will give you an idea of which way you want to go. I'd recommend the 35mm f/2.4 but I like wide so I'm predjudiced. :P

NaCl(if you really want to be precise use the 50-135 for the 50mm shots)H2O

Thanks! I did that and I am definitely in the wider camp.

rtrox · 11-09-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by Andi Lo

Do you find 2.8 of your 50/135 enough in terms of shutter speed? Is it wide enough? Imho you should aim for the Sigma 30/1.4 (buy legit so you can keep returning bad copies, or buy one that you can test), but in the meantime get the 35/2.4. Imho 50mm just isn't wide enough for indoor shots, but I don't know how big your house is or what kind of shots that you like.

I am agreeing with you on the length and shutter speed( I think! I am new to this) Would like to hear from someone with the 35/2.4 about how they like it.

Finger · 11-09-2010, 01:58 PM

I bought a tamron 17-50mm 2.8 for the hospital before the birth of my son and I was happy with the results. I sold it since though.

twitch · 11-09-2010, 02:23 PM

Two other options are the Sigma 30mm f1.4 which has the speed and the focal length for indoors, and I've heard Pentax have something with almost the same FL & speed as the Sigma that is meant to be OK

For indoors kids shots I mainly use my DA21 and DA40 with an external flash, the flash being the more important and the cheaper part in the equation.

kangamel · 11-10-2010, 03:41 AM

I bought my K-x to get family shots, I have an old M42 50 1.4 which I love but (apart from me having isues with manual focus) I find it just too long to capture indoor shots of my 3 year old in action, in my small house. I just bought a F 28 2.8 from the marketplace. I need wide for kid shots. I might later find I also need a flash but first I want to be able to fit him in the frame without flattening myself in a corner against the wall. For me the 50 has been great for creative close ups but no good for catching the snaps of all the things he is doing.

11-09-2010, 09:56 AM	#1
rtrox New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: knoxville Posts: 22	da 35mm 2.4 or fa 50mm 1.4 for indoor shots New K20d owner looking to take pics of newborn and 8yr old. I have 2 lens now (50-135 2.8 & 16-45 4) I am looking for indoor lower light shots and have been leaning towards the 50 1.4 but for the $ the new Da looks good plus I think I can use it more in our small house and use the extra $ to save up for something else down the road. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks so much.

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11-09-2010, 10:09 AM	#2
chalion Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Pennsylvania Photos: Albums Posts: 628	I'd say go for the 50 1.7. MY reason: The DA 35mm 2.4 may be less expensive, but it is nearly the same speed as your f2.8 50-135 when it's wide open. The FA 50mm (or even the cheaper F50mm) will be serveral stops faster and can be stopped down to f2.0

11-09-2010, 10:38 AM	#3
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,333	Originally posted by chalion I'd say go for the 50 1.7. MY reason: The DA 35mm 2.4 may be less expensive, but it is nearly the same speed as your f2.8 50-135 when it's wide open. The FA 50mm (or even the cheaper F50mm) will be serveral stops faster and can be stopped down to f2.0 Actually, f1.4 is less than 2 stops faster than than the DA35, not several. The 1.7 is roughly only one stop faster than the f2.4 of the DA35. The other thing to factor in to the decision is that when indoors, it is usually possible to get closer to your subject if need be when using a shorter lens, but you are limited in how far away you can get so sometimes you just can't back away far enough to get the shot you want with a longer lens.

11-09-2010, 10:50 AM	#4
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	My 0.02 €: I would suspect that with APS-C the 35mm is the more useful lens for the kind of thing you have in mind: as said above you can usually zoom in by getting closer, but zooming out doesn't always work inside.

11-09-2010, 10:55 AM	#5
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	First determine the focal length that will work for you in the intended environment. You can do this by putting your zoom lenses on a fixed focal length and check if you can get the composition that you want.

11-09-2010, 11:04 AM	#6
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	The FA 50/1.4 will do the job but i recommend use at F/2.8 or F/3.2 to get the whole body as sharp as possible.

11-09-2010, 11:37 AM	#7
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Do you find 2.8 of your 50/135 enough in terms of shutter speed? Is it wide enough? Imho you should aim for the Sigma 30/1.4 (buy legit so you can keep returning bad copies, or buy one that you can test), but in the meantime get the 35/2.4. Imho 50mm just isn't wide enough for indoor shots, but I don't know how big your house is or what kind of shots that you like.

11-09-2010, 11:54 AM	#8
LucyGoosey Forum Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Photos: Albums Posts: 86	@rtrox,I'm in the same boat as you. Wife's pregnant and can't wait to get shots of the newborn, but don't think my 40mm is wide enough. I haven't seen much samples from the 35mm 2.4 yet, so haven't pulled the trigger. Anyone know if B&H or Adorama have a sample available in stores?

11-09-2010, 01:04 PM	#9
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Originally posted by sterretje First determine the focal length that will work for you in the intended environment. You can do this by putting your zoom lenses on a fixed focal length and check if you can get the composition that you want. +1 on this idea, you can set the 16-45 to both 45 (close enough to 50) and take a few shots, then move the zoom to 35mm and take a few shots. Which one is best for you? That will give you an idea of which way you want to go. I'd recommend the 35mm f/2.4 but I like wide so I'm predjudiced. :P NaCl(if you really want to be precise use the 50-135 for the 50mm shots)H2O

11-09-2010, 01:43 PM	#10
rtrox New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: knoxville Posts: 22 Original Poster	Originally posted by LucyGoosey @rtrox,I'm in the same boat as you. Wife's pregnant and can't wait to get shots of the newborn, but don't think my 40mm is wide enough. I haven't seen much samples from the 35mm 2.4 yet, so haven't pulled the trigger. Anyone know if B&H or Adorama have a sample available in stores? I am leaning towards 35mm 2.4 at the moment. I am finding the 50mm a little too long for small house. Great outdoors though!

11-09-2010, 01:45 PM	#11
rtrox New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: knoxville Posts: 22 Original Poster	Originally posted by NaClH2O +1 on this idea, you can set the 16-45 to both 45 (close enough to 50) and take a few shots, then move the zoom to 35mm and take a few shots. Which one is best for you? That will give you an idea of which way you want to go. I'd recommend the 35mm f/2.4 but I like wide so I'm predjudiced. :P NaCl(if you really want to be precise use the 50-135 for the 50mm shots)H2O Thanks! I did that and I am definitely in the wider camp.

11-09-2010, 01:48 PM	#12
rtrox New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: knoxville Posts: 22 Original Poster	Originally posted by Andi Lo Do you find 2.8 of your 50/135 enough in terms of shutter speed? Is it wide enough? Imho you should aim for the Sigma 30/1.4 (buy legit so you can keep returning bad copies, or buy one that you can test), but in the meantime get the 35/2.4. Imho 50mm just isn't wide enough for indoor shots, but I don't know how big your house is or what kind of shots that you like. I am agreeing with you on the length and shutter speed( I think! I am new to this) Would like to hear from someone with the 35/2.4 about how they like it.

11-09-2010, 01:58 PM	#13
Finger Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Québec Posts: 121	I bought a tamron 17-50mm 2.8 for the hospital before the birth of my son and I was happy with the results. I sold it since though.

11-09-2010, 02:23 PM	#14
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Two other options are the Sigma 30mm f1.4 which has the speed and the focal length for indoors, and I've heard Pentax have something with almost the same FL & speed as the Sigma that is meant to be OK For indoors kids shots I mainly use my DA21 and DA40 with an external flash, the flash being the more important and the cheaper part in the equation.

11-10-2010, 03:41 AM	#15
kangamel Forum Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Posts: 70	I bought my K-x to get family shots, I have an old M42 50 1.4 which I love but (apart from me having isues with manual focus) I find it just too long to capture indoor shots of my 3 year old in action, in my small house. I just bought a F 28 2.8 from the marketplace. I need wide for kid shots. I might later find I also need a flash but first I want to be able to fit him in the frame without flattening myself in a corner against the wall. For me the 50 has been great for creative close ups but no good for catching the snaps of all the things he is doing.