Shooting some Homecoming photography at my alma-mader. Beer tent, families and kids, and reunions. I've got a 50 f/1.4 and 28-70 f/2.8, but have been debating on whether to rent a 70-200 for the event. Thoughts?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Lens for event photography
- Thread starter besler3035
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Unless there's a live band that you want to get photos of or want to take photos of speeches, there's a good chance you'll never need to reach beyond 70mm for an event like that. Even if those two things pop up it probably won't be needed. You'll most likely never take off the 28-70mm. Especially if you have a flash. If you don't have a flash then I'd sooner rend that with a diffuser of some kind then a 70-200.
I'd go for a 70-200mm, those are amazing for event photography for getting those really close up shots of speeches or someone performing.
Heck I've even used a 300mm F/4.0 prime for some really close up portrait type shots of an opera tenor (a work photo shoot) performing and they came out with staggering detail. I did have to be out of view, hence why I used that rather unusual lens.
For the rest, the 28-70mm will do for general group photos, and you'll probably want a flash too. The pop-up ones are not useful.
Heck I've even used a 300mm F/4.0 prime for some really close up portrait type shots of an opera tenor (a work photo shoot) performing and they came out with staggering detail. I did have to be out of view, hence why I used that rather unusual lens.
For the rest, the 28-70mm will do for general group photos, and you'll probably want a flash too. The pop-up ones are not useful.
I'm with avro707. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to go to a wedding party in a bar/restaurant and do whatever I thought was interesting. I wasn't hired -- it was a favor kind of thing.
I never took the 70-200 f/2.8 off. I could reach across the room and grab headshots, grab a couple of people talking to each other, and on and on.
It was the perfect lens for that day, and I stayed at 2.8 a lot because I didn't want to use flash. True, it was on an FX body (D800). If you're shooting with a crop sensor, then maybe it would be a little long for you.
I never took the 70-200 f/2.8 off. I could reach across the room and grab headshots, grab a couple of people talking to each other, and on and on.
It was the perfect lens for that day, and I stayed at 2.8 a lot because I didn't want to use flash. True, it was on an FX body (D800). If you're shooting with a crop sensor, then maybe it would be a little long for you.
I'd beg to disagree. 70-200 is a necessity in event photography since it allows for close-ups of people without actually interfering in the event. Remember, the goal of event photography is to blend in or go unnoticed, and what better way to be a part of the scene than to be away from the center of activity?
For larger venues like a concert I often find that 70-200 on a crop camera is too short. I can't imagine how I'd be if I were shooting full frame.
Generally speaking, you should be fine with the 24-70mm for the majority of your shots. If there is something happening further away where you can't get to right away, I can certainly see the 70-200mm f/2.8 helping in that respect. You can always rent the longer telephoto rather than buying it outright. But again, for the majority of your shots, the 24-70mm should be enough.
70-200 will be far better for tighter portraits without being close enough to draw attention.
However the lens itself is a huge attention grabber, so it typically backfires.
Walking around with the 70-200 is generally not very stealthy, depends on what you're doing.
We all have a "style" - I typically like tighter shots, so I take my 70-200 to most events like that. But groups, etc and you'll be too close.
However the lens itself is a huge attention grabber, so it typically backfires.
Walking around with the 70-200 is generally not very stealthy, depends on what you're doing.
We all have a "style" - I typically like tighter shots, so I take my 70-200 to most events like that. But groups, etc and you'll be too close.