Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

Compared to the EF 50/1.8, most every lens feels like it has a substantial focus ring. :)

Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

Hi Guys,

If I am shooting in low light and want to keep everything in focus what aperture setting should I use?
I am currently testing with my Tamron 17-50 at ISO 400/F8 and can't see a thing. I am looking to do something like this when I shoot outdoors. I am guessing my new Samyang 35mm 1.4 will do the trick at f8?

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Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

Tariq, it's very difficult to shoot in low light and have everything in focus, because as you lower your f number (open the aperture) your depth of field will get shallower and shallower. F8 is going to let the same amount of light in on any lens.

We pay thousands of dollars sometimes to get a really low aperture (like f1.2), but shooting at 1.2 will only leave a small part of the image in focus.

You can compensate various ways, but each has their own drawback. Boosting the ISO will allow you to close down the aperture some and keep more in focus, but your image will get noisier and noisier the higher your ISO. You can lower your shutter speed, but the motion in your image will get more blurry and less filmic. And of course, you can add lights to your scene, but then you're not really shooting in low-light anymore are you!

Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

But in the clip above he sets his camera to f8 and yet all seems to be in focus with such low light.

Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

Its not low light. They are using off camera lighting

Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

The one lens that also needs to be mentioned in this thread is the Canon Ef 35 2.0

SLR Lenses

I think it's very versatile and a good deal.

Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

The Canon EF 35/2 has very nice glass for the price. The body is the weak point. It's an older pre-USM design. It's more like the 50/1.8 than the 50/1.4 in that regard. If you don't mind the poor feeling focus ring, it's a worthy lens.

Personally, I owned the 35/2 for a few months and found that I always grabbed the 28/1.8 or the 50/1.4 simply due to the better feel. Looking back, I should have given it more attention. I'm learning that I really like the 35mm view on a full frame camera.

Re: New lens for NightLife Video
 

I just used my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 in a nightclub last weekend. Here's a link:


I collected a lot of footage and was able to get some really good clean shots with fairly low noise. The majority of the evening I left the lens wide open at 1.4 used my 160LED light only in the darkest areas. Shot mostly at ISO 800 as well.