Which lens should I use for a gig?

[armisiano]

I have a gig coming up. This Sunday night I'll be taking pictures at a party on a harbor cruise yacht. To my knowledge basically walking around snapping candid shots and posed shots of people eating, talking, and making merryment.

My options.

I want to do this all for the most part with one lens. Based on my recent experience at a wedding reception of equal scale, the best lens to use would be a wide-ish zoom.

I have a 20-40mm f2.8 lens I could use (used at the reception, worked fine but wished I had a little more range). Or I could use a 18-55mm f4-5.6 (worried won't be bright enough).

Do I go with the faster lens? Or the one with a bigger range?

[CharlieG]

I hope you have a Flash as you didn't mention one. I'm an event photographer and I use a 28-70 2.8 lens with a Canon 550 Flash. I shoot with a full frame camera (Canon 5D) and generally stay around wide to medium for group shots and like to shoot around F:4 to give me a little DOF for varying focusing on people than aren't on the same plane etc. Now that's my technique. With that in mind I'd use your slower lens since you can get a wider range of view and with a TTL flash you can get a deeper DOF closed down a little

[egproductions]

Charlie, what lens is the 28-70 2.8? I have the 24-70 2.8 L series. Is that one an L series also or an off camera brand?

In regards to the post:

In regards to focal length, I think the 20-40 is only going to be good enough if you are shooting with a cripped sensor. (You didn't mention if you are shooting full frame or not) if you are then the 40mm will be pretty limiting and then I would consider using the other lens but either way, at night outdoors you are going to need a flash with thos two lenses. Since its an outdoor shoot at night you really need the speed and low power flash preferably so that the natural lights don't get overpowered. Bounce of low ceilings and walls/boat. Bottom line is that if you are shooting with a cropped sensor then I would go with the 20-40 with low power level and slightly diffused flash. (you are going to have to let your feet do some work instead since you don't have the reach of the other lens but thats ok, your shots will come out better if you do move around)

If I were you, I would consider getting a 50mm f1.8 for $70. If you are shooting full frame. You can use the 50 1.8 as your only lens and walk around with it. Its very unintrusive and fast. If you aren't shooting full frame I would use it as a second lens when you don't want any flash. Another option is to use the previous advice but instead of buying the 50 1.8 rent the 50 1.2L.

No matter what lens you use, you will want to take CharlieG's advice and shoot closed down a couple of stops. This will give you a slightly deeper DOF, optimal sharpness out of the lens and your out of focus highlights will look nicer.

Also you will want to shoot RAW and at a higher ISO than is neccessary so that you can overexpose your shots by .5 or 1 stop. This will will let you bring it back in post and will result in a cleaner image than if you shot at the "proper" ISO to begin with. So overexpose and shoot in 1600 if you were going to shoot at middle exposure at 800.

[WaveRiderXIX]

I've shot a few yacht weddings & events.
I'd just say to pack an 18-50 f2.8. There's not much space on a boat.
And yah, the flash is a must (with some type of diffuser). Reflections off windows can be a nightmare.

[oneinfiniteloop]

I agree with the others. Faster lens, diffused flash, etc.

Remember, you can always get closer to the subject with your 2.8 lens, but you can't get extra stops out of your 4-5.6.

[CharlieG]

Charlie, what lens is the 28-70 2.8? I have the 24-70 2.8 L series. Is that one an L series also or an off camera brand?

In regards to the post:

In regards to focal length, I think the 20-40 is only going to be good enough if you are shooting with a cripped sensor. (You didn't mention if you are shooting full frame or not) if you are then the 40mm will be pretty limiting and then I would consider using the other lens but either way, at night outdoors you are going to need a flash with thos two lenses. Since its an outdoor shoot at night you really need the speed and low power flash preferably so that the natural lights don't get overpowered. Bounce of low ceilings and walls/boat. Bottom line is that if you are shooting with a cropped sensor then I would go with the 20-40 with low power level and slightly diffused flash. (you are going to have to let your feet do some work instead since you don't have the reach of the other lens but thats ok, your shots will come out better if you do move around)

If I were you, I would consider getting a 50mm f1.8 for $70. If you are shooting full frame. You can use the 50 1.8 as your only lens and walk around with it. Its very unintrusive and fast. If you aren't shooting full frame I would use it as a second lens when you don't want any flash. Another option is to use the previous advice but instead of buying the 50 1.8 rent the 50 1.2L.

No matter what lens you use, you will want to take CharlieG's advice and shoot closed down a couple of stops. This will give you a slightly deeper DOF, optimal sharpness out of the lens and your out of focus highlights will look nicer.

Also you will want to shoot RAW and at a higher ISO than is neccessary so that you can overexpose your shots by .5 or 1 stop. This will will let you bring it back in post and will result in a cleaner image than if you shot at the "proper" ISO to begin with. So overexpose and shoot in 1600 if you were going to shoot at middle exposure at 800.

There's no such thing as an "Off Brand" these days.... I prefer Sigma

[egproductions]

The definition of off brand lens is that it isn't manufactured by the same company that produces the camera. Anything you stick on a Canon body that isn't a Canon (even Nikon) is an off brand lens. That doesn't mean that there aren't great off brand lenses that outperform their Canon equivalents and that also doesn't necessarily mean that they are priced better.

[pranic]

I shoot with a Canon 1DmkIII and 5D, and would choose the 24-70 with a speedlite and an stofen omnibounce every time in my scenario.

If you're shooting on a crop format camera (like the xxD or xxxD series), then you might want to consider using your 18-55mm and a speedlite (not the on-camera pop-up flash, though). 20-40 might be a little too much focal length for the 1.6x crop cameras in tight quarters.