Advice please

Eye seven · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:52

Ok, so I have a Nikon D90, 18-105, Sigma 10-20 and the Bigma. I have a couple of parties coming up where I will be doing some photos, nothing posed, just walking around trying to take some natural shots. The obvious choice is the Nikon 50mm 1.8 but I also need to do some food photography soon too. Is the 1.4 worth the extra or the Sigma 1.4 worth shedding out over the Nikon 1.4 or will the 1.8 do everything I need?

Oh, one other thing. Low light party, can I get away without using flash?

Many thanks for any and all opinions/tips.

Stuff · 21 Sep 2011 at 22:35

I shot a few parties recently and found that 50mm was too wide on a crop body. Lots of people got together for group photos, and I would have been half way across the room to get them all in together, which simply wasn't possible!

1st shot at 24mm equiv and 2nd shot at 36mm equiv

Also, I found having a flash to be amazingly helpful.

Raymond Lin · 21 Sep 2011 at 22:40

You meant to say too narrow.

DB_SamX · 21 Sep 2011 at 22:43

Not quite on topic but smiling > pouting. They look so uptight in that first photo.

Camelpaw, don't you mean the 50mm was too narrow and that wider would be better e.g. Sigma 24 f/1.8 or Nikkor 35 f/1.8?

Raymond Lin · 21 Sep 2011 at 23:01

DB_SamX said:
Not quite on topic but smiling > pouting. They look so uptight in that first photo.

Blue Steel > *

Eye seven · 21 Sep 2011 at 23:07

Raymond, get back on topic! What's your take on my lens dilemma?

Raymond Lin · 21 Sep 2011 at 23:07

50mm on crop is way long.

Take that kit lens and sigma, bounce your flash.

D.P. · 21 Sep 2011 at 23:14

The kit lens is plenty sharp enough on a D90, the aperture is fine for group shots.

Ksanti · 22 Sep 2011 at 08:44

In the lighting at parties aperture will make very little difference to light gathering if shooting in natural light. You might consider either the Nikkor 35 1.8G or the Sigma 30 1.4 as a more normal lens, then you can open it up to f/1.8 or f/1.4 when the situation arises and bounce your flash on lower power to keep the light more balanced and not disrupt the party so much