Thread: Baby en-route/ which lens to rent?

I have a T2i and the only glass I have is a 70-200 f4IS and the kit 18-55.... I don't like the kit lens, don't have money to upgrade but can rent for a few weeks when the baby comes to try to capture a few shots. I was thinking of the 17-55 f/2.8... Is there something else I should think about if I'm just renting? should I go wider? 10-20 range? What say ye?

For the Birth? Fuck it - rent a Macro and get up in that shit.

Along with the 17-55mm f/2.8, I'd recommend a sharp prime for some portraits with Mom. On the T2i, maybe the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 or the Canon 50mm f/1.4.

Do you want to take pics in the birthing room, afterwards at home, or both?

I haven't posted in the photography forum, though I lurk from time to time, but I couldn't pass this one up since I was in about the exact same situation you are in. Canon xsi, 18-55 kit, plus 70-200 non-is with a baby on the way.

I picked up the 50 1.4 and could not be happier (maybe because I haven't shot with the 1.2?) Baby girl is 15 months now, so I've been shooting with this lens for over a year.

The 50 on the crop body is a bit long for indoors as you need to back off a bit to get any context in the shot, but if you have the space, this lens has been delivering for me. So a 30mm like smmokan's rec may be good, too. We were in an apt. with crap for any decent daylight, and going below 2.8 was definitely valuable to me to get indoor shots in the morning or evening. Outdoors, I'm really psyched with the results, it's a pretty good focal length for portraits on the crop body. In fact, it's pretty rare nowadays this lens comes off my camera for day to day shooting.

If you were thinking of renting for a couple weeks, for probably the same price or cheaper, consider just picking up the nifty 50 1.8? Haven't used it personally, but seems people are relatively happy with it for what it is.

Either that or what Tippster says.

While the 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 are both good, on a crop body something wider may work better, especially for getting more environmental shots so you can see the baby and family/surroundings. smmokan's suggestion of the Sigma 30/1.4 is a good one for a purchase. For renting, you could also look at the Canon 35L.

Thanks everyone!!! I am figuring for mom and baby shots... I'll check out that 35L and the sigma 30/1.4

Originally Posted by Tippster

For the Birth? Fuck it - rent a Macro and get up in that shit.

we were kidding her that we were going to use footage for a NEPSA (http://www.aspensnowmass.com/en/even...g/nepsa-awards) submission this year.

you're not gonna hang these on the wall... bump that ISO and who gives a shit if it's noisy, shoot those remembrances with the kit...

get a 35 or 50mm for some more formal shots once your home, or better yet buy that lens and have it for all the portraits and quick, low-light shots you'll have forever...

50 1.2 all the way.

But to be honest...the birth is not something you will want an excellent lens for. Maybe the first few days during recovery...but the birth...but the camera down and help your wife through hell.

Originally Posted by supermodel159

50 1.2 all the way.

You know, I rented both the 50/1.2 and the 50/1.4 at the same time -- didn't see $1,000 worth of difference. Ended up buying the 50/1.4.

But to be honest...the birth is not something you will want an excellent lens for. Maybe the first few days during recovery...but the birth...but the camera down and help your wife through hell.

+1. You won't even think about the camera or pictures during the birth.

I wasn't worried about birth... figured this was for the last day in the hospital and the first week at home. I have a 50 1.8 Carl Zeiss Jena to mess with, I find it a touch too long in and around the house.

Ran with my 50 1.8 on a crop for the hospital. You'll want something very fast since firing flashes at newborns is a bad idea, and it may be the middle of the night for all you know.. I don't think 2.8 will cut it.

When my girl was born, she had to go under the incubator in the room for a few minutes to get checked out. Those couple pictures of when she's under 10 minutes old are some of my personal favorites, and they came out pretty good to boot. Yes, they are up on my wall so

And camera down when it's pushing time (duh). After the kid comes, things calm down really quickly unless something is wrong (not often).

Try to avoid tack sharp images. Moms look tired for quite a while after birth and babies usually develop some type of rash/skin irritation. Go for the softer focus, and congratulations to you both.

Originally Posted by bklyn

Try to avoid tack sharp images. Moms look tired for quite a while after birth and babies usually develop some type of rash/skin irritation. Go for the softer focus, and congratulations to you both.

Thanks for the tip, and the well wishes! good to see you around here again This place needs all the help it can get.

Originally Posted by bklyn

Moms look tired for quite a while after birth...

Yeah, Mrs. DJSapp has been looking tired for about 2.5 years. Any idea when it gets better?

Other thoughts that came up: you'll likely have visitors that weren't up for 48+ hours and sleeping on a hospital floor and you'll be there for a couple days (lol, you're not leaving buddy), so I'd ignore the no-dslr or good lenses comments. Wider is not better unless you like photos of hospital equipment, or plan on cropping when baby is crying at 3am. 35mm on a crop minimum. 24-70 2.8L may be the thing you're looking for.

And yes, baby acne and rashes are common. Don't worry too much about that, they're swaddled almost immediately and you only see just the face and hands. If that fails, B&W to the rescue; pic #1 of mine looks like crap in color with 5 fugly red marks.

yea i went 50 1.8 on my d90 for the post birth shots. definitely want something with low light performance

Originally Posted by DJSapp

Yeah, Mrs. DJSapp has been looking tired for about 2.5 years. Any idea when it gets better?

She's probably saying the same thing about you!

Again, thanks everyone!

The Canon 85mm 1.2 is the shit

Originally Posted by F.ing Mike

The Canon 85mm 1.2 is the shit

For portraits.

On a Full Frame Body.

Otherwise it's a waste of ~$1300.

ordered a 50 f1.4 and the 17-55 f2.8 to try....

Seems odd to rent a used lens unless you're shooting full frame and trying out L lenses.

Go with the Siggy 30 1.4 for $350 used on POTN or Fred Miranda. Shoot with it for a year or two and sell it for.............$350 unless you're in love with it, which you probably will be.

Used lenses are commodities and if you do a minimum of research you can go back and forth much cheaper than renting.

Originally Posted by grskier

I'll check out that 35L and the sigma 30/1.4

If I was going with just one prime lens on a crop, this would be my vote. I sometimes find the 50 a bit tight on a crop. But I could definitely make the 50 work as well.

Congrats on the baby!

Yo bud.

You can borrow anything in my kit when I get back from SA.
I know how important good pics are of the little one

ShineLine