Another lens question

Bummer. Nope, 99% sure it's indoors. I've only been there ages ago and only had my old 100-300 which is 5.6 and on ISO 1600, hehe. WB I'm not worried about cos I'll shoot in raw anyway.

Was your 85 a good length?

I wonder if maybe I could just rent a lens.

Nat

I am one of those who tends to avoid the indoor gigs (good post, PossumCorner) so I can not really advise on specific lenses for best result.

However I HAVE shot indoors with my Sigma 70-200mm/2.8 and Tamron 28-75mm/2.8. I had to bump the ISO up still and do a fair amount of post processing though.

I wasn't expected to do movement shots so I wasn't under the same amount of "pressure" in that regard. I have done a few movement shots here and there (my choice, not a requirement), but again HIGH iso and a fair amount of post processing. Could not avoid it. Will see if I can find a sample.

With the venue you arent just at the mercy of the 3-mix lighting PossumCorner mentioned but the windows/doorways can also make for terrible "hot spots" in the background. Did you notice that PossumCorner?

You are right about the 200 1.8, it is Canon has been discontinued and I can't figure out why, it's an incredible lens. I got mine off of eBay and there were tons of bidders. I didn't get a good deal on it I was just happy to get it at all. I took it with me to Hallie's handling class tonight and took some shots of the class after ours just for fun. I will be shooting a dog show next weekend, I just do the groups. I only get about 40% keepers of the movement shots (could keep a few more but I'm picky) but it really is amazing at close up head shots, the bokeh turns the background into one solid creamy mass sometimes and the dogs face is tack sharp.

I am wondering if a 1.4 or 1.2 would do an even better job with the action but I imagine I'd lose to much in the quality and would be farther away so would have to crop more and thus lose more quality.

I do find it to sometimes be too long for some instances but I actually like that as it forces you to take some intersting close up crops that you might not think to do with a zoom. I now know where to be to get the best distance from the dogs as they are gaiting, and can get the whole dog in, and when they are stacked closer up I just get nice head shots and get the stacked ones when they are out having the judge go over them. But yes I would love it even more if it was a zoom.

I agree with Possum Corner, I think with anything less than 1.8 you won't be getting many indoor shots. I used my 70-200 2.8 at first which is why I decided to buy the 1.8.

I almost always use ISO 800 for the indoor shows. It can sometimes be a bit grainy on darker animals but I've found that it prints out really nice.

That lighting thing with the flourescent lights drives me nuts too. One photo will be yellowish the next a nice blue.

I have not shot in raw yet I need to do that, I just go through cards so fast and raw would fill them up a lot faster yet, I haven't done it yet.

It would be a good idea I think to rent a lens to see if you like it, if you can find a place near you. I had to laugh this summer when I went to a horse show to take photos and in my calendar I had written a note that said "Rent the 200 1.8 lens for this show." I had never dreamt at the time I'd ever have one, but I had had mine for several months by then.

(is it possible to post a picture here from my hard drive or do I have to publish it first?)

Hey Dee Dee,

I think part of the problem is that the 200 F1.8 is a remarkably expensive lens, and Tess has a budget of only 800. The only alternative that I can think about, that exists is the 135 F2. The cost of the 135 F2 is about 1300, I believe, brand new.

Of course, Julie has been sharing photos with her 70-200 F2.0 equivalent that she got for Christmas...but that is an Oly lens....and it is quite pricey.

James

Thanks everyone.

It's not looking too bright then, I really can't afford that much.

I might get them to re-confirm exactly what shots they need.

Is it terrible to back out of a job like this due to lack of equipment?? I'm just not sure what to do.

I have declined jobs because I knew I could not deliver results I would want to show. I did an indoor show with the WORST mixed lighting, on top of being a cave. Even shooting raw wouldn't have helped much because it was a mix of florecsent, natural and mercury vapor(OLD building) And, it was dark on top of it.

I was cleared to use a flash and I thought the photos were pretty poor. I guess not, as they asked me to shoot their nationals in 2008. Which, before then I have GOT to go shoot with someone at a dog show. At least I will be showing myself this year.

I would not attempt an indoor show with no flash and a 5.6 lens. You will not get many keepers. Different story if you can use flash

Hmmm...yep it sounds risky. I won't want the photos "out there" and to be a representative of what I can do.

I will have a talk to them about it. It'd be a bummer to miss out on doing it but I had no idea it was indoors when I agreed as they'd said outdoors previously.

Nat

If its like most other specialties you will find they will want formal stacked shots of the winners and maybe other placegetters. There is no reason why you can't take these seperately in another area with flash when judging isnt going on. I personally would be avoiding flash photography while a dog is being judged or working out though. Simply because I would hate to feel responsible if the dog spooked.

If you can sort out a way to do the shots with a flash you might find youre able to cover the most important shots but avoid having to invest big bucks (buy or rent) in a lens "especially" for the event.

Yes, sorry James I knew this one would be out of Tess's price range I got off on a tangent! I really was meaning to comapre the 1.8 capabilities, I was thinking maybe there is another lens with 1.8 in her price range but I'm not sure?

Tess if you can get permission to use flash for winners shots that would help a ton. But be prepared to be chased down with pitchforks if you take flash of dogs competing, My own longhaired doxie had passed her first 38 straight shows in obedience, from novice through utility with high scores, until the day a local newspaper reporter took a flash shot of her as she was approaching the bar jump which startled her and she screeched to a halt right in front of the jump and stared at him...and flunked. That was years ago and it still makes me cringe!

I have also had dogs in the ring, both breed and obedience, who were afraid of just me holding the big camera, before I even took a photo. At one show, I was showing Hallie, not taking photos myself, but another guy was taking some photos by the obedience ring and one ladies Aussie was so freaked out by the sound of the click that she had to pull him from the class even though the photographer stopped taking photos. (he wasn't an official photographer he was just taking photos I presume of his wife in the ring). So I no longer even take photos at the obedience rings (that lens is quite big and conspicuous though). I have no problems at Schutzhund or Lure Coursing, etc, just the indoor dog shows. I now just take photos of the groups.

I don't think you'll have too much luck indoors with a 5.6 lens, you wont' get much better than a lot of point and shoot cameras can do light wise, a lot of blur, and you really need to be able to offer something better than most people can get with their own cameras as a professional. I don't know if the reach is what you want but I really do love my Tamron 28-75 2.8, I think I got it for about $300. or so. I haven't tried it at a dog show without flash but I would think you'd get more keepers than with a 5.6 lens...