Looking for a new lens for my 70D

[Wuzup101]

Hi all. I'm currently looking for a general purpose indoor lens for my 70D (a relatively new purchase). I have the kit lens (18-55 F3.5-5.6 IS STM) along with a 50mm 1.8 (EF STM) that I recently purchased. I'm hardly an expert, and rather new to photography, but I'm already shopping for some better glass. Specifically I want something with a faster aperture for taking indoor / low light photos (primarily of my new puppy... but some family members too lol). In any case, the 50mm is great, and I've been very happy with some of the pictures that I've been able to get with it. The kit lens takes decent pictures as long as it has enough light (which I can't get most of the time in the apartment but it works fine outside). I'm also looking for something that is a bit easier to use than the 50mm (which would seem to be great on a full frame camera but 80mm effective can get tight inside on a crop sensor).

In any case, I've been looking at a few lenses but would be open to suggestions:

1. Sigma 18-35mm 1.8: very fast aperture and sharp pictures, no IS, good wide range (more suitable for an aps-c sensor than the others), lackluster zoom (but 35mm would be workable). The major complain that I've read about with this lens is poor auto focus performance.

2. Tamron 24-70mm 2.8: fast aperture with a zoom range designed for a FF camera. IS is a plus for me, and from what I've read it's close to the Canon 24-70 2.8 II.

3. Canon 17-55mm 2.8: probably the best zoom range for what I'm looking for. Only real complaint that I've seen is build quality (dust/debris) getting in.

4. Canon 24-70mm 2.8L: pretty much the best in this segment. The only detractors are the lack of IS and the zoom range (given that I'm on APS-C). 24mm would certainly be better than 50 though, and playing with my 18-55, I think I could make 24mm work for a bottom end. That being said, this lens is expensive (obviously).

Is there anything else that I should be checking out in the segment? I'm not really price sensitive, but would probably like to stay at equal or less than the price of the Canon L. I don't make any money from photography, and I'm not a professional, that being said, buying one or two nice lenses isn't going to put me in the poor house. I'd rather buy something good and be able to take some shots in lower light. I have a yongnuo 600ex-rt on the way and will also be looking to improve the lighting in the rooms that I generally take photos in.

I'm leaning towards the Sigma just for the 1.8 aperture. I'll keep the 50mm prime and perhaps add something else that will give me some more zoom later (or go full frame with the tamron/canon L above.

 

[CuriousMike]

Tamron 15-30 f2.8 ?

I find that I use my 24-120 more than any of my primes - the Canon equivalent is the 24-105; note that Sigma also has lens with that same range.

I love the flexibility of *range*; you may not.

Regardless, while having 1.8 or 2.8 is great for low-light, the dual-edge sword is shallow DOF - great sometimes, and sometimes not.

Regardless, your 70D has good ISO range - don't be afraid to use it.

 

[obidamnkenobi]

For indoor shots nothing beats a good flash. Maybe my house is darker than yours, but even my 30 mm f/1.4 is too dark sometimes, even at ISO 2000+. With a good flash your kit lens could do the job. With a 1 year old (and dark house) I would have had a keeper rate of maybe 5% without the flash

7D, Tamron 18-50 2.8 and a flash is my most used setup. For indoor and general travel use etc.

 

[EOM]

Tamron 15-30 f2.8 ?

I find that I use my 24-120 more than any of my primes - the Canon equivalent is the 24-105; note that Sigma also has lens with that same range.

I love the flexibility of *range*; you may not.

Regardless, while having 1.8 or 2.8 is great for low-light, the dual-edge sword is shallow DOF - great sometimes, and sometimes not.

Regardless, your 70D has good ISO range - don't be afraid to use it.

24-70 is a workhorse of a lens and you can't go wrong with it. The Tamron version has VC (IS) as does the Tamron 15-30 that Mike mentioned. They work great!

I went to a party a few weeks back with my D7000 (crop frame Nikon) with a Sigma 20-40mm f/2.8 [30-60mm equivalent], shooting indoors and outdoors with a flash. My experience was I wish I had just a LITTLE more on the wide end most of the time for the indoors shots since the guests wanted group shots and there wasn't much room to move. I had to use flash indoors shooting at f/4 or f/5.6 to keep the right DoF and to keep the shutter speed up. I also used the flash outdoors to balance the shots and get rid of some shadows from the sun.

EDIT - TOTALLY read over the part where you ordered the flash. Excellent!
A cheap addition to your kit if you're not opposed to another prime is the Canon 24mm f/2.8 STM. On the Canon side it's my most used lens. Given your current situation I'd give a look at the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 VC

Edit - after thinking about it overnight I think the sigma 1.8 zoom would be more fun for you...

 

[ControlD]

My favorite indoor lens on my 70D is a Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Bump the ISO up a little bit and you can get some really nice natural light photos. Having a flash is great, but it is nice to be able to go without sometimes too.

 

[NAC]

I have a Sigma 18-35mm 1.8, which I use on my 70d 95% of the time when I am indoors. Spectacular lens, my favorite by far. And I also have a 50mm 1.8 STM. I agree with you - the pair work well for low light work.

 

[Wuzup101]

I have a Sigma 18-35mm 1.8, which I use on my 70d 95% of the time when I am indoors. Spectacular lens, my favorite by far. And I also have a 50mm 1.8 STM. I agree with you - the pair work well for low light work.

Do you have any auto focus issues with that combination (sigma 18-35mm 1.8 and 70d). That is the major thing holding me back from buying one of them. I've read that it's pretty much a replacement for a few primes. It would still compliment something like a 24-70 or 25-105 if I were to pick up another in the future (I'm sure I will).

Thanks for all the advice all. I should note that I don't plan to buy anything until around xmas time. I'm going to make myself hold out that long (maybe rent one or two lenses I'm considering) and practice using the flash. Unfortunately I do have dark ceilings @ about 15' (loft style) and a dark floor. Hopefully I'll still be able to figure out a good bounce technique.

 

[NAC]

Sorry, I never saw this question.

I did micro-adjust the Sigma lens slightly: like +1 and +3 or there-about on wide and tele end. With that adjustment, focus is good. When shot wide open, it will occasionally miss focus - but it is certainly much more consistent than the 50mm 1.8 non-STM lens I had, and also more consistent than 70-200 Canon lenses which I have rented in the past. I wouldn't avoid the lens because of this fear. Instead, I always expect that some shots with a very narrow DOF will be out of focus. The lens is so freaking sharp that any missed focus is even more noticeable, hence perhaps extra complaints about it. For example, when testing focus - I would focus on my wife's nose in profile, and tiny nose hairs are perfectly clear and in focus, while her eyes and eyebrows are not. The 50mm 1.8 may not even be sharp enough wide open to notice that.

 

[Paladin3]

IMHO, most photographers never learn to use a flash well, which leads to wanting (obsessing over?) faster glass for low light shooting. Better quality, faster glass is always nice, but most kit lenses will give great results at f5.6 with a well used flash.

Practice bouncing off ceiling, walls, room corners...and not just straight up. Try to create 3/4 side lighting with your flash. Most flashes come with a dome to simulate a bare bulb for omni-directional light.

A small bounce card to send some of the light directly at the subject, while the majority heads towards the wall/ceiling to bounce can work well. Slow your shutter speed down you can include the available light to help fill, but watch out for the color balance of the different kinds of light.

After a decent camera and a kit lens, buying a good flash should be the next priority.

 

[MrSquished]

the canon 17-55 IS f2.8 would be my choice. it was my favorite lens back when i had a 40D - before going mirrorless. never had an issue with build quality at all.

 

[AkumaX]

If you're only going to stick with APS-C sensor:

• Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8
• Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS
• Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS
• Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (non-VC)
• Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 (non-OS)
• Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 VC

And pick up EF-S 24mm f/2.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 STM for some fun times
Don't forget EF 85mm f/1.8

 

[Wuzup101]

Sorry, I never saw this question.

I did micro-adjust the Sigma lens slightly: like +1 and +3 or there-about on wide and tele end. With that adjustment, focus is good. When shot wide open, it will occasionally miss focus - but it is certainly much more consistent than the 50mm 1.8 non-STM lens I had, and also more consistent than 70-200 Canon lenses which I have rented in the past. I wouldn't avoid the lens because of this fear. Instead, I always expect that some shots with a very narrow DOF will be out of focus. The lens is so freaking sharp that any missed focus is even more noticeable, hence perhaps extra complaints about it. For example, when testing focus - I would focus on my wife's nose in profile, and tiny nose hairs are perfectly clear and in focus, while her eyes and eyebrows are not. The 50mm 1.8 may not even be sharp enough wide open to notice that.

Not a problem - I actually did end up getting the Sigma 18-35 1.8 (just got it on Tuesday) and thus far I love it. I've probably only taken 250ish shots with it thus far, but I much prefer it to my 50mm prime for indoor photos (it's hard to zoom with your feet when your subject is a fast little puppy that is often moving towards you lol).

IMHO, most photographers never learn to use a flash well, which leads to wanting (obsessing over?) faster glass for low light shooting. Better quality, faster glass is always nice, but most kit lenses will give great results at f5.6 with a well used flash.

Practice bouncing off ceiling, walls, room corners...and not just straight up. Try to create 3/4 side lighting with your flash. Most flashes come with a dome to simulate a bare bulb for omni-directional light.

A small bounce card to send some of the light directly at the subject, while the majority heads towards the wall/ceiling to bounce can work well. Slow your shutter speed down you can include the available light to help fill, but watch out for the color balance of the different kinds of light.

After a decent camera and a kit lens, buying a good flash should be the next priority.

I do need to get better with using a flash. I've been using a Yongnuo YN600EX for a few weeks now and I'm getting better but still have a lot to learn. My kit lens took good photos with the flash and all interior lights on (my apartment is relatively bright with lights suspended from the 15' ceilings). That being said, the sigma allows me to use a faster shutter speed with the lights on + flash so that I can stop motion and don't get motion blurred little puppy parts. I'll still be practicing a bunch with the flash which will be on the camera anytime I'm inside.