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I discovered I was to become a grandad for the first time just before Christmas.
I don't have any prime lenses. What would you all recommend for baby photos?
A fellow photographer once told me that babies and children are even more challenging than wildlife, because - like wildlife - they don't keep still and move quickly and unpredictably, but - unlike wildlife - they tend to be found indoors in poor light levels. :-)
I've never photographed babies but expect a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is a great prime at a great price for this sort of work.
I would use nothing wider than 25mm, probably longer, 45mm. If using flash, bounce it to make the light softer. I don't know too much about lenses for new borns, so don't take me as gospel.
A tip for when they get mobile, get down to their level. I'm fed up telling the parents of my grandchildren that the kids don't have giant heads and tiny feet.
New borns don't move much - it's when they get older that the problems begin! .
Congratulations anyhow and best wishes to the new parents in their journey.
As to lens ... I'm coming to the view that shallow DOF is really advantageous for portraits. So, my suggestion would be the 45mm f1.2, or the Sigma 56mm f1.4 if that's too expensive. The Sigma is great deal actually - compact, fast, lovely bokeh. Not a lot to object to!
I discovered I was to become a grandad for the first time just before Christmas.
I don't have any prime lenses. What would you all recommend for baby photos?
aside from the 'back in the day' adage that primes are generally sharper than zooms...why a prime?
when I shot weddings/studio portraits I used the standard and convenient 28-70 and 70-200 zooms. I had (still have) a bag of primes too 35, 55, 85, 135, and on and on, which I hardly ever had time to use and mostly didn't.
(i have a studio session coming up and I am considering using my OM-1 with my 2/35-100 Zuiko rather than my FF Sony stuff).
for the first few months you will have a rather static subject. once the little one learns to crawl and then walk and then run...you'll surely enjoy a zoom.
i have 3 kids and photograph them all at play and in a studio environment. I don't know that I'd appreciate an f/1.2's limited DoF for any moving child and especially indoors(low light/low shutter).
of course you may appreciate the added speed of a 1.2 but i'd wager even at that you'll rarely have the shutter speed necessary to capture many well AF'd 'on the eyes' images. kids are just too fast, unpredictable, and do not follow direction all too well...'hold still now' works far better on adults.
a slower 2.8 lens will give you more DoF and more keepers.
sure, you'll have less 'creamy' backgrounds than with a 2.8 but what are you shooting for...memories, smiling faces, expressions, actions, or creamy backgrounds?
Congratulations. I'm going to be a grandad again within the next few weeks. I don't get so hung up on using a prime as the 12-40 f2.8 Pro zoom lens does just fine.
EDIT: Maybe I should try my 45mm f1.8 lens as well.
Ross"I fiddle with violins (when I'm not fiddling with a camera)". My Flickr OM-1, E-M1 Mk II plus 100-400mm f5-6.3 IS, 7-14, 12-40 & 40-150 f2.8 Pro lenses, MC14 & 20.
Congratulations. I'm going to be a grandad again within the next few weeks. I don't get so hung up on using a prime as the 12-40 f2.8 Pro zoom lens does just fine.
EDIT: Maybe I should try my 45mm f1.8 lens as well.
Have to agree, the 12-40 f2.8 Pro would be ideal choice. Also Ross the fiddlerwornish Congratulations.
Congratulations wornish. Just get any bright Olympus lens. as long as the ProCapL with tracking works, you are most likely to get some keepers. When they are babies, wide would be ok. but the start to crawn, walk and run, then something with lots of working distance.
* Henry
* Location: Subang Jaya, Selangor
* Malaysia
Congratulations from me too guys. I'd start with a 12-40 f2.8 for the versatility and go from there. See what focal length you find you need most then maybe go for a prime.
I read this with interest, as my sons partner went into labour this afternoon. Waiting for the call to say she has arrived. She will be my first grand child.
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