Imaging Show

I taught at the Photographic and Imaging Show in Mississauga today and met many interesting people. I wrote four “choosing the right lens” workshops, which I teach there all weekend.

So on that theme: what is the lens I should use for a trade show?

While I usually shoot with flash, at a show like this of course natural light is often a better option. So I want fast lenses.

800 ISO is fine, with a modern camera. And that is enough for 1/500th second at f/1.2 with a super-fast 50mm prime lens. On a 1.3 crop camera, this gives us an effective 65mm:

This type of slightly longer than standard lens focal length gives us slightly compressed perspective while still retaining a natural look.

If instead you want a more dramatic three-dimensional perspective, use a wide lens.  A 16mm zoom set to 16mm (meaning, on this camera, a 35mm equivalent of 20mm), gives us this:

(This was also 800 ISO, but now 1/60th sec at f/4 – meaning an equivalent exposure, just shifted up)

Both images were, as you see, tilted to compose well, and to simplify.

So if I had to give you a quick answer, I would say: “wide or standard, and above all, fast, like f/2.8 or faster”.

More tomorrow!

 

2 thoughts on “Imaging Show

  1. Hi
    In relation to batteries and the brand you suggested
    Are also the same one that were purchased by Duracell and are the
    Pre charged with the white ring around the positive
    Post. They are on sale this weekend at shoppers drug mart
    Dave

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