Night shooting lens - ghost walk!!

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Iiyama

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We are visiting York in a week and doing the ghost walk with the family. At present I have only the kit lens to accompany my 450D. I have two other lenses on my shortlist but only want to buy one straight away if needed. (Nifty Fifty and 55-250mm)

As the shots will be taken around York in the evening my question is this:

Will the kit lens suffice or will I be better off using one of the lenses on my short list? I know the 50mm at 1.8 will be better in low light but I do not want to buy it if you think my kit lens will suffice for this task.

Thanks in advance.
 
I don't think ANY lens will suffice for hand holding night shots. You're sure as eggs are eggs going to need a tripod, in which case your kit lens will suffice. But do you really want to cart a tripod mounted SLR around on a ghost walk? Unlikely.

I know this doesn't answer your question, but.....

Pete
 
I'm guessing that you'll be wandering round by streetlight and wanting to avoid the use of flash?

Have you experimented with your kit lens and higher ISO setting?

If you're wanting to avoid a tripod or a monopod, and I can see why, what about the old trick of a 5' length of string with a nail on one end, which you stand on, and a tripod screw looped on the other and screwed into your camera?

I've never used it myself but it might help?
 
Well think of it this way. 50mm f/1.8 is 3 1/3 stops faster than the 18-55 @ 50mm, f/5.6. However the IS of the kit lens works for about 4 stops.

I've hand held my kit lens at 1/15 (@34mm though) and was very impressed by the results, couldnt fault the sharpness.

Now some will point on it wont stop motion blur and you'll have to take a few seconds to compose yourself or lean against something to keep the camera still but you might be able to get away with the kit lens. Also, if it seems 'low light' for your eyes you can gurantee the camera will find it very low light (you'll probably know if you've ever metered indoors in artifical light)
 
50mm f1.8 push the ISO up to 800 or 1600, then use noise reduction software (Noise Ninja or Noiseware etc).
 
I take it you and your family are going on one of the many tourist type ghost walks?

If so could you take the pictures after going on the walk?

You would have more time to set up and take pictures without disturbing other members of the public and the person doing the talking.



Oh …and Lincoln Ghost walks are better:coat:
 
Very helpful advice. My wife is from Lincoln so would agree with Cyb:)

I will save my money and see how the kit lens performs. I was thinking I could use this as an excuse to buy a new lens on my shortlist earlier than I planned:eek:
 
One of these may be a good alternative to lugging a tri/mono pod around with you.
Not used one myself, but a few people on here rate them.
 
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