{"id":145162,"date":"2021-09-27T12:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T11:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/?p=145162"},"modified":"2021-10-01T11:57:03","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T10:57:03","slug":"what-are-the-best-lenses-for-low-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/round-ups\/lens_round-ups\/what-are-the-best-lenses-for-low-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Best lenses for low light, from just \u00a3129"},"content":{"rendered":"

At this time of year, if you pop outside with your camera after about 3pm, you soon realise that low-light photography doesn\u2019t just mean shooting in the dead of night or inside a gloomy music venue (remember those?), as you\u2019ll find yourself pushing up your camera\u2019s sensitivity (ISO) value and dropping the shutter speed to be able to take the photographs you want, however our guide to the best low light lenses<\/strong> should help!<\/p>\n\t\t

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For low-light portraits a quality fast lens is a massive help. Picture credit: Mark Wilkinson<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

Using a standard lens means that before long, you\u2019re at the limit of acceptable sharpness with blurred images and ugly noise spoiling your shots. However, with the right lens, you can extend your low-light shooting range. Swapping your kit lens that has a maximum aperture of f\/5.6 at 55mm for a 50mm lens with an aperture of f\/1.8, for example, means that 3.3 EV (3.3 stops) more light can reach your camera\u2019s sensor.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the difference between 1\/5sec and 1\/50sec, or between ISO 25,600 and ISO 2,500, which means it can have a significantly positive impact on the quality of your shots. If you want to shoot moving subjects a large-aperture lens is the best option, but if your subject is motionless, you may want to go for a stabilised lens instead. Let\u2019s take a closer look at some of the key considerations when selecting a lens for low light shooting.<\/p>\n

Cheap prime lenses<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prime lenses are lenses with a fixed focal length<\/strong> and most have a larger aperture than a zoom lens covering the same focal length. They\u2019re also often small and lightweight, which makes them discreet to use and attractive to carry just in case you find yourself out taking pictures when light levels are falling. Prime lenses are available in all sorts of focal lengths but 35mm and 50mm lenses tend to be more attractive for low-light photography.<\/p>\n

On a full-frame camera, a 50mm lens produces an angle of view that\u2019s close to what we see with our eyes. However, on an APS-C format camera it produces an equivalent focal length of around 75mm, which is great for portraiture, and if the maximum aperture is f\/1.8 you can really throw out the background to get some lovely bokeh and background blur. Further good news is that there\u2019s an affordable 50mm f\/1.8 lens available for most cameras.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

At around \u00a3129, Canon\u2019s EF 50mm f\/1.8 STM<\/strong> (above) is a very enticing choice for Canon DSLR users, while Nikon DSLR users might like to opt for the AF 50mm f\/1.8 D at a similar price. They don\u2019t produce the height of sharpness, but they\u2019re not bad and they enable you to get better shots than the average kit lens in gloomy conditions.<\/p>\n