Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Last weekend I saw a 5k mud/obstacle race and took my camera just to be doing something, I was at the finish line catching runners cross when the director of the event came up and gave me her card and ask for the photos, seemed real upset with her Photographer, said he was suppose to be covering that area but he was off playing with his drone.

That night I sent her the pics and she seemed to really like them and ask if I was available to cover a Gala there doing. Now for the question, it’s a late evening, indoor event and the location has dim lighting for these events. I only have a 24-105 f/4 lens and a 70-200 f/2.8. I think the 70-200 will be to long and I don’t think my 24-105 would be good with the lighting with it being an f/4. I’m considering renting or just going ahead and purchasing a 24-70 f/2.8. Flash and setting up lights isn’t an option here. Do y’all agree or do y’all think my 24-105 would handle it?

I usually do all my work outdoors and with natural light but I don’t want my equipment to limit me. I’m shooting with a Canon 5D mark iv. I have done indoor, lowlight work with my 70-200 and was happy with the results but never worked with the 24-105 in these conditions.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Congrats on your approval by the event management.

It would be really great if you could see a preview of what the settings of the event look like, along with what kind of lighting they are planning on providing. Yes, your idea of using a 24~70 f/2.8 lens is a good one. That and possibly increasing your ISO to accommodate the provided lighting.
--Bob

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Your 24-105 / 5DIV is a fine combo, try to stay around f/5, if possible. Being prepared with a flash will work better and provide more options. An advanced speedlight that lets you manually control the light output can create very natural lighting of small groups as you work through the crowd, particularly with a raised dome diffuser.

Do you have prior experience working indoor events? It takes some skill to approach people, get them quickly composed and fire off a shot (or two) without losing their interest and the moment. Have your exposure and AF point / zone preset so you just raise and shoot with the AF already set to the composition and instantaneous focus.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Thank you Sir, this event will be in a barn, a very nice, fixed up barn that’s very popular around my area for Weddings, runway shows and other really nice events. I had a buddy that was there last weekend in a runway fashion show and I saw photos of it and it’s dimly light. I’m sure the Gala with be the same lighting. I will for sure see if I can get a beforehand look around but I’m preparing for a dim setting.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Assume the light will be similar to your friend's work. Check his settings and suggestions. He might be able to lend a lens or flash too.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

It appears reading the thread that it is dimly lit.
Even f2.8 is pretty slow
I would recommend a flash.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

I’m pretty sure a flash would be a distraction they will not want but I will be asking more questions this week. The biggest indoor event I have done was an indoor wedding and the dance/reception hall only had lights strung up along the walls. I used my 70-200 and did not have any issues. I do wish I had more indoor/crowd experience though. I will be asking more of what they expect when I get the agenda later this week.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

He was actually one of the runway models and I hope to talk to him soon to gather some intel. I hope to find out what was used to take the phots he posted as they were in my opinion very bad but I won’t tell him that lol. I was supposed to help shoot that show but a dog emergency kept that from happening.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Ask if it is OK to use a diffused flash to avoid harsh light and the worst of the flash blindness for people in that lighting.

Depending on the event organizers taste and wants your f/4 may work OK with a very high ISO - I did some acceptable ones at 12800 with a 6D and 24-105 f/4 indoors with just the daylight through drapes, thoe little tiny Christmas Tree lights and light from the ceiling lights in another room 15' or so behind me. The room has light colored walls. I ran this through Franzis Projects DeNoise. Hand held, pattern meter, no flash. Processed in Jan 2014, taken in 2013. I only had my 6D for about 4 weeks and didn't even really know what I was doing. Just wanted to see what the camera and lens could do and the no flash was because I didn't own a flash for the 6D yet.

6D, 24-105L f/4 @ 105, 1/60 @ f/4, ISO 12800

(Download)

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Great advice and I will do that. The 6D is flat out incredible in low light, I regret selling mine. I could take better photos with it than I’m getting with my 5D4 but I know I have a lot to learn about the 5D. Beautiful photograph!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The 6D has simpler controls and is faster to learn, but can't do as many things. But I was doing things I learned to do with a 35 mm SLR in the 60s and 70s. They worked. And yes, I do sometimes miss it.

I now have a 5DIV, 7DII and 80D. My second 7DII - I traded the 6D & my first 7DII for towards the 5DIV & 80D then missed all those extra controls and options on the 7DII for BIF etc. Found one on Ebay, like new, "too much camera for anyone in our family" and the guy lives only 20 miles from me. I met him at a Costco food court half way took delivery and after he gave me back my shipping fees it was $700 with a Canon battery grip.
Though I switch around they are almost always setup:
5DIV - 24-105L, wide angle or macro
7DII - 100-400L (often with 1.4x) with pistol grip on the tripod mount for out and about hand held work for birds, butterflies etc
80D - Tamron 150-600 G2 on tripod with a shop stool (I'm lazy) by the sliding doors with gimbal head for birds at the feeders in my yard.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Like many things, I'd time-travel back and make some adjustments ... You mentioned the 24-70 f/2.8L, the gold standard in my eyes for event photography. I also like the 35L and 50L. Below is an example of low-light / indoor / low-flash-output to demonstrate the suggested idea of a manually controlled speedlight.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Great example of controlled speed light. Looks like our sons picture?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Hard to go wrong with the classic 24-70 f2.8L (one of the “holy trinity” of lenses), but if you find you need more speed, there’s the EF 35 f2, the 50 F1.4 or f1.8 and the 85 f1.8, all of which are reasonably priced and will give you another stop or more in speed (you can buy all three for the price of the 24-70). If you’re feeling more well heeled, there’s an f1.2 or f1.4 “L” version of each. I’ve used the 85 f1.8 for indoor weddings and small groups many times, and at <$350, it’s fast, sharp and a bargain. I took my 5D3 and a 24-105 f4L to my son’s wedding (which was professionally shot) which was a fairly well lighted indoor venue, but no flash allowed and it took me about 2 minutes to run out to the car and swap it for the 85, which allowed me to shoot at the SS and ISO I wanted in available light.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

I didn’t mention having the 85 f/1.8 because I didn’t really consider it for this shoot but you have me thinking and no matter what I end up doing I will be packing it with me now. I really consider it one of the best lens for the dollars that Canon has.