wide or tele?

[shinjixikari]

I guess I'm just more curious than anything to be honest...

I used to be 60% wide/40% tele at cons...
but now I do 100% wide (Canon 24-7070L on a 5D).

What lens/body setups do you usually use at cons?

[shiroin]

24, 28, 35, 50.

i got some teles and would use them but just didnt have access with them recently :/ (lend to ppl, repair, etc.)

[TykeJack]

I use the same setup and find that allows me to be the most flexible with my photography. Private shoots are one thing, but for walking around a convention I think you'll be hard pressed to find a lens more versatile. I prefer wide because I feel it is better at communicating the environment and allow the subject to be involved with that environment. At the same time, sometimes that environment at a con is a background full of sweaty cosplayers and photographers, so I can see how telephoto can be argued.

Ultimately wide angle allows you to work in tighter spaces (which is the nature of the con), shows off more of the costume within those tight spaces, ties in the environment and background, allows better group shots and with the ability for limited zoom, you can still get good portraits at the same time with the 24-70mm.

[brucer007]

I like to be as prepared as reasonably possible without breaking my back with too much equipment. I bring one digital SLR, with lenses 18-55mm, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 24mm-70mm 2.8L, and a 70mm-210mm.

I find the widest of my lenses useful for low angle shots and when I want to see as much scenery as possible, especially if there are not many people in background. The wide lenses are also fun to show depth and distorted perspectives, like a weapon coming at the lens and looking so big.

The longer lenses, like the 70mm-210mm is great for cropping out distracting backgrounds and crowds of people.

[tfcreate]

Originally Posted by shinjixikari

wide or tele?

Yes.
TFC

[hunj]

I use D300, and I used 50mm f/1.8 most of the time at my previous con (Youmacon), because usually cons are dark. Yet, due to the censor size, it was equivalent to using a 75mm lens, so I found it a bit annoying. If I had a 35, I would have been able to take pictures not that far away from the cosplayer..

[Ashurachan]

I generally bring my 50/1.8 but end up using my all-purpose zoom (24-85) a lot more, because cons lack space and I like full body shot.
If I could carry it I would probably have a tele for masquerades though, to get good shots with my current zoom I have to be very close to the stage.

[mrgetalife]

If i can i use a 30/1.4 on my crop. But most of the conventions in my area if I want to shoot on the con floor I have to use around the 12-14mm range as I want to get full body shots and i'm within 3-4 feet from everything. I did rent a 70-200/2.8 and it was great. But I had relatively wide open space with nobody walking around at that time.

So I think the focal length while you do have a tendency to prefer a certain range. Its more on the environment you're in. I prefer wide because tele is just useless most of my time so i'm just used to going wide.

[Access]

Originally Posted by shinjixikari

I guess I'm just more curious than anything to be honest...

I used to be 60% wide/40% tele at cons...
but now I do 100% wide (Canon 24-7070L on a 5D).

What lens/body setups do you usually use at cons?

Same experience here. I don't even bother carrying around the telephoto lens anymore, it's so rare you have non-obscured line-of-sight to something that far away.

[maulrat]

Originally Posted by shinjixikari

What lens/body setups do you usually use at cons?

5D with 24-70 L ftw

=)

At cons, I usually don't have time to keep switching out lenses. the 24-70 on a full frame is a nice choice for me. I love the wideness especially if you have to smack a cosplayer up against a wall of a crowded hallway. Of course, while I'm indoors, I'm armed with a Speedlite as well.

[hypersapiens]

Originally Posted by maulrat

5D with 24-70 L ftw

Same but with a Mk II. And sometimes a 10-20mm or 14mm for photoshoots. The tele comes along but only appears for masq or stage stuff. That 24-70 does general duty oh so well.

[shinjixikari]

I'm feeling the 24-70 L + full frame love here. =)

w000!!

[shiroin]

primes ftw.

[shinjixikari]

Originally Posted by shiroin

primes ftw.

I know. but as your famous line....

IM LAZY.

[SolarTempest]

Originally Posted by shiroin

primes ftw.

Fine fine! I just bought a 50mm F1.8 used for super cheap.

Otherwise, it's:
11-16mm
17-55mm
70-200mm
200mm+ (rarely)

My recent focal length usage in 35mm equiv.: