Lens for cars

[Edvis122]

Helllo, Photographers!
I am choosing lens for my Canon 600D. I will use this lens for car photography the most, but sometimes for people portraits too. In my opinion, the best lens would Sigma 30mm f1.4, also thinking about Sigma or canon 50mm f1.4 (but wouldn't they be too narrow? for crop DSLR?). What do you think?

P.S. haven't got much money for expensive lenses

[Staggered]

I love my sigma 30mm. The canon isn't a bad choice either but imo the 30mm frame gives you more to work with.

[KevinECSP]

What type of car photography are you doing? Are we talking private photo shoots? or shooting at car shows?

[JRodigan]

I really like my 50mm 1.8. I generally switch between it and my kit lens (18-55) when I'm a shows and meets. I use the kit lens for group shots, then go around with the 50mm and get individual shots. You can pick up the 50mm for about $90 at Best Buy.

Cabrio by Three Liter Turbo Photography, on Flickr

Green Teg by Three Liter Turbo Photography, on Flickr

It's great for people portraits too.
IMG_8570 by Three Liter Turbo Photography, on Flickr

[avidworks]

When I was still on a crop body, there was not a single occasion where I didn't use my 85mm. The focal length really is fantastic as long as you have the room to work. It basically makes it 135mm focal length since your camera has a 1.6x crop factor.

IMG_2237 by AVIDWORKS, on Flickr

[Edvis122]

What type of car photography are you doing? Are we talking private photo shoots? or shooting at car shows?

I will be shooting private photo shoots much time. But sometimes, like once a month I ussually get offer to shoot a car show (so I would think, that lenses more than 80mm wouldn't be good. Furthermore, I got Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 and kit lens for the wide angle). Yep, I know that there is not universal lens. I think, that now i need to buy 30mm and in the near future something with 85mm. What do you think?

[KevinECSP]

I'd grab a 30/50mm, 85mm, and some sort of wide angle zoom like the Tamron 17-50mm or something similar to upgrade from the kit lens. Those are the basics IMO.

[Edvis122]

Guys, i got an offer, to buy Canon 35mm f2 for only 200 dollars. What do you think? P.S. are this lens (canon) bokeh better than sigma 30mm f1.4?

[Kielan]

The bokeh on the sigma is far better. IMO get a 50 1.8, it's cheap, and will teach you a great deal. I used mine almost exclusively for 2 years until I got my 35 1.4. Don't go spending a ton of money on glass until you get your fundamentals down.

[NeilP]

I learnt on a sigma 30mm f1.4

Fantastic lens for the money and as Kielan said, great bokeh. Easily still my favourite lens that I own

[oprahhwinfreyy]

30mm 1.4 is great for shows. But if your shooting single cars in spots you choose, something a little longer might be best.

I have a D300s (crop sensor) with a 35mm 1.8 DX lens and I use it at shows. Sometimes its a little to close in tight events but I use it most. I also have a nikkor 50mm 1.4G. I mainly use it when I can control where the car is going to be because its about 75m on crop sensor.

[Edvis122]

Picked sigma 30mm f1.4 lens and did some photoshoots. Thanks for advices, it is really good lens. One photo from photoshoot: