Best lens for city lights ?

[Terry Blakeslee]

Hi all ~ I was looking for some advice on what would be a good upgrade lens for taking night time long exposures of city lights /city sky lines. I really enjoy taking these types of shots.
I currently have a Canon T2i . Right now I am just using the "stock 50mm" lens that came with the kit.
I am looking to spend up to a grand. ( maybe more if I lie to the wife )
Also is there a filter I should be using that cuts down the glare or is that just a deal that I can take away with more experience?

Thanks in advance for all your help..

[OsmosisStudios]

Theres no lens that does better at that than others. If you really really really must, look for a lens with good "coma correction". other than that, use what you have now.

[dlambert]

I've had some luck using multiple exposures for nighttime cityscapes -- I found that lights were blowing out quite a bit otherwise. My best results have been with my 50, FWIW. How about posting an example?

[Terry Blakeslee]

Originally Posted by dlambert

I've had some luck using multiple exposures for nighttime cityscapes -- I found that lights were blowing out quite a bit otherwise. My best results have been with my 50, FWIW. How about posting an example?

Attached is a picture of NYC.

[sartracker]

I think your photo is beautiful! Is that the 50 f1.8 lens? I'm going to Newark and NYC and I have no clue how to shoot in big cities with all those lights. Were you on a balcony, hotel and how high?

[dlambert]

Thanks Terry -- I guess I saw that one in your other post, but I didn't connect the dots. I think that's a pretty good start, actually. I know you mentioned something about having to use a little tripod, but I don't see anything noticeable in the way of camera shake here. I'm a little surprised to see what appears to be barrel distortion across the horizon, though -- I thought the 50 was a little better than that, and I don't think you were high enough to pick up the curvature of the Earth. ;-)

I really like the glow on the horizon here, and most of the shot is exposed really well, IMO. There are a couple lights that are sort of blown-out -- this is where I've found it helpful to use multiple exposures and do an HDR merge. You might be able to pick up a little more crispness in some of the really bright lights, and maybe a bit more shadow detail, too. The big downside to HDR, though, is that it makes you really sensitive to camera movement between shots. I haven't picked up a remote shutter release yet, so if I'm not really careful with the shutter, I end up with shots that aren't quite aligned. Most HDR stitchers have some sort of alignment capability, but it's never as good as just getting the shots aligned in the camera to begin with.

Your initial post mentioned glare -- it never occurred to me to try a CPL for a nighttime shot, and I have no idea if that would help, but it might be worth a shot. As far as really cutting glare, though, this would seem to be your best bet.

[Shokinen]

Originally Posted by dlambert

Your initial post mentioned glare -- it never occurred to me to try a CPL for a nighttime shot, and I have no idea if that would help, but it might be worth a shot. As far as really cutting glare, though, this would seem to be your best bet.

It wont help. Polarisers works best when the sun rays are coming from a 90degre angle They lower the light reflection from a surface but it this case, it's not a reflection. It's light comming straight to the camera.

Another thing you can do Terry is to reduce the highlights in post (also called recovery in LR) as this is exaclty what it is. No lens will prevent that. The rest of your image need so much light compare to the buildings lights, glares are is fact overexposed building lights. Tripod will also help reducing your aperture and could get you a better shot.

[Terry Blakeslee]

Originally Posted by sartracker

I think your photo is beautiful! Is that the 50 f1.8 lens? I'm going to Newark and NYC and I have no clue how to shoot in big cities with all those lights. Were you on a balcony, hotel and how high?

Thank you !
This was taken at Rockefeller center building. It is called Top of the Rock. You have to buy tickets to go to the top floor observatory deck. There are two. First one has glass around it and the next one up a level is open air. They do not allow tripods up there..... BUT !!!!! There are concrete sections were a small table top tripod will work.
Search Top of the Rock in Google.
Hope this helps
Have fun !

[Terry Blakeslee]

Great tips and thanks to you all.
I am very new at this and it is a lot of fun !

[sartracker]

Thanks Terry! I have one of those little tripods, I'll put it on my list of things to take. I have a book and I'm trying to pick out must see places. I'll put Rockefeller center on that list. Hate to ask this but how high is high? The highest place in my town is Pyramid Peak, a mountain you can hike up for a nice day outing. Highest building is about 5 stories. I'm going to have to remind myself to not look down!