First time party shoot

[jale5]

Hi All,

I've been shooting with my canon XS for about two years, and I'm shooting my first party in a few weeks. I want to rent a good portrait lens for candid shots, so i'm debating between two lenses. I currently own the following lenses:

1. Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
2. Canon 50mm 1.8
3. Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5

I'm trying to determine whether I should rent the Canon 135mm 2.0L or the 85mm 1.8. The party is inside a big house at night. I like head shots, and i've been reading excellent reviews on the 135, so i'm leaning towards the 135 over the 85, but i just want to get validation from a few folks with more experience. My main concern is that I'm going to have to pump up the ISO too much, or worse, have blurry shots at night. I also have the speedlite 430.

Thanks for your help!
Josh

[OsmosisStudios]

How big of a house? On an XS, the 135 is LONG (200+mm equiv). That's gonna need a big room.

[jale5]

the main room is about 35' x 25'. i just got a friend to lend me his 24-70 2.8L, so that's probably what I'll use most of the time and the 135 can be for close up head shots

[Vagebond]

On a crop sensor the 85mm. has the field of view of a 135mm. on a full size sensor.
85 × 1.6 = 126.