Concert photography lens suggestions

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psychology

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Cant seem to get the search function to work so apologies if this has been asked countless times.

Any suggestions for a lens for low light concert photography. Was maybe thinking of the canon 85mm 1.8. I should be able to get fairly close to the stage.

Cheers
 
Whilst a great lens I wouldn't want to use one for shooting a band, particularly not on a crop body. It would be far too restrictive.
 
If you are going to be close to the band, I would suggest something like a
24-70. I do a fair bit of concert photography and this is by far my most used lens.
 
I used a 85 1.8 on a D200 crop body with great success, but that was from side of stage or behind not in the pit. My other goto lens was a 24-70 f/2.8.
I used a 18-50 f/2.8 briefly, but found it too short for the venues I was in.
 
For general stage work, 24-70 2.8 for pit and side stage and 70-200 2.8 from the Sound Desk or slips

Have a Bag full of other stuff but time after time they are the 2 that come out of the bag.

With the 30D you are going to be wanting to limit ISO to 800/1600 max, the 2.8 will give you enough light in most venues, stick a cheap 50 1.8 in the bag for times that even the 2.8 is not fast enough,

And if you find you are doing more low light concert work consider a body that will allow you to increase IOS to 3200/6400 and still produce sellable images (Canon 5DII or 1D MKIV). And then it starts to hurt the pocket so the work porduced needs to be paying for the kit.

Most of all Enjoy it.
 
Just out of interest... you guys using the 24-70... do you shoot at 2.8 and try to keep ISO low to get a decent shutter speed, or ramp up the ISO and aperture? Obviously I understand it's all about the environment at the time, but assuming it's not broad daylight, but indoors and lit.
 
Whilst I don't have a 24-70 I would generally try to shoot wide open with a fairly quick shutter and as low of an ISO as possible, although anything up to 6400 shouldn't cause an issue with a 5D MkII.
 
F/2.8 and ISO 1600 was my base starting point and then adjust as needed.
 
groovyf said:
Just out of interest... you guys using the 24-70... do you shoot at 2.8 and try to keep ISO low to get a decent shutter speed, or ramp up the ISO and aperture? Obviously I understand it's all about the environment at the time, but assuming it's not broad daylight, but indoors and lit.
Click to expand...

Depends on the venue, but at the one with the most rubbish lighting, im usually at around 2000 or 2500 iso and f2.8 to f3.2
 
groovyf said:
Just out of interest... you guys using the 24-70... do you shoot at 2.8 and try to keep ISO low to get a decent shutter speed, or ramp up the ISO and aperture? Obviously I understand it's all about the environment at the time, but assuming it's not broad daylight, but indoors and lit.
Click to expand...

Here are 2 samples 1st in very fast changing stage lighting, used the 24-105 f4 here as the stage is deep and parts are a bit too far back for the 24-70

Even with the low light unless I really have to I try to keep at f4 or higher for depth of field, depends on the show but with the 5D MKII & 1D MKIV I will only go below f4 if I can't get a shutter speed of 1/160 or above and an ISO of 3200 or less.


1D MKIV, ISO 2000 1/160 f4, at ISO 2000 no real noise to worry about

WWRY1.jpg


Here with the 70-200 2.8 II for close up from the stage with heavy rear lighting, but managed

5D MKII, ISO 100 1/400 f5 much better lit stage

WELa.jpg
 
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Thanks for all of your advice guys. I had looked at the 24-70 but it is a bit out of my price range at the moment, the cheapest I can find it for is £999. Anyone suggest any alternatives?

Cheers

Any views on Tamron SP AF28-75 F2.8 Di Can A09 Lens
 
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