Low light/Music gig lens

photostar_1

photostar_1

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Carole
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:help: I could do with a bit of advice please................

My main reason for wandering into DSLR land, is to photograph my son's band, but as I'm sure you know, the lighting is rarely anything other than mediocre in pubs and clubs. I don't really need a big telephoto, as I can usually have quite close access, but I do want something faster than my Canon 17-85 mm, F4-5.6, IS. I was seriously struggling last night and had to resort to using flash in the end, although I kept the output low, so as not to end up with grey pics.

I need something with a reasonably wide angle for whole band shots, so the lovely lenses that start at 70mm, are no use to me and it really needs to be IS, as I wobble about like a reed in the wind :D

I have a Canon 350 D, so whatever it is, has to fit with this.

Can anyone advise?
Thanks.
 
IS won't do you much good for gigs because people move about, so even if you get the background sharp, the subjects will still be blurred as IS does nothing to combat true motion within the frame. What you need is a reasonably wide lens with a big aperture. Most (if not all) zooms don't go wider than f/2.8 so you're best considering primes.

I'm completely biased in saying that I think the 35mm f/1.4L is a fantastic lens but I'd still recommend it. There's also the following to consider:

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Pro...ex.asp?ComponentID=25529&SourcePageID=26126#1

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Pro...ex.asp?ComponentID=25541&SourcePageID=26126#1

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Pro...ex.asp?ComponentID=25555&SourcePageID=26126#1

http://photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_20_18/index.htm

http://photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_30_14/index.htm

Surprisingly there's a massive lack of ultra-wide angle primes, let alone good, fast ones. I'd pay good money for a 10mm f/1.2 that was sharp corner-to-corner as the extremely short focal length would still allow decent depth of field even at very wide apertures but you just cannot buy one. Nobody makes any.
 
50mm f1.8 sound like your best bet.
 
You could try the Sigma 30 f/1.4, although i have no experience with this lens i've heard good things about it and the effective field of view on the 350D would be close to that of a 50mm on a full frame body.
 
It depends on the gigs you shoot.
I did a small venue with a 50mm F1.4 on my 20D and it was too long for the shots of gituarists but not long enough for the close ups. Since I prefer full body shots at gigs I sold the 50mm F1.4 and am now on the look out for a 30mm F1.4 Sigma.
 
i use either a 50mm f1.8 or 85mm f1.8 both of which are great, although recently ive been experimenting with an 18-50mm f2.8sigma with really good results but its not so good at venues with **** lighting


any of the 1.8 or wider primes are spot on for gigs, just really depends on how close you can get and the size of the stage as to what lens you want

if find that the main venues i shoot the 50mm is wide enough to get most of the musicians in on thier own, and the 85mm is great for head and shoulder shots. if ni want to do anything else i need to use a wider lens.

ill find some pics...


taken with sigma 18-50mm f2.8
JLJ01.jpg


canon 50mm f1.8 (i think)
Scarlattitilt03.jpg


canon 85mm f1.8
SD01.jpg
 
Thanks Whitewash, I appreciate that advice......I really am a beginner at this lark. Do you have to keep changing lenses then, or do you have more than one camera? I worry about dropping things in the dark etc.:eek:


Here's a couple of shots from the other night. I'm unhappy with them 'cos none are sharp enough to warrent printing and I'm only showing them here, to let you see my problem.

tifIMG_5844-01.jpg


tifIMG_5972-02.jpg


tifIMG_5782-01.jpg


There are a few more in my gallery.

I like the length I get from my 17-85mm f4-5.6. I could really do with one lens that does 17-120 at 2.8 or wider...........is there such a beast?
:cuckoo:
 
i have only one digital camera so ive become a master at swapping lenses without touching the ground with anything whilst sheilding anything coming crowdwards with my back, probably looks uber stupid but it does the job, if theres a barrier and your infront of it then its easier as it usually has some form of flat surface on it which makes a good shelf (and a good seat as well!). i mianly have the 50mm or the 18-50mm fitted at the start of the set and then shoot for 2 songs before swapping to the 85mm for some closer shots for the last of the 3 songs.


its great fun and very rewarding shooting gigs, i love it, especially when the lighting is good and the music is excellent :)


the 50mm is only £70 and its a gem, the shutter speeds go up due to the wide aperture so you can get nice sharp images :):woot: :woot:
 
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