18-55mm for gigs?

melekalikimaka

is there any point in me using this lens for gig photos, would i be better off bringing my point and licky instead? oh and the gig is in the village, any one know their poliy on cams, its a d50 i plan to use...

Flipflip

i have a D50 with the same lens, and it isnt worth **** unless you can get right close to the stage.

I had have a 28-80 on my 35mm that isnt worth **** either like so u kinda need a biggish lens for gigs.

melekalikimaka

yeah i know, saving up for an upgrade at the mo, might even seen if i can trade the 18-55 in too. but i should be able to get pretty damn close to the stage, dont think too much zoom will be required...hopefully

Flipflip

im pretty much in the same boat as you, I recently bought a D50 and i need a bigger lens too. Dont think Id trade in the 18-55 tho, its a good lens even thought its small.

Well if you can get close you should be ok cause the resolution on the D50 is good enough for fairly hefty cropping!

Subliminal

melekalikimaka - I know its kinda off topic, but i was wondering, since im about to go the D50 route, are you still happy with yours?

melekalikimaka

well its my first big camera, so i've mothing to compare it with. so far im happy with it, takes good pics, better than i ever took with my canon ixus, investing in a tripod rapid tho, its shows big time without on even slightly longer exposures, something my canon didnt really have a prb with, apart from that yeah its sweet

rabbitinlights

Im guessing a 50mm F1.8 lense would be the cheapest option (<€100), it just means that you would have to position yourself in a decent place in the venue.

S.

DotOrg

the village often has good bright spotlighting so you could get away with that kit lens at it's widest aperture at 1600iso

the policy on photographing gigs is set by the band/managment/PR company. If it's a signed act you shouldn't be allowed your camera unless you are working with a proper photo pass. If it's just a local unsigned band, nobody will bother stopping you

these were taken in the Village by me:

melekalikimaka

wow great pics, so if i wanted to take my camera, what would i need do to be allowed take the pics. the band i'm seeing arent exactly as big as they once were so I didnt think its be a problem.

oh and i dont wanna start another thread but apart from conns cameras, wheres good to get second hand lens and what should i look out for condition wise. The 50mm 1.8 seems to be i cheap and cheerful lens for my needs

DotOrg

the 50mm f1.8 is the perfect starter lens for concert shooting

if the band are on a record label then you'll have to go through the concert promter to get a pass (for most gigs this is either MCD www.mcd.ie or Aitken www.aikenpromotions.ie)

You generally need to get a pass about a week in advance of the gig. and it's generally not easy and you'll often be ignored

melekalikimaka

yeah i just did it, sent emails to the promoter, manager and assist manager, its not on for a week or so, fingers crossed, if i bring it in anyway what will happen, a d50 doesnt look like overly professional, especially with the 18-55 lens?

DotOrg

doesn't matter what it looks like. i've shot with my 350D with 50mm lens whilst standing next to people with 1DsMkII and huge 300mm L lenses at gigs and i've got better shots than them

DotOrg

if you bring it and you don't have a pass, the security may throw you out, or more likely just tell you to put your camera away

melekalikimaka

if i keep it low down til the start playin and people with point and clicks pop out(which I presume they're ok with) and i slide my d50 up for a bit(a few cards to mix around with so if they do stop me taking i have pics after they wipe the cam)the village...its hardly the point but i dunno i've never experienced any hassle with my point and click so im assuming here, correct me if i'm wrong.:)

rhurja

I find it always depends on the night.. Some staff / security members might ask you to put it away, others might not. Building up contacts and a portfolio will get you into more gigs legitimately, but that will only happen if you get into gigs in the first place. Having some sort of media outlet behind you can be helpful with getting a break.

It can be very frustrating trying to get a response from management - for the Maxïmo Park gig this Sunday in Dolans (Limerick) I put requests to the band's management (twice), Heineken Green Room Sessions (via the site) and the venue - none of them got back to me.

I know this wasn't your original question, but I just felt like a bit of a 3am rant

DotOrg

melekalikimaka wrote:

if i keep it low down til the start playin and people with point and clicks pop out(which I presume they're ok with) and i slide my d50 up for a bit(a few cards to mix around with so if they do stop me taking i have pics after they wipe the cam)the village...its hardly the point but i dunno i've never experienced any hassle with my point and click so im assuming here, correct me if i'm wrong.:)

you may get away with it but why not just enjoy the gig, jump up and down, sing along with the songs etc etc....

there's a huge number of unsigned bands who'll let you into their gigs for free, buy you a pint and let you shoot their gigs for free and some will even pay you a few euro for the shots

when you've done that a few times and set up a small online portfolio you'll find bands coming to you and offering you free passes into gigs to shoot them

all you're doing when shooting without permission is possibly annoying the security guys, the PR people who you'll have to deal with if you fancy every shooting bigger gigs and the people around you as you elbow them in the face getting the right angle

melekalikimaka

yeah you've a good point... i'll see how things go, might just bringa small camera then. cheers for the advice

Oriel

I've found that most of the time, people don't really give a crap about people taking photos. You won't be using a flash, so nobody will really notice you taking the photos. Most security guys are there for the money, not for security..

acquiescefc

sinecurea wrote:

I've found that most of the time, people don't really give a crap about people taking photos. You won't be using a flash, so nobody will really notice you taking the photos. Most security guys are there for the money, not for security..

I agree, its hard enough to go the legit way as no-one seems to respond unless you have some kind of 'foot in the door' from asociations or previous.
I dont go out that regular(funds/work commitments), but try not to get in anyones way and covertly take pics.

Certain people give others a bad name when they stand right in front of the singer/guitarist whther they have a pass or not IMHO.

melekalikimaka

I got a photo pass, managed to get into contact with the tour manager and he sorted me out, problem solved...now too read up on a few concert how to's? any recommendations?

Oriel

http://aaaphotos.org/faq.htm

DotOrg

and http://www.photo.net/learn/concerts/mirarchi/concer_i though some of that is for film cameras only

melekalikimaka

thank you, they will be most helpful