Gig - one lens - which?

Oriel

Hi Folks,
Large gig tomorrow night, the guidelines state:
"NB: Please do not bring personal bags and items that may need storage".
By large, I mean it's an arena gig, not the local pub.

i.e. I'll have to bring a camera and one lens.

The selection:

• 80-200mm 2.8 (grand for face shots)
• 50mm 1.8 (maybe not long enough)
• Mid-range 2.8-4 (not fast enough)

Which lens should I go for?
It's first song only too, which is crap, so even if I wanted to bring an extra lens, I wouldn't be able to swap.


Steve.

Morlar

I would always be inclined to recommend going with the fastest in a low light situation - and then adjust your position to get somewhere where the 50mm focal length works. Having said that I havent done gig photography so possibly not the best recommendation. I would also try wearing combats or a jacket that would allow a 2nd lens.

Oriel

Morlar wrote:

I would also try wearing combats or a jacket that would allow a 2nd lens.

It's grand sneaking a wee 50mm in your combat pocket, but what do I do with the 200mm when I take it off?!

Eirebear

Havnt done any gig photography but i would be tempted to go with the 80-200 and stick with the close up shots.

the 50 is way to short for an arena gig, considering the size of stage your gonna be dealing with, and security will be tight.
And the other as you say wont be fast enough and you cant risk that when youve got such a limited time.

Morlar

Ah - thats a point, when you said 80-200mm I pictured this (the one I have) http://www.letsgodigital.org/images/lenses/6/023b_canon_ef80-200_f45-56.jpg

and not the big wont-fit-in-a-pocket white L one. In that case as its a big gig and presumably has ok lighting and limited room to move I would probably go with the 80-200mm.

440Hz

Agree with Eirebear. For a large venue I would think the 80-200 would be your best bet. Especially if you only have one song. You have the versatility of having some zoom to play with and get some variety into the shots.

That *the* big Belfast gig tomorrow?, should be a good one. For atmosphere anyway.

Oriel

440Hz wrote:

That *the* big Belfast gig tomorrow?, should be a good one. For atmosphere anyway.

?

Oriel

Roffles, I even had to edit a question mark.

thebaz

i'm confused , if there allowing you photograph legit on the first song , why won't they let you bring another lens ??

although nothing should confuse me in this game, i got stopped by armed special branch down sherriff street , when i said i was talking photographs , he smirked about selling hash .

Oriel

thebaz wrote:

i'm confused , if there allowing you photograph legit on the first song , why won't they let you bring another lens ??

Well, it's more about the needing to bring a bag which would require storage.
They couldn't give a monkeys what lens I use, they just don't want me to bring a bag.

Sebzy

Now that's just ridiculous. A photographer needs a bag without a bag it's just not right.
- Memory cards
- Film
- Battery's
- lenses
- Backup body
- Backup lenses

Come on these people must have something loose..
Even get one of those small slingshot bags.

Sebzy

Oh yea would recommend the 80-200 if you were shooting Canon but thats a Nikon piece of glass right. So

How about
- Get close use the 50mm 1.8 maybe even crop later
- Fire away with the 80-200 with ISO400-800 and call process BW.
- Get a lend of a film body and stick on the 80-200 with ISO1600 film.


that's all I got.
Whenever I'm shooting gigs I use a 100mmF2 or a 60mmF1.4 @ ISO400 (Both 35mm EQUIV)

iamnothim

depends on the venue and the lights.

if it's a big venue with professional lights then your 80-200 will be fine in terms of aperture and zoom. 80mm isn't that far off 50mm and with a big enough stage you should still be able to frame whole people.

what's the gig?

Spyral

Oh yea would recommend the 80-200 if you were shooting Canon but thats a Nikon piece of glass right. So

I was always told Nikon Glass > Cannon Glass ??

unless you are getting near take the zoom and make the best of it.

Sebzy

Spyral wrote:

I was always told Nikon Glass > Cannon Glass ??/QUOTE]

maybe maybe maybe but was thinking about the bodies their connected to and HIGH ISO.

Spyral

ahh i see ! touché !

the camera that has the least noisy iso would indeed be the best option..

Oriel

iamnothim wrote:

what's the gig?

George Michael.
Actually, I have a D70s body knocking about, so I could use that for the 50mm, and keep the 80-200mm for the Nikon D80.
It's a bit of an overkill though...
I wouldn't want the press sneering down their 300mm 2.8s at me, would I...

iamnothim

that's definitely your best option. screw the press, they'll sneer at you anyway. i've been shooting gigs for about 6 months now on a 400d with cheap or old lenses. They always sneer at me and more often than not, my shots are better than the ones i see in the papers the next day. press always seem to just take a clear photo of the artists face and then get out of there

all the good music photographers I know have little or no press connection

rant over, i've forgotten what the question was

Oriel

iamnothim wrote:

press always seem to just take a clear photo of the artists face and then get out of there

I agree 100%.
Screw it, I'll bring both bodies!

thebaz

are you press or a closet George Michael fan ??:)

Spyral

I wouldn't want the press sneering down their 300mm 2.8s at me, would I...

yeah well WE all know that having the 5-2000mm f2.8 on an UBERCAMERA t1000 with iso range of 25-10000 and fps of 100 persecond doesn't make you a better photographer..

Oriel

thebaz wrote:

are you press or a closet George Michael fan ??:)

Ahem. Well, I've been asked to cover a gig, for which, once I get escorted off the premises after the first song(!), I'll be gain access again via a ticket.
I have nothing to hide though - I think most of what he's done is great!
And I am 100% confident in my heterosexuality, btw!

Fajitas!

First song?

Jesus, I know he's done the rounds and all, but they must really be expecting the makeup to flake. Good luck with the gig - Would be bringing the 50mm myself, but whichever you'd be most with confident really.

440Hz

Apparently all the dramatic show stuff starts after the first song with Gorgeous George :P, so that would explain it. Press have never had much luck at his London gigs. Its a fairly accepted thing that he lets the have a quick look and then kicks em out before the real fun starts.

DotOrg

Oriel wrote:

"NB: Please do not bring personal bags and items that may need storage".
By large, I mean it's an arena gig, not the local pub.

if you have a photo pass they hardly would have stopped you bringing a bag.

surely that notice was for the regular punters going in

Oriel

DotOrg wrote:

surely that notice was for the regular punters going in

No, that was for the photographers. A few pros brought a bag anyway, but they were made to leave them in the box office office.
The lights at the start were crap - too much white.
Looks like it's going to be more of a salvage operation, since I forgot to select spot metering, dammit. This is what you get for not taking gig photos for ages...

Sebzy

Oh go on post up an image or two we want to see.....
Too much white is not a bad thing too much nothing is a very bad thing.


Seb.

Oriel

It was late and I was tired, so I started a new thread...for some reason:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055130684