Digital Cameras & Concert Photography

Mental Mickey

Hi guys,

This is my first time to post in this section of boards.ie, so bear with me. Can anyone suggest to me what would be the best digital camera for taking photographs(long distance)at concerts - both indoors & outdoors?? I currently have a Fujifilm Finepix A370 camera, but I don't think the zoom is good enough on it??


Any tips/advice would be welcome.

ShakeyBlakey

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Hi guys,

This is my first time to post in this section of boards.ie, so bear with me. Can anyone suggest to me what would be the best digital camera for taking photographs(long distance)at concerts - both indoors & outdoors?? I currently have a Fujifilm Finepix A370 camera, but I don't think the zoom is good enough on it??


Any tips/advice would be welcome.

Mental mickey, i suggest with your current camera, get to the concert really early, get up to the front row and you might/should get some half decent shots, otherwise your going to need to splash out on a half decent slr, fast zoom lens F2.8 or so, use highish iso and let the the concert lights be your light source.

Mental Mickey

ShakeyBlakey wrote: »

Mental mickey, i suggest with your current camera, get to the concert really early, get up to the front row and you might/should get some half decent shots, otherwise your going to need to splash out on a half decent slr, fast zoom lens F2.8 or so, use highish iso and let the the concert lights be your light source.

Thanks mate. It would be kinda difficult for me to get up close & get some good photos while the concert(s) are going on, cos I'm in a wheelchair and usually at the back of the venue.

:mad:

Cheers for the advice anyhoo.

Thirdfox

Unfortunately many concert venues do not allow dSLRs (especially if a big lens is attached) without proper passes.

Can I ask what are your intentions in taking the concert photos? If it's just for personal enjoyment then perhaps you can look at a "bridge" camera - see the recent offerings from Panasonic, Sony, Olympus and Fujifilm. Many of these cameras offer 12-18x zoom bringing the action closer (and at a much cheaper price than the dSLR equivalents).

Unfortunately when using a bridge camera the lens tends to slow and you will get blurring in your shots, high ISO images do not turn out very well either...but you will get a recording of the event - if that's all you want then it may work out to be much cheaper than a dSLR.

Have a look at dpreview.com for camera reviews - they have reviewed quite a few ultra-zoom bridge cameras recently.

Mental Mickey

Thirdfox wrote: »

Unfortunately many concert venues do not allow dSLRs (especially if a big lens is attached) without proper passes.

Can I ask what are your intentions in taking the concert photos? If it's just for personal enjoyment then perhaps you can look at a "bridge" camera - see the recent offerings from Panasonic, Sony, Olympus and Fujifilm. Many of these cameras offer 12-18x zoom bringing the action closer (and at a much cheaper price than the dSLR equivalents).

Unfortunately when using a bridge camera the lens tends to slow and you will get blurring in your shots, high ISO images do not turn out very well either...but you will get a recording of the event - if that's all you want then it may work out to be much cheaper than a dSLR.

Have a look at dpreview.com for camera reviews - they have reviewed quite a few ultra-zoom bridge cameras recently.

Thanks for that. Yes, the photographs would be for myself. I was at an outdoor concert in England recently, and took a few photos with my current digital camera, and they turned out s***e. I was too far away.

That's why I want to upgrade.

Thirdfox

Well you can have a look at:
Fujifilm FinePix S9500
Panasonic DMC FZ-18
Olympus SP-560 UZ
Sony CyberShot DSC-H9
Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS
Canon Powershot S5 IS

I use a dSLR so I don't know which (if any) of these cameras may suit you. But they are the latest bridge cameras that employ massive zooms for a reasonable cost (less than a dSLR kit with a 3x zoom lens). As you're going to be shooting in low light it is important to check their high ISO performance and see if they have image stabilisation.

And being innovative - is there any way of using your wheelchair as a tripod? That way the lack of built in image stabilisation could mean that you don't need to buy a separate tripod to take long distance photos.

Mental Mickey

Thirdfox wrote: »

Well you can have a look at:
Fujifilm FinePix S9500
Panasonic DMC FZ-18
Olympus SP-560 UZ
Sony CyberShot DSC-H9
Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS
Canon Powershot S5 IS

I use a dSLR so I don't know which (if any) of these cameras may suit you. But they are the latest bridge cameras that employ massive zooms for a reasonable cost (less than a dSLR kit with a 3x zoom lens). As you're going to be shooting in low light it is important to check their high ISO performance and see if they have image stabilisation.

And being innovative - is there any way of using your wheelchair as a tripod? That way the lack of built in image stabilisation could mean that you don't need to buy a separate tripod to take long distance photos.

How far away from the object of the photograph can you be with that first camera? It looks quite nice, tbh.

EDIT: Looking at my chair, I can't see anyway of using it as a tripod??? Good thinking, btw.

Thirdfox

Fuji FinePix S8100fd - seems to be their newest 18x zoom actually
And Canon have a cheap version of the S5: the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

Here's what 18x zoom means:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/YP1030101.HTM = 1x
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/YP1030100.HTM = 18x
to get the same on my camera I would probably need to spend 2000 euro for a lens.

It is still quite a bit of money though so I must re-emphasis the need to read up on all the cameras and know their strengths and limitations.

Mental Mickey

Thirdfox wrote: »

Fuji FinePix S8100fd - seems to be their newest 18x zoom actually
And Canon have a cheap version of the S5: the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

Here's what 18x zoom means:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/YP1030101.HTM = 1x
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/YP1030100.HTM = 18x
to get the same on my camera I would probably need to spend 2000 euro for a lens.

It is still quite a bit of money though so I must re-emphasis the need to read up on all the cameras and know their strengths and limitations.

:eek: Jesus H Christ on a bike!!!! That's what an 18x zoom lens can do???

pete4130

Ring ahead to see if/where they have a designated area for people with mobility difficulties. It's worth making the call. I know most decent sized venues should have a designated area and if the venue is anyway good they'll sort you out. Hopefully you'll be close enough to make the most of the camera.
What is the venue out of niterest, just to get an idea of how far back from the stage you might be?

You could get a bridge type camera too and put that 18x zoom to some good use!

Thirdfox

Strictly speaking it's a 504mm equivalent focal length shot but yes 18x is a very big magnification (it has disadvantages too - there's a drop in image quality compared to lenses that have smaller magnification).

Also - you'll need a very stable object to shoot it from as the slightest movement in your hand will turn into a massive shift in the image. And the subject will be moving around too...

But for daylight concerts this should be fine. In dark venues though I sincerely doubt it could cope with the "bad" lighting.

Mental Mickey

pete4130 wrote: »

Ring ahead to see if/where they have a designated area for people with mobility difficulties. It's worth making the call. I know most decent sized venues should have a designated area and if the venue is anyway good they'll sort you out. Hopefully you'll be close enough to make the most of the camera.
What is the venue out of niterest, just to get an idea of how far back from the stage you might be?You could get a bridge type camera too and put that 18x zoom to some good use!

The venue I'm talking about would be either the RDS(outdoors), or the Point(when it's rebuilt). The platform for wheelchair users is usually at the back of the venues, so I would be quite a distance away from the stage.

pete4130

Ah, that sucks being so far back in such a big venue! If you can't stretch the budget for the 18x zoom (not sure of the price myself?) even a 12x optical zoom camera would do the job with about 8 megapixels. You could probably afford to crop the photo afterwards to get your shot a bit tighter too. A monopod could be good too if you're using big zooms, helps to steady the shot a bit.

Pete.

Mental Mickey

pete4130 wrote: »

Ah, that sucks being so far back in such a big venue! If you can't stretch the budget for the 18x zoom (not sure of the price myself?) even a 12x optical zoom camera would do the job with about 8 megapixels. You could probably afford to crop the photo afterwards to get your shot a bit tighter too. A monopod could be good too if you're using big zooms, helps to steady the shot a bit.Pete.

What the heck is a monopod? Would it be easy to carry while I'm pushing the wheelchair into the venue?

Thirdfox

Panasonic FZ18 (the 18x zoom shot demonstration one) costs around 350 euro in Ireland:
http://www.expansys.ie/p.aspx?i=155857
http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4MMH

It'd be cheaper to buy in Hongkong via ebay though...

Thirdfox

Mental Mickey wrote: »

What the heck is a monopod? Would it be easy to carry while I'm pushing the wheelchair into the venue?

I'm not being facetious at all but you should really consider converting an armrest of your wheelchair to mount an camera. It would be a very steady and convenient tripod I think.

A monopod has only one leg (tripod has three) - the idea is that you brace the monopod against your other two legs to create an artificial tripod. I'm not sure it would work in your instance though (go to a camera store and try it out). They are smaller and easier to carry than a tripod - basically they are like a retractable walking stick that you can put a camera on top of.

Mental Mickey

Thirdfox wrote: »

Panasonic FZ18 (the 18x zoom shot demonstration one) costs around 350 euro in Ireland:
http://www.expansys.ie/p.aspx?i=155857
http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4MMH

It'd be cheaper to buy in Hongkong via ebay though...

LOL

Mental Mickey

Thirdfox wrote: »

I'm not being facetious at all but you should really consider converting an armrest of your wheelchair to mount an camera. It would be a very steady and convenient tripod I think.

A monopod has only one leg (tripod has three) - the idea is that you brace the monopod against your other two legs to create an artificial tripod. I'm not sure it would work in your instance though (go to a camera store and try it out). They are smaller and easier to carry than a tripod - basically they are like a retractable walking stick that you can put a camera on top of.

Cool. Thanks for the info. No offence taken by the way.

Ricky91t

Thirdfox wrote: »

I'm not being facetious at all but you should really consider converting an armrest of your wheelchair to mount an camera. It would be a very steady and convenient tripod I think.

A monopod has only one leg (tripod has three) - the idea is that you brace the monopod against your other two legs to create an artificial tripod. I'm not sure it would work in your instance though (go to a camera store and try it out). They are smaller and easier to carry than a tripod - basically they are like a retractable walking stick that you can put a camera on top of.

That is exactly what i was thing wouldnt be to hard to make either...
Might be an invention..But it would'nt need to be the whol arm just a small clamp would attach it got me thinking now :rolleyes:

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

That is exactly what i was thing wouldnt be to hard to make either...
Might be an invention..But it would'nt need to be the whol arm just a small clamp would attach it got me thinking now :rolleyes:

Looking at the armrests on my chair, I doubt it would work?? Don't know if it would be worth the hassle of getting it done if I would only make use of it a few times a year.......?

Fajitas!

Aye, it'd be a bit of work for something you wouldn't use a whole pile! If you were getting a bit more into photography it might be an idea though!

Mental Mickey

Guess I'm kinda f**ked then!?

:rolleyes:

Fajitas!

Well, I wouldn't think stabilisation would be 100% essential!

That zoom seems like a pretty handy number, not sure how it'll work in low light though

Mental Mickey

Fajitas! wrote: »

Well, I wouldn't think stabilisation would be 100% essential!

That zoom seems like a pretty handy number, not sure how it'll work in low light though

Which zoom are you talking about mate?? I'm totally overwhelmed with info here!!

:rolleyes::o

Thirdfox

You could have a camera with you wherever you go! Make a film documentary about your life... the clamp could be one that you can take off easily too.

Believe me, a wheelchair would probably be much more stable than a tripod!

Quackles

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Looking at the armrests on my chair, I doubt it would work?? Don't know if it would be worth the hassle of getting it done if I would only make use of it a few times a year.......?

What about something like a gorillapod - http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/slrzoom/ - Assuming you'd be high enough to get an unobstructed view from arm rest level.

Fajitas!

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Which zoom are you talking about mate?? I'm totally overwhelmed with info here!!

:rolleyes::o

Eeep! Sorry!

Was talking about the 18x zoom here!

Mental Mickey

Quackles wrote: »

What about something like a gorillapod - http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/slrzoom/ - Assuming you'd be high enough to get an unobstructed view from arm rest level.

LOL. That "gorrilapod" looks f**kin cool. Think I'll go to Fuji's store up the road to talk with someone...........?

Ricky91t

Gorilla pods would be handy all right might suit your needs
get a slr gorilla pod off ebay for round €50 .Fairly pricy though.A compact might be to small.After you wrapped it round the are rest it might not be high enough for eye level

Mental Mickey

Guys,

After reading all your advice/suggestions, I think the only alternative left for me is to learn to f**king WALK, so I can get up next to the stage!!!

Ricky91t

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Guys,

After reading all your advice/suggestions, I think the only alternative left for me is to learn to f**king WALK, so I can get up next to the stage!!!

Surely you could ask for a place nearer to the stage?
If you explain to them what your problem is you never know
But saying that they might just say we dont want you taking photographs there

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

Surely you could ask for a place nearer to the stage?
If you explain to them what your problem is you never know
But saying that they might just say we dont want you taking photographs there

Exactly. And there's the added risk of getting absolutely f**king FLATTENED in moshpits.

Ricky91t

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Exactly. And there's the added risk of getting absolutely f**king FLATTENED in moshpits.

haha jesus i wouldnt chance going near one of them
Iv heard bad stories bout them LOL
Do you shoot anything else?

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

haha jesus i wouldnt chance going near one of them
Iv heard bad stories bout them LOL
Do you shoot anything else?

Family.

Ricky91t

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Family.

Cool well id say a Fuji brigde camera would be best for you...
They produce great colours for the family shots and normally have a high iso setting giving you high shutter speeds at low light and reducing abit of the camera shake
and you could buy a teleconverter Like this for it to make it longerI think they reduce the quaility though

soccerc

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Looking at the armrests on my chair, I doubt it would work?? Don't know if it would be worth the hassle of getting it done if I would only make use of it a few times a year.......?

Mental Mickey, as you know Wheelchair users at concerts are rarely searched.

At Slane for the Stones this year I brought my slr and a 300mm lens tucked into the bag hanging behind my significant others transport!

No problems using it on the platform!

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

Cool well id say a Fuji brigde camera would be best for you...
They produce great colours for the family shots and normally have a high iso setting giving you high shutter speeds at low light and reducing abit of the camera shake

Cool. Would that camera be good for concert photo's too(assuming I don't get the f**king thing confiscated before the gig starts, that is!)?

Mental Mickey

thimblefull wrote: »

Mental Mickey, as you know Wheelchair users at concerts are rarely searched.

At Slane for the Stones this year I brought my slr and a 300mm lens tucked into the bag hanging behind my significant others transport!

No problems using it on the platform!

I went to see Metallica in Wembley last summer and was searched going in, but the security guards let me use my camera anyway.

Ricky91t

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Cool. Would that camera be good for concert photo's too(assuming I don't get the f**king thing confiscated before the gig starts, that is!)?

Whats your budget and how far are you from the stage??Iv never been to either of these so its very hard to tell lighting etc

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

Whats your budget and how far are you from the stage??Iv never been to either of these so its very hard to tell lighting etc

As regards budget, I don't wanna go mental. As for distance, at outdoor venues, I nearly have to squint to see the band onstage(depending on how far back the platform is).

Ricky91t

Mental Mickey wrote: »

As regards budget, I don't wanna go mental. As for distance, at outdoor venues, I nearly have to squint to see the band onstage(depending on how far back the platform is).

any chance you'd have a pic from the last concert just to see how small they are and get some idea of a good lenght for a lense.If you dont its fine sounds like you'd definetly need an 10x and atleast 6mp(so you can crop):D

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

any chance you'd have a pic from the last concert just to see how small they are and get some idea of a good lenght for a lense.If you dont its fine sounds like you'd definetly need an 10x and atleast 6mp(so you can crop):D

I don't have any photos handy, sorry.:o Have you ever been at a gig in the showjumping arena @ the RDS? I saw Metallica & GnR there in 2006, and the disabled viewing platform was in the lower level of the stand facing the stage! We may as well have been in f**king Croke Park.

Ricky91t

Mental Mickey wrote: »

I don't have any photos handy, sorry.:o Have you ever been at a gig in the showjumping arena @ the RDS? I saw Metallica & GnR there in 2006, and the disabled viewing platform was in the lower level of the stand facing the stage! We may as well have been in f**king Croke Park.

No i havent my sister was at that GnR concert but i dunno where she was seated or anything.Sadly i live in kerry so i dont go up ther much were actually i never have Its fine about the photos

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

No i havent my sister was at that GnR concert but i dunno where she was seated or anything.Sadly i live in kerry so i dont go up ther much were actually i never have Its fine about the photos

Bummer!!!

pete4130

Make sure you have your camera set to its highest possible settings too, so if you do have to crop or adjust pictures they wont end up being too small and pixelated if you need to crop or want to print.

Mental Mickey

Anyone know how much this would cost in Ireland???

http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/consumer/digital/digital-cameras/d-slr-long-zoom/finepix-s8000

Cheers.

Ricky91t

Its here in Dabs.ie for €250 not including P&P (wont be too much)

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

Its here in Dabs.ie for €250 not including P&P (wont be too much)

Thanks mate. Might go up to Fuji in my local shopping centre to have a look at it....?

Ricky91t

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Thanks mate. Might go up to Fuji in my local shopping centre to have a look at it....?

Yeah thats always advised if you can
Might turn out that the camera is very small for your hand
Or the build quaility might be bad
But from what iv read people like this

Mental Mickey

ricky91t wrote: »

Yeah thats always advised if you can
Might turn out that the camera is very small for your hand
Or the build quaility might be bad
But from what iv read people like this

Yeah, it seems to have gotten good reviews.

melekalikimaka

its gonna be pretty weak for gig / concert photography