Advice for a novice

Nightwish

I am looking for some advice from those more learned on these matters. I wish to purchase a new camera. My requirements are one with decent resolution thats capable of taking good quality pictures at concerts. My current camera is outdated and basically is awful at taking concert photo's. Its only 5 megapixel, and when the autoflash is turned off, the pictures come out blurry and the shutter speed is crap. So any advice on models, camera specs and price range would be greatly appreciated. Btw, I dont want to fork out for a high end camera, just one thats decent!

Fajitas!

What's yer budget?

Nightwish

I reckon I could spend up to €300. I know I wont get an amazing camera for that but I just need something better than my own, which I know will take good concert pics.

Oriel

Nightwish wrote: »

My requirements are one with decent resolution thats capable of taking good quality pictures at concerts.

No point. Learn about lenses. The camera only captures what you tell it to capture.

Nightwish

Well the lens spec on mine is clearly inferior (19.2mm) so what I need to know is what spec is capable of taking decent pictures, and will eliminate the blurriness I currently have when the autoflash is off or on manual.

nilhg

What you need is a fast lens, ie low aperture number, many people here use a 50f1.4 for gigs.
You will also need a dSLR camera to put it on, at your budget you are firmly in the low end of the secondhand market.
I'm not aware of any compact model with nearly as fast a lens.

Ricky91t

try this link! seems like the fuji F31fd is a good cheap compact forlo light!:D

Fajitas!

Right, for what you're looking for, you're looking at DSLR's, which are a bit pricier new - You might find a nice deal on a second hand entry level DSLR like a 350D?

Other than that, a bridge might be an option, I think the Fuji's are handy numbers?

DotOrg

Nightwish wrote: »

My requirements are one with decent resolution thats capable of taking good quality pictures at concerts.

Btw, I dont want to fork out for a high end camera, just one thats decent!

do you want to take pictures from where you are standing in the audience or do you want to go up the front and take pictures of the band members?


if the answer is that you just want to record your memories of the gig, no camera will give great results, low light concert photography is very tough. But something like one of the latest small fuji models will probably give the best low light results. Get one with some form of anti-shake, image stabilisation

Oriel

DotOrg wrote: »

do you want to take pictures from where you are standing in the audience or do you want to go up the front and take pictures of the band members?

I'm presuming it's the former.

Nightwish

DotOrg wrote: »

do you want to take pictures from where you are standing in the audience or do you want to go up the front and take pictures of the band members?


if the answer is that you just want to record your memories of the gig, no camera will give great results, low light concert photography is very tough. But something like one of the latest small fuji models will probably give the best low light results. Get one with some form of anti-shake, image stabilisation

I want to take pictures as an observer not as a photographer. I go to loads of gigs, mostly overseas, so it means a lot to me to have nice pictures as keepsakes. Thanks for the advice so far. I might adjust my budget to allow for a lower end DSLR model.

Fajitas!

It'll be worth extending your budget, it really will

fguihen

remember you may not be allowed to bring an SLR into a concert, where as a little pocket camera will be easy to sneak by them. would be horrible to miss a gig as you cant go in with a big camera, and cant leave it in the hands of some thieving security guard.

PixelTrawler

While an SLR is better image wise, itll also be a bugger to mind in the crowd...
For piece of mind you might be better with a compact.

You might also want to be able to hold the camera up above the crowd and look at the screen to frame the shot, whereas on a lower end SLR youll need to use the viewfinder which may not work to well in a crowd.

You need to move up the chain to get an SLR with live preview

Ricky91t

From what iv read i think taking on €400-€500 worth of camera which might get taken off you a the gate would be fairly annoying!also i could'nt see someone trying to take photos with an slr in the crowd as you'll need to look through the eye piece to focus it and then unless you're very tall there will be people's heads in the way.And the chance you might drop it on someone might knock it out of your hand could be a serious problem and if you want to prevent the chance of loosing around €400 ish worth of camera you'll have to buy insurance which is more money.

I think for you a compact will be perfect.A fuji f50fd has upto iso 6400

Auto / Auto(1600) / Auto(800) / Auto(400) / Equivalent to ISO 100/200/400/800/1600/3200*/6400*(Standard Output Sensitivity)/(up to ISO 2000 on Anti-Blur/Natural Light mode) *ISO3200 6M pixels or lower. ISO6400 3M pixels or lower

The price isnt too bad either and as its 12 megapixel the zoom might not be long enough but theres plenty of room to crop.With a compact you can hold it above your head and still see whats happening on the lcd screen it wont be very clear but it will be handy for focusing

Edit:Just noticed Joebloggs4817 has said this stuff allready

Nightwish

The gigs I go to, you're generally not searched. Venue staff and bands aren't as anal as they are here. I've seen plenty of people with DSLR cameras at gigs - as recently as last Thursday. What prompted me to get a new camera was the fact that my pictures from last Thursday came out sh!te and I'm really pis$ed off and I'd like a guarantee my pics dont come out either completely dark or blurry. I understand that at a concert the lighting and crowds generally make for crap pics if your in the audience but I've seen other peoples pics which come out pretty good, which is what I'm aiming for. Not professional, not publishable, just good.

Ricky91t

Nightwish wrote: »

The gigs I go to, you're generally not searched. Venue staff and bands aren't as anal as they are here. I've seen plenty of people with DSLR cameras at gigs - as recently as last Thursday. What prompted me to get a new camera was the fact that my pictures from last Thursday came out sh!te and I'm really pis$ed off and I'd like a guarantee my pics dont come out either completely dark or blurry. I understand that at a concert the lighting and crowds generally make for crap pics if your in the audience but I've seen other peoples pics which come out pretty good, which is what I'm aiming for. Not professional, not publishable, just good.

Well i think a good camera for you might be a used 10D or 20D i know my 20D performs alot better in low light condition than my 300D.It can go up to iso 3200 which will ensure very low light photos but they will be very noisy.I think if you buy a canon slr you best option would be used as you can get more for your money and i think maybe a 50mm f/1.8 would be good.I have that lense aswell, and the camera (eos 20D)and the lense set me back less than €400.
I have a feeling the 50 f/1.8 will be too short for you though.