Good lenses for concerts?

unreggd

Ive been lookin at these 2

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-75-300mm-Ultrasonic-Zoom-Lens_W0QQitemZ270224110489QQihZ017QQcategoryZ4687QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Canon-EF-50mm-50-f-1-8-f1-8-II-Lens-for-EOS-350D-UK_W0QQitemZ370036499237QQihZ024QQcategoryZ4687QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

Would they be good for doin low-light concerts?

All I have atm is the KIT lens I got with my 350D, and a 300mm Zoom, both only F4.5


I'd prefer the extra zoom, but if the pics would be a good bit better with the 50mm I'd go for that, as Ill be close anyway [photo pass]


Thanks

xshayx

The 70-300 is more likely F4.0-5.6 rather than F1.4 as listed, so isnt ideal for concerts.

The 50mm is good (well the Nikon equivalent anyway) - but if you are in smaller venues or right up the front, then a wide angle is the best option.

Borderfox

The 50mm f1.8 is your best bet at the moment

DotOrg

neither of the two lens you suggest in the original post are great in my opinion

from my website: http://aaaphotos.org/faq.htm

"What lens and camera should you buy for concert photography?

If you can afford a digital SLR then I highly recomend you get one, if not, any second hand cheap film camera body, preferably Canon or Nikon will do just fine. I used to use an old Canon EOS 1000FN.

Canon & Nikon are preferable because should you want to move forward in this area of photography you'll end up wanting to use more and better lenses. Canon & Nikon are the current clear leaders in high quality lenses and are the choice of the vast majority of professional photographers. Both make superb equipment and each has some small advantages over the other but in the end it's the photographer who takes the picture, not the camera.

I've been using Canon for over 15 years and have never had any problems with it.

As regards lenses, in general you get what you pay for. The faster a lens is, (meaning the wider the aperture will go) the easier you will find it to shoot in the low light settings of most concerts. Very fast lenses, especially zooms, are very expensive (€1000+)

We often use a Canon 50mm prime lens (meaning it's a fixed focal length and doesn't zoom) which has a huge aperture of f1.4
This means I can shoot in very dark conditions and still get well exposed photos using medium iso settings. The drawback is a very shallow depth of field so focusing must be spot on. If the nose is in focus the eyes won't be, so you have to practise with this type of lens to get the best results. The Canon 50mm f1.8 is generally around €100/$80/£60 which for me is the ideal starter lens if you don't have much money to spend.

The standard lenses you get with cameras are often of very little use for concert photography. So go buy a cheap prime lens and do the zooming with your feet."

Cabaal

Borderfox wrote: »

The 50mm f1.8 is your best bet at the moment

For only 60e-70e its well worth buying one, you'll use it at some point

Ponster

I use a Sigma 18mm-50mm f2.8 for my indoor concert shots. €300 and well worth the money.

unreggd

DotOrg wrote: »

neither of the two lens you suggest in the original post are great in my opinion

The Canon 50mm f1.8 is generally around €100/$80/£60 which for me is the ideal starter lens if you don't have much money to spend.

You said both lenses arent great, then recommend the 50mm 1.8, which is what I posted

???


Im gonna go with the 50mm 1.8 one for now

Does anyone know anywhere else that would sell them a bit cheaper?

Theres only a few on eBay, most are 85+


I need one thats EF so I can use it with my EOS 3000 too

thanks!

Ponster

The Canon 75-300mm is a f4-5.6 (you can see in the photo provided)

Cabaal

unreggd wrote: »

Im gonna go with the 50mm 1.8 one for now

Does anyone know anywhere else that would sell them a bit cheaper?

Theres only a few on eBay, most are 85+

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-50mm-50-mm-f-1-8-F1-8-Mark-MK-II-40D-400D-0009_W0QQitemZ320235088510QQihZ011QQcategoryZ30066QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262
73.08e incl shipping after exchange rates from $ to euro
Thats not bad

I've bought my 50mm 1.8 from digitalrev

unreggd

Looks good, cheers!


Should I worry about customs???

Borderfox

Dont mention the "C" word.