Lens for concert

[pehabe]

hi folks,
i am going to see Starlight Express musical concert at Bochum, Germany.
which lens should i bring and what setting? :confused:
here are my collection:
50mm f1.8
10-22mm f4
17-85mm f4
70-200mm f4L
100mm macro f2.8

i got this seat reservation:
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8360/stex1saal3zb.jpg

thanks for your time :)

[gasrocks]

Looks like you are back a ways form the stage. Plan on shooting from your seat? I'd take the 2 fastest ones you have: 50/1.8 and 100/2.8 but I doubt either is long enough. Start with the ISO at 800. Settings kind of depend on action on the stage.

[Pekka]

It is possible that they won't let you in with 70-200mm f4L. Gasrocks' advice was good.

[pehabe]

gasrocks and pekka... many thanks for advice :D

BTW pekka, why do you think they wont let me in with 70-200?
is there any specific rules for concert ? sorry for asking, this is my first concert :)

[SuzyView]

I went to a concert and they didn't let any cameras with flash come in, at all. I didn't bring my camera. Then I saw lots of people flash away and that made me mad. So, next time I will bring my 10D and my 50mm 1.4 which is really small and hope for the best without flash, as I think it's terrible that people do that when the performer requests you don't.

SuzyView
10D, EOS 3, 550EX (only if they let me) and stuff.

[rklepper]

Leave the f4's at home. You will just be dissappointed with them.

[Pekka]

gasrocks and pekka... many thanks for advice :D

BTW pekka, why do you think they wont let me in with 70-200?
is there any specific rules for concert ? sorry for asking, this is my first concert :)

Two reasons: shooting with big equipment may disturb people sitting near you. And having e.g. 1D Mark II with 70-200 is at least in Finland considered a pro camera, which means they think you shoot for money and with that you will need a photo pass. Compact cameras are allowed in many concerts.

It all depends on organizer and people on door, and sometimes on what you say and how you say it.

[CoolToolGuy]

All of the above is good advice. Go with your fastest lenses, and good luck.

It is amusing, however, that white lenses automatically become verboten, as well as anything with a flash. Even a 580EX would be useless from that distance in that setting. :lol: And those P&S folks, unless they are less than 10 meters (more like 5) from the stage, are wasting their time with their flash.

Have Fun,

[Pekka]

All of the above is good advice. Go with your fastest lenses, and good luck.

It is amusing, however, that white lenses automatically become verboten, as well as anything with a flash. Even a 580EX would be useless from that distance in that setting. :lol: And those P&S folks, unless they are less than 10 meters (more like 5) from the stage, are wasting their time with their flash.

Have Fun,

It only takes 3-5 years to compact cameras have good ISO 1600 and 300/2.8 and then all concert audience cameras will be "verboten"! Or then again not.... :)

[pehabe]

It only takes 3-5 years to compact cameras have good ISO 1600 and 300/2.8 and then all concert audience cameras will be "verboten"! Or then again not.... :)

:lol:

Canon do have this kind of little monster: S2 IS by max of 432mm (35mm equivalent) with f2.7-3.5...

Thanks again for advice :D I will definitely take my 100 then.

[CoolToolGuy]

It only takes 3-5 years to compact cameras have good ISO 1600 and 300/2.8 and then all concert audience cameras will be "verboten"! Or then again not.... :)

Hmmm, there could be a business opportunity here - a rental business for lockers at performance venues - to 'check' all your electronics and/or imaging devices (cameras, camera cellphones, MP3 recorders). . .

Whattya think, Pekka?

Have Fun,

[blackshadow]

How did you go with shooting that show? Did you get your gear in?

Providing they would let you in with it; my choices of lens for your seat position would have been the 70-200mm f4 and the 100mm f2.8. Probably the setting I would use in that environment would be ISO 800-3200 depending on the lighting and using the Av setting with the aperture wide open at f4 or 2.8, depending on the lens.

[pehabe]

hi richard...
they let me in with all my gear, but when I took my 20D out with 200L then one of the "guard" came to me and said "fotografieren ist verboten " (english: that is not allowed to take photo). :(

They seemed quite consistent with this rule... a guy sat in front of me took a photo with his mobile, and the "guard" took his mobile and ERASED the photo from it. Man...

[blackshadow]

That's the way it is for many venues - it's best to do your homework before hand.

[tdaugharty]

Leave the f4's at home. You will just be dissappointed with them.

From experience I'm with you on this one. I only take to 70-200 f/2.8 for this kind of stuff and usually shot only at ISO 800 bracing the camera on my knee. Also use the monopod a lot.