Which lens for theatre photography with Eos 300d

[Cpt.Waldo]

Dear all,

I plan to buy the EOS 300d with the kit lens 18-55mm/3.5-5.6 and the EF 50/1.8

Now I am still unsure which lens to take for theatre photography of my own improv theatre troupe.

I will be close to the stage most of the times...A friend of mine sais 80-200 with good aperture is the best for theatre.

Ok but with the crop factor of the EOS 300d (1.6) this is going to be a 128-320 lens. Aaargh.

So here are some alternatives I am considering. I'd appreciate your feedback what you'd recommend for my purpose.

Sigma 28-105/2.8-4.0 (260EURO)
Sigma 24-135/2.8-4.5 (360 EURO)
Canon 28-135/3.5-5.6 IS USM (510 Euro) (got IS, less open than Sigma and IS doesn't help for moving targets)
Sigma EX 70-200/2.8 (760 Euro) (Great aperture, but expensive and already a bit too much tele?)

Maybe you even have further recommendations. Price-wise 760 is my upper limit.

Thanks a lot,
Andy

[Belmondo]

Cpt. Waldo:
The 28-135 with IS is not the fastest lens you've listed, but remember, Image Stabilization is supposed to be worth about two full f-stops. That would make the lens at least functionally as fast (if not faster) than the other lenses you've listed. I can't imagine anything on stage moving so fast as to be a problem for the IS.

Another thought is the 50mm f/1.4. Admittedly it's not a zoom, but it's very fast and affordable. If you shopped prudently, you might even be able to get both lenses for what you have in your budget.

Good luck.

Tom

[EXA1a]

Andy,

how about the 85/1.8 or 100/2.0 in addition to a 50/1.8?
Okay, you lose the flexibility of a zoom and you don't get IS but they're pretty fast short tele lenses with an angle of view equivalent to a 135 or 160 mm on a film body.
Tom, what do you think?

--Jens--

[ChrisNardone]

I took some pictures at a college play recently. I used my 50 f/1.8. I switched the ISO from 100 - 800 depending on the scene lighting. The pictures were appreciated by the actors, but they weren't spectacular. It's hard because most of the scenes were very dark and the actors were always moving. I have the 28-135 IS. The problem with that is the IS only solves the problem of your camera shake. The lowest aperature lens you have is what I would recommend. If I were to do it again, I would probably select faster ISO settings to get faster shutter speeds (above 1/60) if possible.

[Cpt.Waldo]

Chris,

That's what I heard about the IS also. It helps if your hand shakes but not if the subject moves.

@all
Apart from that...what do you think about the 70-200. Is it really to big? I guess I do not feel to comfortable with switching 3 fixed lenses.


Andy

PS:The 50/1.4 might however be an option (It's xmas soon).

[Kevin M]

I have done quite a bit of theatre photography in a previous life. Lighting will vary from show to show and from scene to scene and the faster the lens the more leeway you will have. The focal length will depend on how you like to work. Short teles will mean that you work close to stage and at a low viewpoint to the performers. More natural looking is to be on more or less a similar level which can be achieved by working about midway in the auditorium with a medium tele.

You will almost always be working at full aperture so a lens with good characteristics fully open is desirable. Regarding camera shake, the rule - shutter speed = focal length (35mm equiv.) is a fairly reliable. With actors 125th is usual and dancers around 250th. Motion blur is not a really big problem like camera shake as it of often lends a more aesthetic feel to images. Dancers can often look like shopfront dummies if they are rigidly frozen by a very fast shutter speed.

If you are on a budget the EF 135 f2.8 Soft Focus is worth a look at.

Kevin

[Cpt.Waldo]

I thought I settled my mind: I'd go for the Sigma 70-200/2.8

BUT: It weighs 1.3kg. That is a lot compared to the the other lenses I mentioned. And it might be a lot to carry around...and also it is 18cm long.

I am not so sure anymore. Help!!!!

[RichardtheSane]

When I first read your brief I though the sigma 70-200 F2.8 also - and I still do. It may be heavy, but I think you will have the versitility you need there at the end of the day.

[Yance]

I am not sure why you want to go for the telephoto zooms if you are shooting theater. If you are going to be within a few rows of the stage you should be served better by a low-end zoom. Especially if you are after shots of the performance as opposed to head shots. If all you want is head shots they can be better taken under better conditions and not during the performance. I would stick with a 28-70mm zoom.

[HoodedOne]

I believe the Tamron SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di is a good alternative to the lenses you mentioned. On the 10D it will act as a 45-120 lens, and it is fast.
And although I don´t have this lens myself, every test I read says that the image quality is really great (a bit soft at 2.8 ).

And this lens will fit your budget, It will even leave you with enough money to buy something else :)

cheers

[CyberDyneSystems]

Cpt.Waldo wrote:


@all
Apart from that...what do you think about the 70-200. Is it really to big? I guess I do not feel to comfortable with switching 3 fixed lenses.



Cpt. Waldo,

I work in a theatre and own a 10D.
I often have oportunity to take photos of events but obviously can not use a flash.

I purchased a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 specifically for this purpose,.. and it works VERY well!

The answer to your question though depends on;
A: the expected distance you will be from the stage,
B: What sort of shot you are looking to get.

I am taking photos from the wings and or from about 7-10 rows back and off to one side of the audience. For this the 70-200mm is perfect and it allows me to get great close ups as wel as some wider shots.

But,.. it does not go wide enough to get the entire stage at once. (not without backing up to the 24th row or so)

This doesn't bother me as I usally find the close up to be more dramatic. I think the lens will work very well anywhere from the 6th to 24th row of a theatre... but not much closer. Of course you can go further back too,. but you will start to loose the intimacy. Still 200mm @ f/2.8 is about the laongest sensible focal length for a theatre..

Here is a link to the most recent show I photographed (rehearals) again from about row 8;

http://carmenpremier.fotopic.net/

P.S. Fotopic.net has been flaky today,. so you may only be able to see the thumbnails untill they finish servicing the server :(