going to a night-concert, would the nifty-fifty do ...?

[piku]

concert is on 8/28 @ home depot center. Dave Matthews Band / BEP-opening. night-time. i dont know where the seat is going to be, but i just want to take amazing pics.

i got the kit lens, and the 50mm f1.8 II (which just arrived today). i'd like to get some nice shots if i'm far, but considering that it is night-time, and DMB shows have great lighting in them--the kit lens might be too slow.

suggestions??? TIA

[drisley]

Yes, it would work wonderfully.
It just may not have enough focal length if you are sitting far back.
I've used the 50mm F1.8 in theatres, and it works perfectly in about row 3 to 5. Any further back and you may have to do alot of cropping.

[CoolToolGuy]

The EF 85mm f1.8 is a truly great lens, and so is the EF 100mm f2. I usually carry two primes in my small bag in addition to the zoom that is on the body, and they are a 50mm and the 100mm. I use them in auditorium settings. I hate to leave the 85mm home, but the 100mm gives the better reach in combination with the 50mm. The price of either the 85mm or the 100mm is about the same ($325 vs $375), so if you want more reach with speed, consider them. To go beyond them to the EF 135mm f2.0L gets really pricey.

I have found lens speed to be irreplaceable in these settings. You can get good shutter speeds without jacking the ISO through the roof. Plus, they are small and unobtrusive.

Have you checked to see if cameras are allowed? Some halls as well as the talent sometimes prohibit recording devices of any kind. Might be worth a check, but in any case, the camera with the prime may have an easier time getting in than a big, white, 'L'. :wink:

Have Fun,

[Conk]

Where is this? What city?

[rick barclay]

A 10-second search of Google told me that the DMB will be appearing
@ Home Depot in Carson, Ca on 8/28/04. The whole summer tour info is
also available. :wink:

[piku]

i hope that i'm somewhat close. as part of the warehouse, i got some field reserved tix. section e4, row 2--but i cant seem to find it on home depot center's seat mapping (on their site).

in another thread, i asked for a "walk around" lens; so i dont have to take anything other than it+body+extra batteries

here's what ppl said: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=242937

i guess its a toss up between the Tamron 28-75mm and the EF 28-135mm. but for a concert like this at night (where i dont know if i'll be far out or mid-range from the stage in a colliseum-like building)... would the tamron 28-75mm f2.8 be a better choice, or the canon 28-135 IS?

TIA

[Tom W]

i hope that i'm somewhat close. as part of the warehouse, i got some field reserved tix. section e4, row 2--but i cant seem to find it on home depot center's seat mapping (on their site).

in another thread, i asked for a "walk around" lens; so i dont have to take anything other than it+body+extra batteries

here's what ppl said: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=242937

i guess its a toss up between the Tamron 28-75mm and the EF 28-135mm. but for a concert like this at night (where i dont know if i'll be far out or mid-range from the stage in a colliseum-like building)... would the tamron 28-75mm f2.8 be a better choice, or the canon 28-135 IS?

TIA

Oh man - tough question. The f/2.8 is definately going to give you more working room WRT light and shutter speed over the Canon zoom, but without seeing the stage, I'd have to wonder if even f/2.8 is fast enough. I'd also have to wonder if 75 mm is long enough. The last night-time stage show I shot, I used film and shot mostly at 200 mm with ISO 800 film. My max aperture was f/4.5, which really wasn't fast enough even with the stage lighting. I varied between 1/30 and 1/90 second to maintain proper exposure at that aperture and film speed.

[piku]

so, should i just keep it safe, and just attach the 50mm f1.8. and just crop pics?

[Bruce Hamilton]

...attach the 50mm f1.8. and just crop pics?
Just be sure you shoot in high resolution so you can blow them up after cropping. I would also suggest you tuck that 18-55 into your coat pocket just in case.

[sGu]

shoot RAW, so you can play with exposure levels when you get home, that way it compensates the low light, hence you can speed up your shutter speed a bit, even tho' it'll be dark on your camera screen.