Canon Rebel XTI, good lens for concert please?

[Trilitai]

Hello all! I had the Canon Rebel XTI and want to take pictures in concerts. I saw good reviews on 50mm F1.4 and F1.8 lens. They are good for low light and affordable. But I heard that they are fixed lens and can't zoom. Will it be a big problem since I can't move up and back when I'm sitting watching the show? Most of the time I will be sitting in the first 10 rows. Is the 50mm enough? Or do I need other lens? Price no more than 350 please. I'm new and please help me. Thank you. =)

[05Xrunner]

tamron 28-75 f2.8
i like mine
I dont know what else u can get thats gonna be faster and a zoom

[Familiaphoto]

What you choose will largely depend on available light. f/2.8 might not be fast enough and that is the fastest zoom you will get. The primes while faster are a fixed focal length which can have its limitations. But honestly, if you are shooting in low light you will want a fast prime, no doubt.

Now 50mm might not be long enough depending on where you are sitting. How far will you be from the stage? Remember a 50mm is like a 80mm on your 400D which might not be long enough. Perhaps you should look at the 85 f/1.8, fantastic little lens for just over $300. This will be the equivilant of a 135mm on the 400D. Link to the lens at B&H is below.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12182-USA/Canon_2519A003_85mm_f_1_8_USM_Autofocus.html

Good luck...

Mods perhaps this should be moved to the lens section.

[Trilitai]

This upcoming concert I will be sitting in the sixth row. Close enough for the 50mm? Thanks for replying!

[freakeystyley34]

it depends what type of shots you want to take, if you want pics of individual band members, 50mm probably won't be long enough. Sadly, it's expensive to have a zoom that's good in low light and has a good range.

[Familiaphoto]

Yeah, if you want individual band member shots 50mm wouldn't be long enough, but I'm not entirely convinced it would wide enough to take in the whole stage.

[euphony]

I'm a beginner to photography and needed a lens for low(ish) light brass band concert photography. Curtis N gave me great advice and I bought a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 APO GD Macro lens and it produced great results.
Good luck with the concert.
Here are a couple taken from pitch dark 20metres from the stage which is lit with stark white lighting.
Not brilliant photos by pro standards, but for a rookie in the conditions present, I was delighted.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u270/xheuphony/WLC%202007%20Heat%202/Flugel.jpg

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u270/xheuphony/WLC%202007%20Heat%202/Trombones-1.jpg

[RedHot]

What kind of concert? If it is a rock group/pop band I don't think you'll be allowed in with a dSLR with any type of lens. P&S and camera phones are ok, but nothing you're able to capture good pictures worth selling will be allowed at most places.

[tom s]

135 f/2 L

[30DShooter]

I'd go with the 70-200 f/2.8. Depending on what kind of concert it is, they may not let you bring that big white lens in.

[Rick_the_Uneducated]

I'd go with the 70-200 f/2.8. Depending on what kind of concert it is, they may not let you bring that big white lens in.

Can you get the 70-200 f/2.8 for less than 350 anywhere? If so I'll be buying.......

[30DShooter]

Can you get the 70-200 f/2.8 for less than 350 anywhere? If so I'll be buying.......

:lol::lol::lol: SORRY... I missed that part!

[Jethro790]

I'd be looking for a used 28-135 f3.5 with IS. New I think they are around $500? You should be able to find one used for $350. Would be good for low light, and actually a nice lens altogether.

[Rick_the_Uneducated]

:lol::lol::lol: SORRY... I missed that part!

I thought you'd found the steal of the century - was getting my hopes up then ;)

[30DShooter]

I'd be looking for a used 28-135 f3.5 with IS. New I think they are around $500? You should be able to find one used for $350. Would be good for low light, and actually a nice lens altogether.

It's 3.5 on the wide end (28mm), on the long end it's 5.6. Not good at all for low light. I would sugggest either the 85mm f/1.8 or the 100mm f/2.8 (might be able to find used for that price).

[30DShooter]

I thought you'd found the steal of the century - was getting my hopes up then ;)

If I would have found them for that price I would have bought their entire inventory;)

[Chrisedge]

I bought the 50mm 1.4 as my first lens after getting the XT+Kit lens.

http://www.chrisedge.com/photos/d/255-2/dave001_1024.jpg
No flash, image shot from 4 feet from stage...

[wimg]

If you're a little further from stage, the 85 F/1.8 or 100 F/2 are very good, reasonably priced options. I don't know their prices in the US, but over here they are about 335 to 400 euros, and the euro price amount is normally about the same as the $ price amount (I mean: the numbers are the same :)).

Other options could be the 60 F/2.8 macro, or the 135 F/2.8 SF.

Kind regards, WIm

[Trilitai]

Any more suggestion? Thank you.

[angryhampster]

85mm f/1.8 if you can't get terribly close.

[SilverOnemi]

here is a 50 1.4 foto at ISO 400 f4.5 80 M exposure
www.silverphotos.net/images/concerts/daweasel_med.jpg

and kit lens 200, f6.3 iso 800
www.silverphotos.net/images/concerts/ruiveloso_med.jpg

both shots with flash, however i had permission to be infront of the crowd, and to use the flash.

EDIT : no crops.

[mkuriger]

my 24-70 f2.8 works great for concerts. I use the 70-200 f4 a lot too. concerts are generally brightly lit so at iso 400/800 I can get some awesome shots

[Echo_]

I'd be looking for a used 28-135 f3.5 with IS. New I think they are around $500? You should be able to find one used for $350. Would be good for low light, and actually a nice lens altogether.

3.5 is not fast enough...

I'd go with a nice prime. It matters how far away are you in the concert. You might need the 50mm 1.4 or the 85 1.8 or maybe even longer. But in general a prime will be the best

[SilverOnemi]

how much are you willing to give out ?

[Trilitai]

Under 350 dollars would be best for me. I'm new to photos and don't want to spend thousand for a lens yet. Also, I don't want those long lens like those white ones because I don't think they are permitted. I will sit in the 6th row this upcoming concert. Thanks so much!

:D:eek::lol:

[EORI]

If you can only afford one lens, I would initially go with a fast, wider prime lens like a 28 f/1.8 or 50 f/1.4 (both within your $350 budget), and crop during post-processing. The 85 f/1.8 or 100 f/2, while excellent low-light lenses, may be too long on the XT, especially if you're going to be sitting in the first several rows.

Of course, your decision will also depend on what kind of concert you are attending. If it's an orchestra, then you'll presumably want some wide shots. If it's a solo, trio or quartet, then you want to go with the longer lenses.

[Grey56]

Do some research on these lenses:
Sigma 20/1.8
Sigma 24/1.8
Canon 28/1.8
Sigma 28/1.8
Sigma 30/1.4
Canon 50/1.8 or 1.4
Canon 85/1.8
Canon 100/2
These are all suitable for low-light concert shots AND they're priced at $400 and below.
Though I must add that most venues don't allow SLR-type cameras. You might be better off looking for a small p&s that you'd be able to sneak in - not that I promote doing that!

[SilverOnemi]

Also consider like tamron 28 75 2.8, which is a performance stellar, i've seen it on 1d cameras! and is in your price.

i wouldn't be afraid of pulling iso 800 ;), i've done it before and got very good shots, but never UNDEREXPOSE when you're on high iso.

[bacchanal]

Sigma 30 1.4
50 1.4
85 1.8
or maybe 50 1.8 + 85 1.8

[elader]

85mm f/1.8 is a much more reliable performer than the 50mm lens -

[SilverOnemi]

that is all right, but i think it's a "how close manner" here...

you can get 85 1.8 canon , or canon 50 1.4 (1.8 is cheaper !), sigma 30 1.4.

if you think you can handle 2.8 you can have tamron 28 75 , which is a performance stellar, you can find reviews on photozone :http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

i'd go for the tamron, i somehow always get alot of lightning, ( check my pics ) ... and i'm not afraid to actualy put up my iso, a good way to avoid noise is to expose for the right, then correct during RAW conversion.

a good noise reducer works like a charm., and iso 800 is acceptable if you don't underexpose.