Advice for Amateur, night festival shots

[BlackMacLabs]

Hi, I took these last night in Sendai, Japan with my new 40D that I am just learning. You can see that it was at night with lots of movement. The first shot was shot with the shutter priority (Tv), 1/125, f/5.6, 64mm, iso1000

The second shot was tougher. I was far away and holding the camera up higher. Shot at normal auto : 1/60, f5.6, 85mm, iso 400. Both handheld as it was really crowded and busy.

Any advice on getting better shots than this? What do you do to prepare for these live festival type events? Many thanks!
Steve

[jackies35]

Wow! Depending how far i am, I usually shoot in P or M mode. I have a 50mm f/1.4 canon lens. I try my darnest, (my best) to get really close. I don't have any other fast or low light lens. My kit lens won't work. It's really bad in low light or capturing moving subjects.

I am quite sure a professional would answer your question...

[AlphaChicken]

I have the same lens you do Black. And Ill tell you now it sucks for low light. Aim for f/2.8 or lower for a low light event photography lens.

[Williamgerv]

You need at least 2.8 with IS

[René Damkot]

Some lenses that would work okay (going up in focal length):

50/1.4
85/1.8
100/2.0
if you can find it used:
80-200 f/2.8L
more expensive:
135/2.0L
200/2.8L
more expensive still
70-200 f/2.8L
even more expensive:
70-200 f/2.8L IS

Moving closer will give a very different image from using a longer lens, since reducing the shooting distance alters perspective, using a longer lens doesn't.

[Reefbone]

You need at least 2.8 with IS

The IS will only allow you to keep the shutter open longer without noticeable camera shake but this just gives your subject move time to move. The IS only helps camera shake. It doesn't do anything if the subject moves.

In your pictures the background (not moving) isn't any sharper than your subjects (stationary). I think what your seeing here is the softness of the 17-85IS at it's widest aperture. I should know since I have that lens.

I'm pretty new to this and assume you are too. I bought the 17-85 because I heard such bad things about the kit lens (sorry folks). But I've found that the 17-85 IS is almost a kit lens itself. It does great with allot of light or a flash but is pretty soft at 4.5 or 5.6

Right now I'd like to sell it and get either the 24-70L or the 17-55IS. Both of these lenses are F2.8 and both are very well regarded.

I'm so not fond of the 17-85 that I don't even think I'd try to sell it here. I'd would have to be honest with people and probably hurt my selling price. You get allot less questions on Ebay.

[BlackMacLabs]

Thanks everyone. I have a good idea now of what type of lens i need. I love my 40D but am disppointed too with the low light shots...so now I am in the market for a f/2.8 with range...I started another thread about the best lens for this situation here and got some good replies, check it out at:
Buying the 2nd lens for my 40D, low light? (http://http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=390181)