Magic Show Dec 29

[ICCreativity]

I shoot mostly weddings but I have been hired to do my first magic show. I have no idea which lense I should use. I am currently shooting with a Canon D30. The lighting will be low, and crazy and is flash usually allowed at these things?

Any tips and any recomendations on the lense would be great.

[ThomasOwenM]

Are you going to be close enough to where you won't have to zoom? If so I would bring a prime lens that can go very wide -- 1.4 or wider if possible, or at least 1.8. If you need to zoom, use a zoom lens that can go as wide as zooms go -- 2.8. And don't use one of those lenses whose widest aperture narrows as you zoom in, the ones they list like "2.8 - 4.0" or whatever. You zoom in and then can go no wider than 4.0 and then you don't have enough light.

Bring your flash, but only use it as a last resort -- if the available light simply isn't enough. If they tell you you're not allowed to use it, you can always disable it -- custom function #7 on the 20D (and probably the same on the 30D). Even with flashing disabled, the flash unit can still assist with the focus.

One more thing -- you might want something wide angle available.

[ICCreativity]

Thank you. I emailed the performer and he says that flash is good and I can get as close as I want as long as I dont interfere. So wide would be better then telephoto in this case. Since I have never done a show is there any thing I should know about? AKA the basic rules on shooting shows.

[ThomasOwenM]

I've never shot any magic shows. I've only done musical performances. However, I'd bet this rule is the same. With music performances it's all about capturing emotion and interesting things onstage.