"Low light" in theater performance difficult shots

[mypoppy31]

When I say "difficult shot", I do mean that!.. I shot these inside the theater while
sitting all the way in the very back of the theater. I decided to try out this new lens I had just bought at B&H in NYC. I told the clerk there that I wanted a lens for inside the theater and in very very low light.

So, he shows me this Sigma 18-200 3.5 OS lens. I then told him that it was simply too slow for low light. He then told me that I could gain two or three shutter speed stops with the Optical Stabilization of this lens. I became interested. He told me that I had 14 days in which to return the lens, so, I was sold.

A couple of nights later, I went down to Town Hall in NYC see my daughter receive an award, along with some others. My seat was the very worst!.. all the way in the back!..

So, with that dilemma in mind, I started shooting away. I"m certainly no Pro, but I do like to shoot in low light, and never, rarely do I use the flash.

Thanks God for the 200mm zoom on this lens, and what did save the night was the Optical Stabilization!..

So, what I got out of this experience is that considering that its a 3.5 aperture lens, it most certainly didn't dissapoint me, and I decided to keep this lens on the camera all the time, since I can now go from 18mm wide, to 200mm telephoto without changing lenses. Ofcourse, a Pro would certainly think otherwise, but I'm as happy as a pig in mud with this terrific lens!..

I'm enclosing some shots of that evening. Please let me know what you think.
And, if you don't like what you see, please be kind!..

thanks

mypoppy31

[90c4]

Those were shot at 1/100th and 1/125th of a second, so the image stabilization didn't really come into play (and it only remedies shaky hands, not stopping motion anyway). The images could use a bit of denoising. F5.6 is pretty slow for indoors, but I've taken great shots at concerts at that aperture - it all depends on the stage lighting.

[DDCSD]

Those were shot at 1/100th and 1/125th of a second, so the image stabilization didn't really come into play (and it only remedies shaky hands, not stopping motion anyway). The images could use a bit of denoising. F5.6 is pretty slow for indoors, but I've taken great shots at concerts at that aperture - it all depends on the stage lighting.

You must not have shot much from the back seats at 200mm.

Glad you like the lens! I may get one for a travel lens when the need arises.

[René Damkot]

I still think this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5139037&postcount=9) ;)