Coppatop85
7th of September 2008 (Sun), 10:16
Hello everyone. I am seriously thinking of getting into concert photography. I have already got paid to do some shoots for friends and local bands. I also really enjoy this type of photography, so I would like to expand in this area.
I've run into a wall one some issues due to my equipment. Let me explain:
- I have a Rebel XTi. I love this camera and it has served me well, but in needing high ISO performance and rating, this camera falls a bit short. 1600 is the highest ISO here, and it's performance at this rating is a bit lack-luster. The AF performance in low light also seems to be hurting. I don't have problems in properly lit scenes, but it seems to lack here
- The lens I most often use while shooting concerts is my Tamron 17-50 2.8. I love this lens, it is very sharp, and has versitile and perfect focal lengths for this type of shooting. Perhaps a bit longer would be better, but I am quite satisfied. However, I run into a problem that 2.8 is the lowest aperature I can get here, and at 1600 iso, I have to drop the shutter speeds significantly sometimes to get proper exposure. Additionally, this lens is (expectidly) a little soft at 2.8. Again, may be some focusing issues here with this lens, but I think it is the camera.
- I have a 50 1.8 (nifty 50) that I use as well when I need faster shutter speeds or a sharper image at 2.8. No zoom here though.
- I also have a 70-200 2.8 (sigma) which I rarely use. I have yet to even try it out with concert photography -- I think the focal length is too long.
Here is my dilema -- I know I definately need to upgrade something. Outside of concert photography, I do mostly landscape shots, so wide angles are great for me. I was thinking of selling the 70-200 and the tamron 17-50 and picking up a canon 17-55 IS instead. However, from reading up on this a bit, it seems that (in this case) my Body may be limiting me more than my lenses. My other option is to sell the Sigma 70-200 and the XTi and get a 40D.
There may be other options I have not considered(fast prime? 85 1.8?) so if that is the case, please let me know. Any feedback would be much appreciated!
I've run into a wall one some issues due to my equipment. Let me explain:
- I have a Rebel XTi. I love this camera and it has served me well, but in needing high ISO performance and rating, this camera falls a bit short. 1600 is the highest ISO here, and it's performance at this rating is a bit lack-luster. The AF performance in low light also seems to be hurting. I don't have problems in properly lit scenes, but it seems to lack here
- The lens I most often use while shooting concerts is my Tamron 17-50 2.8. I love this lens, it is very sharp, and has versitile and perfect focal lengths for this type of shooting. Perhaps a bit longer would be better, but I am quite satisfied. However, I run into a problem that 2.8 is the lowest aperature I can get here, and at 1600 iso, I have to drop the shutter speeds significantly sometimes to get proper exposure. Additionally, this lens is (expectidly) a little soft at 2.8. Again, may be some focusing issues here with this lens, but I think it is the camera.
- I have a 50 1.8 (nifty 50) that I use as well when I need faster shutter speeds or a sharper image at 2.8. No zoom here though.
- I also have a 70-200 2.8 (sigma) which I rarely use. I have yet to even try it out with concert photography -- I think the focal length is too long.
Here is my dilema -- I know I definately need to upgrade something. Outside of concert photography, I do mostly landscape shots, so wide angles are great for me. I was thinking of selling the 70-200 and the tamron 17-50 and picking up a canon 17-55 IS instead. However, from reading up on this a bit, it seems that (in this case) my Body may be limiting me more than my lenses. My other option is to sell the Sigma 70-200 and the XTi and get a 40D.
There may be other options I have not considered(fast prime? 85 1.8?) so if that is the case, please let me know. Any feedback would be much appreciated!