Lens Help - For Live music

[squall1977]

I am looking to purchase a new(but used by someone else, preferbly by someone on this fourm) lens. I need some help on what to purchase. I have just started out on this new venture. I have been doing live music photograhy for about 4 months now. I currently have a 50mm 1.8 and a 18-55mm is 3.5-5.6. As of right now I don't need to have a great zoom length. It is all local and I am usually no more 5 or 6ft from the artist.
I have been considering a tamron 17-50 2.8(price around 350-450), but I also have the oppertunity to get 28mm 1.8 for $280. What other suggetsions on lens in the 300-400 range. Or would it be better for me to to save up another 300-400 and invest in better glass? If that is the case what should I be looking for. Any and all help would greatly appericated.
thanks

[squall1977]

Post got moved and just want to know where. Have not posted something that got move before.

[narlus]

the post got moved from the 'photo sharing' performance arts forum to the 'talk about' sub forum.

[René Damkot]

http://img.skitch.com/20080927-rb2ac7yykq5eak1ptkxjhj9bnc.jpg
;)

28/1.8 is a nice lens.
If you want zoom, the tamron sounds good (no personal experience however).

Expensive option: 17-55 EF-as IS.

[squall1977]

Thanks, I saw that right after I posted the message. Talk about tunnel vision.

[squall1977]

Now is is the 17-55mm is that much better then the tamron?

[skifurthur]

I can't compare the Tamaron to the Canon because I have never used the Tamaron. I can say that the Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is a monster for concert photography. It is sharp all across its range and aperatures and at 17mm goes plenty wide on a crop body. Focus is fast also. I highly recommend it.

[squall1977]

Well in that price range what a used 24-70mmL. Would I miss the 7mm difference on the short end?

[René Damkot]

17 and 24mm are totally incomparable IMO.

It's not about the millimeters, it's about the angle of view: comparable to roughly 28mm vs. 38mm if you're familiar with FF.

The 17mm is wide angle, the 24mm would be close to "normal". Not at all wide.

17-55 is about the best range for a "standard zoom on 1.6 crop IMO.

[ChrisRabior]

I shoot mostly with an 18-50mm f/2.8 Sigma lens. You can see samples of my concert shots on my website. It's worked quite well for the shots close up to the stage. Also have the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is also quite nice. Sometimes I sacrifice the nice wide shots I get with the 18-50mm lens in favor of getting better shots of the drummer. I also just picked up an 11-16mm f/2.8 Tokina for the UWA concert shots. Love it so far.

My next concert lens is probably going to be the 50-150mm f/2.8 or the 70-200mm f/2.8 from Sigma.

If you can afford the expensive canon glass, go for it. If you're like me, the cost of the 17-55mm IS lens was the same as the 18-50mm f/2.8 and the 28-75mm f/2.8 COMBINED. It was an easy decision for me to make.

Another option that nobody's mentioned is Sigma's 24-60mm f/2.8 lens.

[johnms88]

Fast as you can afford. I'm not going to get into specifics because its all a matter of opinion, but you need to buy 2.8 or faster.

[ChrisRabior]

Of course, that all depends on where you're shooting. I've been to a few shows, typically in the large venues that bring in big name performers, where you can get away with ISO 800, f/4, and 1/250.. because they're lit up so the people sitting in the nose bleed seats can still see the performance.

I'm guessing you have to deal with the typical small club lighting. I've had a few where f/1.8 at ISO 3200 and 1/50 was still pitch black... and that's when you throw up your hands and call it a night, or inconvenience the performer with a gelled flash to at least get a few salvageable shots (provided flash is allowed at all).

With most concerts, f/2.8 should be all you need. Your 50mm f/1.8 should bail you out of the really dark conditions. If you need more than that, you're looking at an f/1.4 or an f/1.2, and that's starting to get a lot more pricey.

[squall1977]

Is the 24-70L (2.8 I believe) something I shouldn't think about. I wanna say I have seen it used on this forum form around $900. Its looks like I will just stick with the setup I have now and save a little more, but I am going to get the 28mm 1.8 off a buddy of mine and make payments.

[squall1977]

Oh yeah, I understand that the 17 and 24 are mm rages are different. Do you think it really depends on the style of the photographer which lens works best. I know might not be the right way ,but I already have my photos posted on my myspace. If I can get some opinions maybe that would help in my lens decision. www.myspace.com/thephotomerc
thanks

[squall1977]

looks like I will be trying to purchase the tamron 17-50mm 2.8. The 28mm deal feal thru.

[Jim G]

looks like I will be trying to purchase the tamron 17-50mm 2.8. The 28mm deal feal thru.

Between the two I think the 17-50mm would be a better choice anyway. A versatile zoom is very useful for fast-moving live music... I like primes a lot but they don't always work as well as zooms in that situation.

[squall1977]

I nocticed that simga also makes the same type of lens as the tamron. Which one is better?

[skifurthur]

Is the 24-70L (2.8 I believe) something I shouldn't think about. I wanna say I have seen it used on this forum form around $900. Its looks like I will just stick with the setup I have now and save a little more, but I am going to get the 28mm 1.8 off a buddy of mine and make payments.

While the 24-70L is a great piece of glass, you don't have IS. IS has saved the day more than once for me by allowing me to shoot down to 1/15 sec and still get sharp photos.

I still say that for a crop camera the 17-55mm Canon is a no-brainer for quality and versitility.

[Coppatop85]

I got the 17-50 2.8 tamron and love it, however, I would rather have the 17-55 canon IS. The IS wouldn't matter tooo much at this FL as most often times people are moving around on stage a lot (need like, 1/120 to stop motion i've found) but it would definitely help.

[squall1977]

I thought I decied. But I keep thikg about the canon 28mm 1.8. My friend let me use it before he decied not to sell it and I loved it. I might get a gig with a local radio station to do some club shooting. In my mind the 28 would've been perfect, but I know the 17-50 would be used for more then just that. I can't seem to get the 28mm out of my mind. Which would you choose for club and local music photography. and i can only get one right now.

[MilesR]

While the 24-70L is a great piece of glass, you don't have IS. IS has saved the day more than once for me by allowing me to shoot down to 1/15 sec and still get sharp photos.

I still say that for a crop camera the 17-55mm Canon is a no-brainer for quality and versitility.

depends on what you're shooting, i guess. i got the 24-70L over the 17-55. i'm mostly at metal/hardcore shows, so IS would be pretty well useless for me, there's just too much subject movement for me to shoot at speeds where i would need IS. hell, even shooting as low as 1/40 i still get photos with some hideous motion blur.

[skifurthur]

depends on what you're shooting, i guess. i got the 24-70L over the 17-55. i'm mostly at metal/hardcore shows, so IS would be pretty well useless for me, there's just too much subject movement for me to shoot at speeds where i would need IS. hell, even shooting as low as 1/40 i still get photos with some hideous motion blur.

Agreed on fast moving subjects...IS will not freeze them. I have found that even the most energetic performers pause and if you catch those pauses (lack of movement) having IS allows you to hand hold at slower shutter speeds, sometimes making the shot. On a crop body, I would go for the 17-55 over the 24-70. Sure I lose 15mm on the long end, but I gain a wide angle aspect that the 24-70 doesn't have. Keep in mind, as always, it is a matter of knowing your equipment, knowing what it can and can not do, that allows you to capture those moments.

[narlus]

i had the 17-55 when i only had one body (30D). when i bought a 5D, that lens was sold to help finance the purchase, and i bought a 24-70 as well. if i'm shooting well-lit places, my standard setup is 5D + 70-200 and 30D + 24-70...the 17-55 focal length range works so much better, i feel.

[ChrisRabior]

There's a MASSIVE thread dedicated to nightclub photos.. with a lot of lens suggestions. Might be a good place to check if that's what you're looking to get into.

edit: Be prepared, it's a LONG read =)

[René Damkot]

That would be this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=415099) ;)