Setting up my PowerShot A650 IS for a concert? Photos posted.

[JoeyAnyc]

Hey gang,

I have a Canon PowerShot A650 IS camera.

I've tried so many times to do several adjustments to get great concert photos and I know there's things I'm not doing right.

Please note, I know a little bit about cameras but not to give advice.
So, anyone who can give me pointers on settings, I would greatly appreciate it.

FYI - I went to Britney's concert this weekend. Pop shows are my usual type of shows I go to. Big production, movement, and lots of lighting. I just don't get the clarity that a lot of people can get.

Here's a couple pictures I've taken. I would greatly appreciate some help.
If there's anything you need to know to help me, let me know.

I'm not up on all of the possible settings. This is what I did for taking photos.
Shut off the flash - Shut off the Red Eye feature - Only used optical zoom - did not use the display to shoot, held camera up to my eye - Dial on top was set to Auto - Assist beam off - Set at Superfine - 5M 2592X1944 - ISO High

I'm sure the AUTO fuction will have to go. I have no idea what to set up for manual settings.
The auto does cause a big delay between photos and lost a lot of shots because of it.

Hope that helps a bit.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f324/joeyanyc/IMG_1888-1.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f324/joeyanyc/IMG_1890.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f324/joeyanyc/IMG_1906.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f324/joeyanyc/IMG_1951.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f324/joeyanyc/IMG_1994.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f324/joeyanyc/IMG_2013.jpg

[Echostrung]

Actually, for that camera, those photos are very good, good eye. Def ditch the auto and learn about aperture and shutter speed, possibly turn the iso down a bit, that is the only way to get better than what you got without moving up to a camera with a larger sensor.

[Jon]

The other thing I see is a lot of flare, which is killing the contrast. This is coming from all kinds of directional lighting (or possibly - there are reports coming out about theatres doing this to prevent covert movie tapings - an IR light flooding the audience to mess up picture-taking) striking the front of the lens. You might want to get a lens/filter adapter for the A650 (either Canon's or one from Lensmate Online) so you can use a hood to shield the lens from the stage lighting. If you don't do this much, you might just tape a black paper cone around the lens; you'll need to experiment to find how big it can be before it starts getting in the way of your pictures. If they're beaming IR direct from backstage at the audience, there won't be a lot you can do except find an IR cutoff filter. But I think it's more likely stray light from the visible lighting.

[greenlight]

There are already lots of threads like this, so I'll keep it simple:

Use burst mode. That's the icon that looks like 3 cards stacked up. Keep shooting until you get some good pics. Delete the rest.

Manual mode is essential here. You can likely set the focus to infinity, too, to make it easier for the camera. If you do that, turn off the AF lamp.

ISO 100 or 200. Higher if those don't work for you.

Shutter speed slower than 1/20 will cause the subject to blur when moving. That's why you take lots of pictures. Eventually she'll strike a pose.

[JoeyAnyc]

Thanks guys. I'll do some practice shots with all of these recommendations.
Hope to report back with some better photos!

Joey

[c2thew]

not bad with a point and shoot. nice shots

[WT21]

You can do a lot better than that in terms of color and lower noise. Get off the Auto mode, and go at least to P mode. Set ISO to 400.

If you are on P mode -- realize this. The singer is typically a LOT brighter than the rest of the stage, because a spot light is on them. So, the camera will take an overall meter reading, and set the shutter speed to lighten the background. Not good, because that means slow shutter.

So, for concerts, set the EV to a full -2. This will increase the shutter speed, darken the background, but brighten the subject. You can boost the ISO to 800 (or 1600) for brighter and higher shutter speeds, but you'll also get more noise.

Here's an example: http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs015.snc1/2636_58403029005_689064005_1702421_2447061_n.jpg (hope that comes out OK)

I shot that this past weekend, ALSO with an a650. I was way back from the stage, so that's on full zoom. You look like you had better seats than me.

Good luck on your next concert.m You got some good composition in your shots. Learn to shoot off of Auto mode, and you'll just get better.

[Raivyn]

You can do a lot better than that in terms of color and lower noise. Get off the Auto mode, and go at least to P mode. Set ISO to 400.

If you are on P mode -- realize this. The singer is typically a LOT brighter than the rest of the stage, because a spot light is on them. So, the camera will take an overall meter reading, and set the shutter speed to lighten the background. Not good, because that means slow shutter.

So, for concerts, set the EV to a full -2. This will increase the shutter speed, darken the background, but brighten the subject. You can boost the ISO to 800 (or 1600) for brighter and higher shutter speeds, but you'll also get more noise.

Here's an example: http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs015.snc1/2636_58403029005_689064005_1702421_2447061_n.jpg (hope that comes out OK)

I shot that this past weekend, ALSO with an a650. I was way back from the stage, so that's on full zoom. You look like you had better seats than me.

Good luck on your next concert.m You got some good composition in your shots. Learn to shoot off of Auto mode, and you'll just get better.

That's a pretty awesome photo with a P&S!! I'll practice using your technique (though I don't go to concerts very often). :(

[JoeyAnyc]

You might want to get a lens/filter adapter for the A650 (either Canon's or one from Lensmate Online) so you can use a hood to shield the lens from the stage lighting.

I found the Canon Conversion Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Conversion-Filter-Adapter-PowerShot-Digital/dp/B00112VLAE

I assume the hood goes on the end of this?
Do most hoods for a 58mm fit on the end of this?
Not sure if they are general sizing which is compadable
with adapters, etc.

Thanks again for any info. I just went to another concert and really want to fix the lighting issue.

__________________________________________________ ________
As for purpose lighting to ruin photos, I do believe this is the case. Over the past couple years, there's a type of lighting that has been causing verticle lines in the photo.

My first experience of this was from Madonna's show.
In this photo, it's those lights under where she's sitting.
Those little buggers can mess up the photos. Just went
to Janet Jackson's show, and she has them as well, but
wasn't too bad and got some great shots.


http://gossilicious.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/madonna-sticky-and-swee.jpg

[bluenoser23]

You've already been given excellent advice so far about how to shoot in concerts. I just wanted to chime in and recommend using spot metering and manual mode. I don't know at which point in the zoom range you lose the f/2.8 but hopefully you'll be sitting close enough to be in that range. Try and keep the ISO as low as you are able to while of course maintaining a quick enough shutter speed (anywhere from a minimum of 1/60 for "energetic" concerts but the higher the better).

I'd practice before you get to your next concert so you can see how all of these variables relate to one another. I've attached a link to an online camera which allows you to manipulate all of these variables and get a quick idea about the exposure triangle: http://dryreading.com/camera/index.html

One last note: In my opinion, the A650 is the BEST Powershot model Canon ever produced - so hang on to it!!! :)