Help! Am shooting a PLAY and...

[Permagrin]

...have never done it before. I'm inclined to use the 5D because it's no flash...but I haven't a clue as to which of my lenses (50 1.4, 135L, 24-105L) will work. (also, I have access to the 200 f2.8 or 85 1.8) It's my nephew's community theatre play and while they don't allow photog. he's asked the direct. if I can shoot it when we visit...remember, I'm a landscape/animal photog...though I have done portraits (outside) on occasion.

advice?
tips?

[Permagrin]

anyone have any suggestions at all? Have to get the gear together and am totally lost here...

[Curtis N]

I would use the 50mm and the 135mm, and get the 200mm if you can. This should be a good combination, though if I had a 5D I think the "dream" lens for theatre would be a Sigma 120-300 F2.8.

Start at ISO 3200 and go to 1600 or even 800 if conditions allow. Use Tv mode at 1/400 with the safety shift custom function enabled so the camera will slow down the shutter if it doesn't have enough light when the lens is wide open.

The hardest thing about theatre is the contrasty lighting, which will often exceed your camera's dynamic range. Metering can be a nightmare, especially with brightly-lit subjects and dark backgrounds. I tend to use EC to compensate for dark backgrounds but you might want to use spot metering and try to find medium-toned areas of your subjects to meter on.

Watch your histogram closely, chimp your shots often, and adjust as you go. Shooting RAW will be a great help. If you have a chance to shoot a dress rehearsal, that would be much better since you can move around and get the best angles.