Shooting a live band...advice?

Was invited to a live band shooting this weekend. Wondering which lens to take and some advice from you guys for doing low light live band shots.

Was thinking about bring the 17-40, kinda want wide angle, but i think the f/4 is stopping me. I can get really close to the band, so zoom is not really a problem. Perhaps I think the 50L will be the one?

what is the lighting? you've got the 24-70, i'd bring it

We'll assume the lighting is going to be dark...Yeah the 24-70L will be good and that f/4 17-40 is going to be tough. I'm sure all your killer shots will be had with the 50 wide open. 135L would be handy.

I think the 50L and the 24-70 will be the ones then~! At least I get some wide angle from the 24mm

I shoot a lot of bands in places from pitch black clubs to larger venues, and I can tell you that if you that my go-to is my 50 1.4 (in your case, the 50L).

The shallow DOF makes for great music shots, and the 1.4 allows me plenty of aperture to get enough light into the lens to shoot at a bit higher shutter speed.

Plus, I'm kind of a prime-a-holic anyway...

Have fun and good luck!

I'm surprised at the answers but I'm not a band expert. I suppose it totally depends on the venue. I did have the opportunity a few months ago to shoot Lynrd Skynrd. No flash was allowed. I used my 70-200 f/4. First shot was at 97mm f/4 and second was at 106mm f/4. I would have been totally frustrated with just a 50mm and I was right at the front of the stage with a press pass.

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MRagon wrote in post #14451887
I would have been totally frustrated with just a 50mm and I was right at the front of the stage with a press pass.

Well better to crop than not get any usable pictures? From your photos, it looks like you had decent lighting to work with.

Depends, of course, on the lighting and where you are going to stand and whether you are also doing video.

Most of my serious shots are at low light venues - bands/clubs, dance recitals, school plays.

At clubs, I use the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II on a full frame and stand back far enough if I want my than one singer in the shot.

Otherwise, I use the 24-105 for video, the 24-105 w/flash for still shots, and the 50 f/1.4 if I am close enough and cannot use a flash.

Of course, I'd prefer the 24-70 but don't own it - yet. I'm going to rent the new Tamron 24-70 VC soon for both video and still shots in low light venues.

I was definitely not disagreeing with the advice, I was just surprised. Like I said it depends on the venue I would assume. A large band at a large venue usually has sufficient lighting but I can see where a club situation would be very different. I just wanted to show the thestone11 what I got in my situation since I don't know what his circumstances will be. I'll be shooting another band for the same event later on this year but it will be at a different venue so you all have given me food for thought, too.

my situation will be in a low light restaurant shooting their live band. I can get really close, so I think the 50mm is going to treat me good, but I will bring the 24-70 just in case.