Lens suggestion for festival

I am a hobbyist photographer with minimal equipment getting ready to shoot a bluegrass festival in August – for fun only. This will be mostly daylight, outdoors photography and I do have access to the stage, etc.

Looking for lens suggestions to go along with my Rebel XS camera (no laughing please). Currently I own the kit 18-55 and the 50mm 1.8 lenses, but looking to rent and test before purchasing more.

I’m willing to rent any lens available for the weekend and have been researching the 70-200 (all types) and 24-70. Right now I’m leaning towards the 70-200. Thanks for all suggestions.

Louis

I just shot my first concert (an outdoor event my church put on) last weekend. and those were the two lenses I used.

With the 70-200 f2.8

Just did a festival all weekend and I used the Canon 24-70mm and the Canon 50mm 1.8 only though had my 70-200mm just in case

outdoors you can use almost anything.

Correct

When shooting daylight you lose the dramatic lighting that makes concert photography so interesting. It then becomes a challenge to actually find something interesting happening on the stage. Watch for interaction among band members or with the audience, any unusual movements, or anything else out of the ordinary. Try to place yourself to find a clean background.
The lenses you have are fine. If you want to rent a 70-200, it will probably serve you well for stage shots and audience candids.

For festivals I estimate my usage as:
70-200 75% of time
24-70 20% of time
16-35 5% of time (mostly small stages or onstage)

I would also bring a faster lens than 2.8 for those performances with low lights

some lenses to consider for concert photography:

when you're close:
24 1.4
28 1.8
35 1.4
50 1.4

when you're not so close:
85 1.8
70-200 2.8
200 2.8

I shoot a lot of theater (see photos in my signature) and use a combo of those.

nickgillespie wrote in post #14887482
some lenses to consider for concert photography:

IMO, when "close" you'd need something (quite a bit) wider on a Rebel. Then again, during daytime, the 18-55 will do okay.