Which lens for the house of blues tonight?

Quick question for you professionals...
I'm going to the "House of Blues" tonight with friends, to watch another friends band.
I'd like to take my 7D with me but I don't want to take a bag or gear in with me or leave it in my car for security reasons.
So I have a 50 1.8, 24-105L f4 and a 70-200ii f2.8 and a 430exii
I'd rather not take the flash but I can.
Which lens would you PRO's advise?
I should have full access and I doubt it will be crowded.

24-70L f4 and put the 50 in yr pocket.

the 70-200 on a crop is gonna be too long.

narlus wrote in post #15470424
24-70L f4 and put the 50 in yr pocket.

the 70-200 on a crop is gonna be too long.

This. HOB isn't the biggest stage, so 70 will get you nice clean shots of the drummer.

And you wouldn't be allowed to use your flash anyways.

I just shot HOB last week. I shoot there a few times a year.
I use a 50 1.4, 35 1.4, 8-15 4, 17-40 4.0 and a 70-200 2.8.

Out of those my favorite is the 35. I bring a flash but don't use it while photographing the stage. When walking around with all that equipment someone always asks for a picture.

A fast prime really helps getting a good exposure. Typically I am shooting at 3600-6400iso.
If you check with your friends band, you can get a photo pass that will get you in the pit for the first three songs.

not all House of Blues are the same, though...i've only been to the Boston one (well, not counting the original one in Harvard Sq), but the Dallas or Houston venue could be different from the Boston or LA venue.

narlus wrote in post #15470424
24-70L f4 and put the 50 in yr pocket.

the 70-200 on a crop is gonna be too long.

unless I'm misreading this, he doesn't have the 24-70, he as the 24-105 f4 which might be too slow unless he really cranks up the ISO. Definitely keep the 50mm in your pocket in case you need more light - but it's still rather tight on a crop-sensor for stage-front shots. Ideally at stage-front, you typically want something like the 17-55 f2.8 on a crop sensor.

I might even opt for the 70-200 for the speed, quality, and flexibility... but you'd have to take most shots from a relative distance - that will perhaps give you the most flexibility if you can move around the floor - tight shots on individuals, plus full band shots if you step back a 75 or so feet, or from a balcony if one exists.

I took the 24-105 f4 with me. I wanted to travel light because my main purpose was to hang out with friends. I was surprised that there were 4 other shooters there, one had a huge bag of lenses and another had a back pack and mono pod.
Houston HOB pit was open to anyone who cared to go in there and it was only about two people deep.
So I gotta give it to you pros, this is a tough environment to shoot in, low light, Blues and reds, all from behind mostly. I was in "M" Auto Iso, F4 and used the wheel to adjust speed until the exposure got in the acceptable range. Anyway I shot 268 Photos and here are the 4 best SOC. I think its time I grow up and stop shooting Jpeg and get into Raw.
Introducing the Paul Ramirez Band
Please offer C&C....
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