Need a little advice...

Hi, i'm just after a couple of pointers really... My friend has asked me to take some photo's of his band at a gig on Friday, but it's a subject i'm pretty alien to, and i'm not sure if i've even got the necessary equipment!?!

I have a 50mm 1.8, which i'll use as the light will be low. The only lighting i have is the on-board flash, would you recommend using this, or just shoot without the flash?

Are there any other considerations i should be thinking about? ie. Max aperture, min shutter speed etc!?!

Thanks for any help you can give

Do not use the on board flash. Use High ISO (like in: ISO 1600), open up your aperture to 1.8 - 2.8. Try to get shutterspeeds above 1/125 if possible.
Take a lot of shots. Use 'tungsten' for WB and/or shoot RAW.

Thanks René, that's pretty much the line i was going down, just needed some re-inforcement i guess.

Oh just had another thought.. Are there any little tricks for handling exposure? It probably won't be too big a problem after a few test shots, but if there's something you can suggest that'd save a little time it will be much appreciated!

as mentioned, do not use the flash. it really takes away from the stage setting.

you should be fine with the 1.8.
it may be hard to get full group shots.
i will click the picture as long as i have a 1/30 shutter.

it really depends on the lighting in the club. a lot of times i will as the person in control of the lights, to give a little extra for a song or two. i have also gone so far as to point the lights where i wanted them.

I've never been to this pub, so no idea what the lightling will be, Just have to play it by ear i suppose.

Thanks for the tips thelightofsound, if any come out i'll be sure to post em up...

Yeah beano,

You're on the right track...also I might add, try not to shake from the excitement and allow yourself the time to stand still in one place long enough to take the picture...good luck...

Well that all went horribly wrong... The lighting was so bad i couldn't even get 1/30 wide open! I ended up putting the camera away and drowning my sorrows instead.

Oh well, maybe next time.

It must have been a very dark place...I started using the 50mm 1.8 and got my best pic to date with it...However right after using it, I still purchased the 50mm 1.4 lens...It lets in a ton of light and is fast, accurate, sharp and makes a world of difference...

Now, the only lenses I'll even consider for purchase (for indoors pics) are 1.4's and 1.8's in PRIME...With the option of saving enough for the 1.2's...
The 24-70mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS are the most popular and eventually I'll work up to them, however my venue won't let me use anything other than a fixed lens, (no zooms).

johnstoy wrote in post #2118794
however my venue won't let me use anything other than a fixed lens, (no zooms).

Is there a reason for this, seems a little odd!?!

I was really surprised, as the stage didn't look THAT dark to me!?! There were coloured static lights, and disco lights, but nothing adjustable that could be turned up. Mad little pub though, it was like some 80's metal timewarp!

beano wrote in post #2119296
Is there a reason for this, seems a little odd!?!

I was really surprised, as the stage didn't look THAT dark to me!?! There were coloured static lights, and disco lights, but nothing adjustable that could be turned up. Mad little pub though, it was like some 80's metal timewarp!

Regarding my venue permitting other than fixed lens cameras...
It's a standard rule for all shows applied to all paying patrons...I pay for my special reservation seating months in advance and get right up there into the front row...

Therefore, the venue doesn't want the artists to be distracted by professional looking equipment...some of the artists complained that there are pros in the audience shooting constantly through out the show...

It needs to be discrete, or even the other paying patrons get confused, are jealous, or feel slighted by good camera equipment, and they complain...

The 85mm 1.8 lens is a killer deal for a fabulous producer lens...
I'm now looking at the 35mm and the 24 mm for the wider angle, band shots, too...

beano wrote in post #2119296
Is there a reason for this, seems a little odd!?!

I was really surprised, as the stage didn't look THAT dark to me!?! There were coloured static lights, and disco lights, but nothing adjustable that could be turned up. Mad little pub though, it was like some 80's metal timewarp!

How about a 50mm F1 just look at the price http://www.apertureuk.​com/used-Can.htm

gsgary wrote in post #2132005
How about a 50mm F1 just look at the price http://www.apertureuk.​com/used-Can.htm

Interesting link thanks.

Did you mean the 1.4!?! I reckon i could've got 1/60 with that, but not much higher. Better than nothing though i guess hehe.