Canon 5D Concert settings.

Hi All,

I am looking for some advice for shooting a concert at the House of Blues tomorrow night.
I have been using a borrowed Nikon D300 with a 2.8 70-20. I was able to borrow a buddies Canon 5D for the show.

I am looking foe any suggestions for WB settings?

I see that some choose to shoot at 'K' after adjusting the temperature in the menus. Anyone have any exposure suggestions.

I will be using Canon 'L' glass. 24-105 F4, 105mm 2.8 and a 200mm 2.8.
I am open to exposure and program settings, even though it is a Canon.

Thanks. covrc

There will likely be a multitude of different lights/lighting, so I would just use AWB and adjust in ACR. Use a high ISO (1600) and the fastest glass you can get. You might want to leave the 24-105 at home.

The lighting should be sufficiently good to use the 24-105 at ISO 1600. Set the camera to AWB, camera to Manual, start at 1/320s, chimp until you get a good exposure in good light and don't keep changing the settings as you go along.

I (almost) never adjust the WB in post, preferring to keep the ambience of the stage lighting intact.

Thanks for the replies.

Why would the wide zoom not be good for being in the pit. I know it is not as fast, but the wide angle should be great from there, no?

I don't know what it it to 'chimp'.

Can you explain, and thanks.

covrc

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Bohdank,

Do you know photographer Lawrence Kirsh from Montreal.

Bruce Springsteen book, 'For You Bruce' just out a couple years ago and new book
'Into the Darkness' just released.

http://www.musicfoto.c​om/about

Just curious.

Chimp?: review the histogram for exposure and watch the LCD image for blinkies (blown out highlights).

No WB adjustmemt, post.

Thanks, so stay at 320 waiting for the better light and adjust the exposure accordingly.

Metering, spot, Partial, eval or center weighted?

Sorry if I am being a pain, I have a 12 hours to get ready for a shoot with the new camera I have never used.

I appreciate it.

Rocco

Great shot of Nora.

I now start at ISO1600, 1/320 f4. Seems to work in lots of venues I shoot. Sometimes I do have to go to 1/250s.

Get there while the lighting is being setup. The lighting, center spot will be adjusted and aimed with a roadie usually standing there, adjusting a mike stand. Spot meter off his face and actually take a shot. Check for overexposure of the face. The rest of the image doesn't matter, imo. Change the settings, if needed and shoot again. If no roadie, find something on the stage in the main lighting and meter off that. Find something neutral in color. There is always something. Do this with the camera in Manual.

Once you think you have it right, wait till the show starts. Get as many shots as you can in to get a comfort level before it actually does start. Once you actually are shooting the show, check the first few images for exposure. Histogram and blinkies. Reading a Histogram requires some experience, imo.

I would also adjust the LCD brightness before hand to more closely mimic what the real image will look like when importrd into PP software. You can do this at home. Having the LCD too bright or too dark may make you doubt the Histogram.

I pretty much don't do much preparation anymore other than the spot meter routine, a couple of chimps I am usually good to go. I will review some shots, when I get a chance, during a show and make some minor adjustments if I need to but I prettyy much get it right from the get go.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

PS: Don't go chasing the perfect exposure after every shot. It's a waste of time since the lighting will be constantly changing.

Hi. I've taken pictures at concerts, plays, and other stage events with the 5D and 24-105L combination. I typically set my ISO according to the needs of the event. On the 5D I never hesitate using an ISO of 1600 if it gets me the shot as I'd rather have a noisy picture than a blurry one due to camera shake. When the performance is pretty static (like a classical concert) I often use a lower ISO and slower shutter speed, but for dance or rock concerts I will go 1600 or higher. I usually set my WB to Tungsten so that if I need to a batch WB fix, all the pictures will be corrected with the same WB. I used to used Auto WB, but found myself having to tweak each picture separately. I find using spot metering for stage events very useful, even if shooting in P mode.

~Dom

Some examples with EXIF intact.
http://MarkGerman.zenf​olio.com/p1006981458/s​lideshow

I would try to shoot manual but at times with quick changing light, you may have a need to shoot in AV (aperture priority) or TV (shutter priority) in which case I would use partial or center weighted metering.