Concert: 17-35 2.8 or 50mm 1.4

Ukkor

Ukkor

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Quick question (did have a thread from a while ago but cant find it!) which would be better for a concert. Cant buy one or the other, second hand. Will be used on canon 1dMKIII. Any opinions will be appreciated :)
 
Mainly for a bit of concert work I have got coming up.... is tempting to get 17-35 and then a 50mm 1.8 for a bit. Would also be used for shorter work (presentations .etc) at football. Currently have 17-85 kit lens, which isn't really up to the job!
 
50mm 1.4, I wouldn't risk the 1.8, its got slower autofocus, hard to manual focus and has no manual over ride without hitting the switch and finally its just not rugged enough.
 
iancandler said:
50mm 1.4, I wouldn't risk the 1.8, its got slower autofocus, hard to manual focus and has no manual over ride without hitting the switch and finally its just not rugged enough.
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Funny enough Canon 50mm f/1.4 has only marginally faster AF, it still makes noise, and is not rugged at all. There is mannual override, and proper focusing ring though. Sharpness is acceptable wide open, and excellent by f/2.8. I just got one accidentally, so I can tell it first hand. I wish it was like 85mm f/1.8 USM. That is the lens to match.
 
Ukkor said:
Mainly for a bit of concert work I have got coming up.... is tempting to get 17-35 and then a 50mm 1.8 for a bit.
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this. For what you pay, the 50mm f/1.4 is not worth it imo, but the 1.8 version is more in line with its price tag... and the optics aren't that far behind the 1.4.


daugirdas said:
and proper focusing ring though..
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It does indeed, but as I am sure you'll know by now, the gears mesh together so horribly due to micro USM motor that it actually makes manual focus quite unpleasant...
 
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I'd go for the 50mm 1.8 and the 17-35 myself.
I have used a 50mm 1.8 on many live gigs and never had an issue with autofocus.
At 1.4, you'd never get a in focus shot anyway I wouldnt think, as the DOF is so thin. High ISO shooting is much better these days, so crank the ISO to 800 or 1600 and fire away at 2.8 or 1.8.

My main lenses for this type of thing were the 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8 and a 24-70 2.8, these were on a crop Nikon body though.
 
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Ive not done alot of gig photography but I did use my 50mm 1.8 and kit 17-85 F4-5.6. The 17-85 was not good at anything other that good light. The 50mm was fine for the lower light stuff but a bit limited on the focal length. I went out and bought a 24-70 F2.8 and this was great. Good low light and zoom fits well for me.
 
TCR4x4 said:
At 1.4, you never get a in focus shot anyway I wouldnt think, as the DOF is so thin.
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Really? This would indicate a focus error, either due to camera or operator fault. Try focusing with liveview and you will see what it can look like. It is sharp, but the contrast is low-ish.
 
In a controlled studio environment of course you will get in focus shots, Im talking about a gig where there is no still moment and other photogs or the crowd pushing you around. By the time you have focussed and shot, the performer will have moved and whatever you focussed on will be miles away.
 
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