I've been stuck with my usual 18-55 and its just not good enough
My budget is around £300, I am told that a Macro type lens (28mm / f1.8) is best for the job?!
Help!
Also ... this may be a dumb question but... does the quality vary with what camera you use with the lens?
I'm currently after an upgrade... either the 550D or 50D ... I just cant make my mind up.
However I never found f2.8 to be fast enough in small venues as they're often quite poorly lit.
sure it is, how slow were you shooting?
Usually had to drop to 1/40th, ISO1600 (400D at the time), f2.8. Any movement at all and it was too slow.
Tamron 28-75 2.8 would be your best bet to start for under £300..
your 400D will cope just fine @ ISO1600
i shoot 1/40 - 1/50 ISO1600 all the time with 2.8 , its all in the timing..
looks like you shoot with flash anyway..
now this was a tough gig to shoot!
no not you..Me? I almost never use a flash.
Looking at the shot you posted I would consider that really quite soft, I would consider this one quite bad too:.
wow, sounds like a tough gig... those are the times I usually sprint up to iso 3200 and call the grain 'arty' floz and the machine about 6 months ago had what might as well have been a dude with a red torch tha was low on batteries behind her, and that was about it....
op, a tamron 17-50 2.8 (about £180-200 second hand on here) and a 50mm 1.8 (about £80 on here) will be a great pair, the tamron 17-50 lets you get a wider range of shots, whereas if you are shooting in a cave with a candle, you can bust out the 50 1.8.
no not you..
did you check the exif?
Yes, I did. 1/13th, ISO3200. Which would be 1/6th and look even worse on the 400D as it only does ISO1600.
Thank you for proving my point.
my point was there's worse light than 1/40 @ 2.8 ISO1600 the other tog in the pit with me that night gave up.. and good luck with getting the plastic fantastic to lock focus in that light!
+ ISO3200 isn't a natural ISO for the 20/30/40D so you can push ISO1600 on the 400D in post and get the same results
when shooting gigs you are in the hands of the lighting technicians who don't give you a second thought, their only job is to make the show look good to the paying public, not to the photographer, so unless its a huge show where there is a crowed of 1,000+ you're looking at lighting @! ISO1600 1/30-1/125 depending on what mood the tech is looking to create..
this was a pretty decent gig down this neck of the woods and a pretty well known British rock band, the lighting was what was to be expected for the size venue, not very bright, but dynamic
^ ISO1600 1/50 @ 2.8
Thanks for all the advice guys... I have ordered the 50mm f1.8 as its just so bloody cheap to resist ... £75 new on Amazon.
I'm thinking about the 30mm f1.4 as I'm guessing this will shoot faster?
I'm pretty new to lens' so you'll have to excuse me.
Yeah I like local raw bands... you get the best shots really and the bands really appreciate it.
I experiment with a flash but for me it takes the ambience from the room.
Not sure if you familiar with the Dog and Parrot in Newcastle Phil... the room they use us there is like a black box! Really good atmosphere though.
Just wondered if anyone knows how you get a photography pass for big gigs? I'm guessing you just haggle with the venue?
Cheers
for bigger gigs, ideally you either need to be a recognised freelancer, or shooting for a publication/website... in which case get them to apply for a photopass on your behalf. Or yes, try the venue, but that's probably the least likely option.
if the pub is a black box, then even a f1.4 lens isn't really going to save you... so a flash is an unwelcome necessity. But it's a case of being creative with the flash, aim it behind so you're not bleaching your subjects, get some diffusers, etc...