j_yee

<p>I also should add my vote to earlier responses that suggested taking the photos before the performance begins or during rehearsal or like when the band members first show up and are setting up. You just want a good picture of your child in the band surrounding. So, it can be "posed" with the people and instruments around. Using a DSLR, I have just walked up to the band members as they have been setting up and sitting and made the shot. Not all of them are there yet and others are milling around. So, I just walk in among them, get my son and some of his other performers seated around him.</p>

<p>My son was in concert band all his years in high school. I found that using a digital camera to capture from afar had mixed results. I actually had more success using a video camera to record the event. It seem to be more forgiving of the light conditions and the zooms are quite amazing. So, maybe record instead of shooting. You get sound and video :). Last resort is human intervention. Jazz they usually dim the lights for atmosphere, just ask if they can "lighten" up the stage for all the loving watchers. Teachers usually can have their ears bent :).</p>

<p>I was one of the last to place an order for a Katzeye screen for my D7000. I couldn't imagine using a camera without some manual focusing aids. Course, I have been a diehard film camera user and only just bought a used D7000 last year. I'm so use to manual focus - I focus where I want and the camera complies. Very weird initially fighting with a digital camera. Anyway, I understand that a matte screen allows best view for the electronic focusing, but I also still want the split prism and microprism collar for macro, low light and when I want control.</p>

<p>Me coming from my Olympus camera origins keep reaching for the aperture ring in front area of lens. Now using a D7000, I can see that Nikon places the aperture ring in the back of the lens close to the body....hard to manipulate on the 24-85, so the dial works better. But I do miss using the aperture ring, seems more natural shutter and aperture were both manipulated around the lens barrel area(your left hand did all the work and your right hand was just to fire the shutter) :)!!</p>