Help with priorities - lenses or new body??

I shoot music - concerts, posed - alot in low light with lots of movement. I am

presently using a D-70 with 18-70mm and 70-210mm lenses. I have noticed that

recently AF has become almost unbearable and, with my subjects, manual focus is

rather trying - having lots of issues I haven't had in the past with blurring.

Recently downloaded and updated D-70 firmware.

 

Now the question: which first in others' opinion? D-200 or 28-70 f2.8 and/or

80-200 f2.8? Darn stuff is so expensive I doubt my wife will let me go out get

get it all right away! heh... Thanks! www.scottboucherphotography.com

I use the 70-200/2.8 VR more than any other lens for concert photography. The subjects still move but camera shake is greatly reduced down to as low as 1/15 second. The next most useful lens is the 28-70/2.8. The camera body has a lot to do with AF performance at low light levels. A D2h/x does very well. I haven't used a D200.

I'm not a professional photgrapher, and have never shot concerts, so take the following with caution, but I'd say that the lens matters more.

 

If you're shooting in low light conditions such as a typical concert venue you want the widest aperture you can get and the f2.8 lenses are just the ticket. In the end, especially if you shoot 'raw', in manual modes and process later, the body is just a sensor array that contributes little to the end result.

 

Regardless of the body, the end image is only ever going to be as good as the light coming in and you'll get the most light with a nice fast (read expensive) lens. The D70 is a fine camera, so if you want to step up to the next level, a high end lens is going to give you the most bang for the buck. Moreover, bodies come and go, but a good lens is forever, and will fit on whatever body you may buy in the future.

It is very important to have good glass, but on the other hand having fast autofocus is just as important. I have both the D70 and the D200. The D200 focuses in low light in a snap while the D70 hunts. If money is really an issue for you, I would consider the D80 with the same focusing engine as the D200.

Listen to Edward's advice about lenses.

I think with Nikon SLRs you will always have problems autofocusing in the dark, even with f/1 lenses if there were any, let alone with f/2.8 zooms.

 

You can learn to manually focus or prefocus. Concerts are not basketball games, things and people move rather slowly in distance there. Or you can get the hang of rangefinders, even some with infrared autofocus such as the Contax G2 that will take an accurately focused pic in pitch darkness ...

 

Maybe it is simply an equipment issue here. Think about alternatives ... and try not to spend the bank on ill-advised "solutions" that cannot help technically at all.

Thanks guys... my endgame is D-200, 28-70 f2.8 or the 17-55 f2.8 and either the 70-200 VR or 80-200 (probably the 80...). Just a matter of money allocation now. I certainly agree about lens quality, but as noted in one post, I am beginning to lose confidence in the D-70's AF abilities and feel I'd be better served with an upgrade there... not even going to bother with the D-80. Now it's just figuring out which comes first still....

While the D70 does not focus as well in low light as the D200, I think a large part of your problem is the small maximum apertures your using, especially at the tele end. I've shot concerts with the D50, D70, and D200. I would go with the 80-200 f/2.8 as your first purchase. I think your autofocus will improve with the larger aperture. Upgrade the camera next (a D80 or D200).

How about a 35 f/2, a 50 f/1.8, a 100 f/2.5, and a 180mm lens kit for about the same as

one of the f/2.8 lenses?

Low light concerts? you need some faster glass and perhaps a D2Hs. A d70 is not the tool for you.

Before you give up on your D70 buy or borrow from a friend the Nikon 50mm/1.8 lens. I have had great success in low light without flash at 800 ISO using manual mode with this lens. I got to shoot the dress rehearsal of the musical "Chicago" at our local theater a long with the spot & colored lights and was quite pleased with the results. With my D50 I had to find a solid subject to get it to focus, but there again once I figured it out it was less of a problem but I still missed a few shots.

I'd go for the faster glass.

 

I have the D200 and I don't think it's autofocus is particularly good in low light. However, I

don't have D70 to directly compare it to unlike Todd.

I shoot dance and concerts and agree with Edward. Without better/faster glass, an upgraded body would be a waste -- although ideally you need both.

 

For dance, I use the 28-70mm f/2.8 much more than the 70-200mm f/2.8. For clubs and dark venues, consider a 50mm f/1.8. I carry that and a 105mm f/2. These are 'front row' lenses, as is the 28-70mm. That's where I prefer to shoot.

 

Before the D200, I used a D100. The D200 is a major improvement for this type of work due to better viewfinder and faster, more accurate AF (and other reasons as well). I would never want to give up these improvements! Still, I think that the glass is more limiting and would upgrade that first.

Scott, you also mentioned the 17-55mm. This is an all-around awesome lens. For most concert work, it is a bit wide, even from the from row. I have found that it works best when you are inches from the performer. If that's not how how you usually work (and most don't), a longer zoom would be preferable.

 

To see how the 17-55mm can be used on-stage, have a look at a sequence of 20 or so images starting here: http://photostore.chrisleck.com/gallery/1362947/1/64316726 .

The above should read "For most concert work, it is a bit wide, even from the <i>front</i> row."

I use the 80-200 a lot, but you sure need a pod for it. It's a wonderful piece of glass. If you can swing it, or watch for Nikon rebates; I'm sure I would have gone with the VR, 70-200. The lens I use most for weddings is the 24-120 VR. Maybe not the fastest lens, But I sure like the VR and the lab can handle enlargements up to 24X30. I've only had that lens about 2 months so one of these days I will attempt a 40X60 for a studio sample.

 

Nikon used to offer a PRO incentive. They probably still do. If you can show that you are a working pro, they offer a decent finance program. Maybe your wife will keep you around for a while if you have low payments! Good luck! Been there many times! Had to buy my wife a dam porsche last year because she said she has suffered for sooo many years! Oh, I drive a bicycle now!

Heh Bob! I hear ya.... this'll probably cost me a new kitchen! Well this morning I went and ordered a D-200; 6 months no payments at newegg.com, so it'll get my butt motivated to get some paid gigs. thanks for all the imput; I'm sticking with my two lens plan - fixed focals are undoubtedly great but i cannot be changing lenses all the times during concerts. Now to just get the added 2,500 for the glass....

GREAT! Have a blast with your new toys and let us know how you like them!

UPDATE: got the D-200 first and boy the AF is much improved. Shot my first wedding in awhile, and really wasn't pleased with the results glass-wise, so..... 17-55 and 80-200 f/2.8 Nikors in the mail as I write this... Onecall.com 18 month no payment and Nikon rebates FTW!