Concert photographypicking the lenses and narrowing it down.

<p>I am going to be shooting at a couple of different concerts. Club type venues so I'm not going to be in an arena type environment. However, we are looking at low light and no flash allowed. I'm renting the lenses and I'm trying to keep my costs down as this is something I'm not going to get paid for.<br>

I have the basic Rebel XT (renting lenses...obviously not rich)<br>

Lenses I have available to rent are:<br>

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM<br>

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM<br>

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM<br>

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM<br>

Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM</p>

<p>Now I have to narrow it down to about 2 lenses. I might be able to swing 3. Suggestions on which ones I can't be without?</p>

<p>17-55 & the 85mm</p>

<p>I'd say the 17-55 and 135mm. That extra reach might really come in handy.</p>

<p>How big is the venue? How close to the stage can you get? Are you sure you can't use flash? Although I've been told no flash a number of times in advance, only one venue said no flash when I got there. </p>

<p>I think 2.8 is slow for a club environment and no flash, I typically shoot with f1.4 and f2 primes for the available light shots.</p>

<p>I'd get the 50 f/1.4 and the 85 f/1.2 if it's a typical club, not too big. If it has BIG dimensions, i'd either go for the 135 f/2 or the 70-200 f/2.8 instead of the 85 f/1.2, depending on how much weight you're willing/it's worth carrying (money/health-wise and how important this event is, taking into consideration that you're doing the job for free).</p>

<p>Erwin Marlin.</p>

<p>I have a little experience in this area (not nearly as much as Jeff Spirer, so if you are smart you will listen to his advice more than mine).<br />I suggest trying to take two primes and maybe one zoom. Which ones you take will depend on a whole host of factors: how close you can get to the stage, how low is the "low light", how much moving around will the singers/players be doing (try to shoot when they are pretty stationary obviously), how steady is your hand, will you be using a tripod or monopod (consider a monopod, might help),what size prints will you be making (if 8x10 or smaller, you might get away with a tad less sharpness and a tad slower shutter speed etc.), will you be printing at all or just publishing to the web etc.<br />That being said, I'd recommend the 50 f/1.4 and the 135 f/2 as definites assuming these make sense depending upon how close you are to the stage - if they reach too far I'd say the 35 f/2 but that's not on your list.<br />I had very little luck with the 17-55 f/2.8 IS in these settings. If you intend to move back or want really tight shots then the 70-200 f/2.8 (preferably with IS but you don't mention the IS on your list) would be nice. I have used both versions of the 70-200 f/2.8 and Jeff is certainly right that any 2.8 might be too slow for your low light venue but it has worked for me occasionally.<br />As an alternative to keep the costs down, you might buy the 50 f/1.8 and then rent the 135 f/2 and one of the two zooms you mention.<br />Bump your ISO as high as the XT will go (is that 800 or 1600). Shoot in RAW (I prefer to shoot in RAW and the highest quality jpeg for a variety of lazy reasons). Try to shoot in manual. Even if you shoot in raw, shoot also in jpeg too and set your custom white balance.<br />Take lots of shots. Maybe you will keep 10%.</p>

<p>I'm from San Diego and driving up to these events. These are both LA clubs. Neither of which I've been to. I'm going in blind on this. I'm getting vague answers on the size of these places.They do have photos on their websites and it does look like the stage may be fairly well lit. Neither of them look overly large.<br /> Club No. 1 is the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood - http://www.hotelcafe.com/<br /> I've asked and they seem pretty hard set on the "no flash". In fact the band didn't even think that photos of the show could be taken.I should've asked how big the place was but was pretty frustrated just getting someone on the phone.<br /> Club No.2 Is the Knitting Factory in Hollywood - http://la.knittingfactory.com/about.php<br /> This one I'm pretty darn sure I'm going to be able to get really close to the stage. I've talked to one of the promoters and one of the bands so they know I'm coming.<br /> I'll see if I can get dimensions of these places.<br /> This was all a bit spur of the moment and a good opportunity for me even with out getting paid for the photos. I'm taking photos of bands I don't know in order to see, meet, and shoot a band I do and am a fan of. So it's a personal thing. Just wish I wasn't on such a tight budget.<br>

Oh, and I am bringing a monopod.</p>

<p>Two additional lenses to consider would be the 85/1.8 and 100/2. Both are excellent, and much cheaper and smaller than the 85/1.2.</p>

<p>If you do go in with really expensive glass, like the 85/1.2 or 70-200/2.8, you might have to be concerned about security - depending on the club.</p>

<p>I shoot a lot of live theater. I've done some shooting of live performances, too. Lens choice depends a lot on how close you can get to the action - I've gotten good shots with a 24/1.4 on a full frame camera, when I could stand right next to the band. Good luck and have fun, I always enjoy this kind of shooting.</p>

<p>Those are tight venues I'd recommend two bodies with either the 24mm f1.4 or 35mm f2.0 for your wide shots and either the 85mm f1.2, 70-200 f2.8 IS, or even the 135mm f2.0 for the close ups. <br>

Shoot RAW on manual or aperture priority; 1/30s at the widest aperture of the lens, ISO 800 or greater depending on the body. The autofocus requires contrast to work so use manual focus or get good at targeting something of light and dark contrast in the subjects focal plane (DOF at those wide apertures can be razor thin). Take different shots from different angles to make the whole photo collection look interesting, try dragging the shutter and other "artistic effects. The monopod will not likely be allowed in- too much of a weapon to the security guys at the door, find a pillar or other stable object to brace against if you need.<br>

Figure out who is the manager or girlfriend/boyfriend of the lead of the band and try get their picture and chat them up about what you are doing, hopefully they are cool and will let you into the inner circle of the band.... Get a signed photo release and your are golden!<br>

Keep all your stuff close to your person, don't set anything down where it can be taken. Good luck!</p>

<p>I forgot to mention EARPLUGS!</p>

<p>At The Knitting Factory in LA, if the lighting is consistent with what I found online, you can shoot at 1/125 at f2. That's decent enough. However, I would email the bands or their management and ask about flash. I've shot with flash at The Knitting Factory in NYC, although it's been a while. Tell them you will bounce the flash and not blast them with it. Even if the ceiling is black, it will give you more than without it.</p>

<p>There isn't much to be found about photography at the Hotel Cafe. It looks like it's more of an acoustic setting, which explains the restrictions about flash - it's common for that. Videos from the club don't show any flash, and appear to show pretty low light. One newspaper photo looks great, but they may have allowed flash for them for one or two shots for a big paper, which is common. Given the light, when you're shooting, look for trademark static points, like before a chorus or something, and brace your camera and shoot then, while the performers aren't moving. If you go into <a href="../photodb/folder?folder_id=835685">my gallery here</a> , you can see a group of performance shots (that accompany an article on photo.net about post-processing) and check the EXIF to see the settings.</p>

<p>Shoot in RAW so you can adjust the white balance. You can't really do anything to neutralize lights with colored gels, but you may be able to slightly improve the appearance.</p>

<p>Thanks everybody. You have all been an enormous help. Once I have them I'll post a link so you can see how I did.</p>

<p>I would say get the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM in case you need the bigger apertures - most clubs I shot at are pretty dim .... the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM, I used before in clubs and the zoom is flexible but if you're shooting in and among people, it's a hassle to wield it around in tight quarters ... I have not used Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM before but having a zoom is a good thing if you can't move around at will (though I have gotten some great shots with just primes when I could not move around) ... I heard the focus on the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is slow so this might not be a good one, I have the f1.8 and it's great though ... the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM, I have not used either but likely that is too long and if you are that far back, you might have trouble shooting in between heads<br>

I would say get the 17-55mm and use it, if it's not fast enough, switch over to the 50mm<br>

I usually shoot with 2 camera bodies with a 30mm on one and either a 50mm or 85mm on the other.<br>

Good luck.</p>

 

<p>I'd go with the 50 1.4 and the 135. As others have mentioned 2.8 is just too slow. <br>

For these indoor events you just can't get a too large an aperture lens. <br>

I’d agree with another poster in looking at a 35 F2 as it would be pretty close to emulating a 50 on a FF and it’s good classic look.</p>

<p >You might think about getting an ST-E2 to use to assist focussing, unless the red light is a problem too. </p>

 

<p>Jeff-<br>

Knitting Factory in L.A. will allow flash as well. I was told if its okay with the performers it's okay with them. So flash is a go there. Hotel Cafe is holding fast to the no flash.</p>

<p>So if you don't have enough light at the Knitting Factory, bounce off the ceiling or high up on the walls. Run some tests as soon as the stage lighting comes on, you should be able to find out what works. Or, you may have enough light without flash, but the colored gels may not look that good.</p>

<p>Here are links to the photos I took:</p>

 

<p ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24512715@N04/sets/72157622320769487/detail/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/24512715@N04/sets/72157622320769487/detail/</a></p>

<p ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24512715@N04/sets/72157622320755433/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/24512715@N04/sets/72157622320755433/</a></p>

<p ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24512715@N04/collections/72157622321699825/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/24512715@N04/collections/72157622321699825/</a></p>

<p > Very high energy performers. </p>