concert lens for a 40D

..im about to buy a 40D and i really love shooting concerts. i shoot a lot of them. So i was wondering what would be

a really great "concert" lens to buy for my 40D? it doesn't have to be a canon lens. i just really want something to

work really well for me and not break the bank. moneys kind of an issue for me right now and i really dont know

anything about lenses.

 

thank you in advance for your help.

 

.chris

if money is an issue you can always pick up a canon ef 50mm f1.8 lens(about $80 new), ef 35mm f2($230) or for a wider option canon ef 28mm f1.8($389). All these lenses are prime lenses and will allow you to obtain wonderful low light shots without flash. A 50mm lens will probably get you waist up shot from first row distance about 8-10ft away from you. 35mm will do fine for full body and 28mm for group shots.

Another thing is that I dont really recommend zoom lenses because most zooms will probably force you to use flash and from experience band members dont really like flash light and sometimes it is prohibited. A fast prime lens is what you need and it all depends at what focal distance you are most comfortable. If you dont know anything about lenses, the faster the lens is the better shots you will get in low light. A fast lens has an aperture from f1.0 to f2.0. What these f numbers mean is the actual aperture of the lens diaphragm, the smaller the f fnumber the larger diaphragm you have. With a larger diaphragm more light is allowed to expose the image. The advantage of having there fast primes is that you can capture shots in low light with higher shutter speeds freezing movement more effectively.

i find the Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 awesome for its price. It's wide aperture is great for concerts. I would also

consider a long lens such as the EF 70-200mm F/4 L IS

 

tonio

here is an example with a fast 50mm f1.2L lens , its not the ef 50 f1.8 but it more or less what you'll get. This was taken wide open(f/1.2) at 1/30 of a sec, iso 800 with a 40d.

 

<a href="http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n179/angelboc/?action=view&current=ixtapa-19.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n179/angelboc/ixtapa-19.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Without more specific details, practically any and every lens could be a solution for you.

 

That said, fast prime lenses are usually a good first choice, the Focal Length dependent upon how far away you are from the action, and what type of shot you want.

 

 

***

 

To get a more specific answer please supply some typical details:-

 

How far away from the action will you be?

 

Can you roam?

 

Night time or Day time?

 

What type (genre) Concerts?

 

What lighting do you expect?

 

Any access restrictions on camera gear?

 

Generally what type of shot (whole group, tight single artist etc)?

 

Is Flash allowed?

 

WW

chris> what lenses do you currently use for shooting concerts? what limitations do you come up against using them?

<br><br>

For me as someone who is a music photographer primarily, alens that can open up wide is the most important thing. So for small to mid-size venues: Canon 24-70mm f2.8 lens is my main lens. (sigma do a good version of this too at a lower price)

<br><br>

Next comes the big lens, Canon 70-200f2.8IS - great if you're shooting in big venues

<br><br>

Next comes a wide angle, Not used a lot but good at bright gigs, the Canon 10-22mm

<br><br>

Finally, the lens I started on, Canon 50mm f1.4 (or 1.8) which doesn't allow zoom but is prefect for low light in small to mid-size venues

<br><br>

<br>

Some of my shots from gigs with the lenses above:

<img src = "http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3106941-lg.jpg"><br><br>

<img src = "http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3421129-lg.jpg"><br><br>

<img src = "http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/5322629-md.jpg"><br><br>

<img src = "http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3529810-lg.jpg"><br><br>

<img src = "http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3924027-lg.jpg"><br><br>

 

And a bit more info on concert shooting at: <a href = "http://www.AAAphotos.org/faq.htm">www.AAAphotos.org/faq.htm</a>

As WW says (G`day Bill) To advise a lens folks do need more info, like type of venues, access and distances etc. Like you may be on the stage like this with a 40d 17 50 2.8 and a lil fill flash. Really never had probs with flash as there`s enough strobes goin. but then again what type of concerts? :) while some pics bein shown, an idea of some lights on stage.<div></div>

I do use 40D and enjoy photographing concerts. The two lenses that i use the most are Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and Canon 70-200 L f/4 USM. I also own the 50 f/1.8 but i rearly use it . First a prime lens is not the best solution for the dynamic concert photography, and second if there is a low light issue i can always increase the ISO value

 

 

And since money are the issue, IMO you should find a lens with big zoom range, that will allow you to use it in different situations, and will replace few other lenses<div></div>

wow thank you guys for all the info. and heres some more info on what i normally shoot. i usually shoot rockabilly,

rock and punk bands. so very high energy acts with a lot of movement. I also shoot a lot in bars and very small

venues. So its usually very dark and usinga flash is never a problem. I've never shot at a "big venue" or concert hall to

say but i am trying to work my way into a few here in Las Vegas.<div></div>

sorry im new to this forum so im not to familiar with how it all works. heres a few more shots.<div></div>

.....i shoot a lot of them. ....

 

 

So, what lens do you use now?

i use a canon efs 18-55mm it came with my digital rebel

So what are the problems you are having with it? And you need to provide the answers to William W's questions.

 

I shoot most of the time with a 35/2 on a 1.3x body. Sometimes I shoot with a 50, and every now and then with the 85/1.8. But it really depends on the venue and what kind of access I have, so I can't recommend anything without some additional information.

How far away from the action will you be? i would be right in front of the act and/or even on the stage

 

Can you roam? yes most of the time im allowed to go anywhere

 

Night time or Day time? i would say night time, but the shows are indoors in a dark bar

 

What type (genre) Concerts? rockabilly, rock, country and punk bands.

 

What lighting do you expect? pretty dark, sometimes very few lights, a couple of florescent lights over the stage

 

Any access restrictions on camera gear? no none at all

 

Generally what type of shot (whole group, tight single artist etc)? i like single artist stuff sometimes 2 musicians in one shot

 

Is Flash allowed? yes

Thanks for the additional information . . .

 

The two images you posted pretty crisp, the second especially.

 

I observe the catchlight in the eye the second . . . are you using the on camera Pop-Up Flash?

 

***

 

As you can roam, get close and Flash is not an issue, better IQ would be attained with a better a quality standard

zoom EF-S17 to 55F2.8IS or Tamron 17 to 50 F2.8 are two examples you could buy to REPLACE the kit lens you

have - but do you think you need to do that?

 

OTOH a relatively inexpensive purchase would be the EF35/F2, which would allow a similar perspective to the two

images you posted, but the F2 might allow some creative non Flash at High ISO, which will bring variance to your

portfolio - and you could add this purchase to work WITH your kit lens. The 35/F2 is very lightweight, almost a

pancake, and has a reassessed front element, and very handy IMO.

 

On a similar line of thinking, other prime options are a fast 50 (F1.8 or F1.4) or the 85/F1.8 - the 85 would bring a

really tight perspective to your shots - beyond what is possible now, but it is (comparatively) a little more bulky than

the three the other primes, I mentioned.

 

I personally like carrying and using two cameras. If I had your gig, and if I were buying the 40D, I would keep the

Rebel, and use the kit lens on the Rebel and exploit the high ISO capacity of the 40D with a fast prime (or two). And,

if my assumption is correct about the pop up flash, I suggest you invest in a better flash too, and generally use it on

the Rebel.

 

WW

Many lenses will do the job.

 

I used the EF85 f/1.8 for this shot of Robert Cray. I was standing at the edge of the stage.

 

Cheers! Jay<div></div>

no, William W i have a 420ex that i use with my rebel

Thanks.

 

It was difficult to tell from the compressed image.

 

FYI: I made that guess because of the slim rectangular shape (now mistaken, obviously not so slim); what appeared to be the softness, overall, of the light; what appears to be a rapid decay of light beyond the face, whilst considering the perspective (about normal FoV).

 

That could be all, post processing; or tight (manual or override) control of the 420 at the exposure too.

 

***

 

My opinions of the lenses and keeping the XTi and working with two cameras, remain.

 

Good luck with the decision.

 

WW

<p>I am a freelance professional concert photographer (The New York Times, Village Voice Media, Blender, Pitchfork, etc.); I currently use a 40D and I swear by prime lenses when I shoot concerts. Yes, it can be a little less convenient having to change lenses on the fly, especially in situations where you're only allowed to shoot the first three songs (or less), rather than using a zoom, but the improvement in image quality is worth it to me. The 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens is certainly a very good lens, but even with the IS it can be tough to get great shots in very dim conditions, and when you're shooting in smaller places (especially with a 1.6x crop body like the 40D) the focal length is impractical. And of course there is the $$$ issue. I typically bring with me to shows an 85mm f/1.8, a 50mm f/1.8, and a 28mm f/2.8, which on a crop body like the 40D gives me more or less all the range I need, and they're all fast enough to get excellent images without using flash (I virtually *never* use flash, and those rare instances when I do, I try to bounce it, as flash makes concert photos look awful). I also have an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, but that's not the sharpest lens in the world and I really wouldn't recommend it for concert photography. I have it in the bag and only use it if I'm desperate for a more wide-angle shot and know that the final shot will probably only be used on the web at a not-very-large size.</p>

<p>All of this said, 95% of the time I am shooting in small to midsize clubs, theaters, etc. (typically less than 4,000 seat venues). If I was shooting at arenas or stadiums regularly and couldn't get that close to the stage, I'd probably be forced to use the 70-200mm f/2.8 ... in those situations, I use an older Canon 70-210mm f/4 lens that I bought some years back, and it seems to do the trick because those bigger arena and stadium shows are usually fairly well-lit. I can't remember exactly what I paid for that lens but it was no more than a couple hundred bucks -- far, far cheaper than the 70-200mm f/2.8.</p>

<p>I know some people will balk at using primes in a concert situation, since you may find yourself having to change lenses quite frequently, but I can't say I've missed too many shot opportunities while changing lenses, and after shooting hundreds of shows this way I've gotten pretty good at the quick changes. With practice, you will, too. Also, by using these lenses I find I have to do very, very little post-processing, especially when it comes to sharpness.</p>

<p>Generally speaking, my photography philosophy echoes what many at this site have said -- it's mostly about the photographer and his/her skills and intuition, and far less about the gear. Many of my peers use extremely expensive cameras and lenses, "the best gear money can buy," and their shots are not always better for it. I'm very, very happy with my comparatively modest rig -- it's allowed me to get some great shots and make decent money from my photography. Proper technique and lots of practice and experience will help you make better photos no matter what lenses you ultimately choose to purchase and use.</p>

<p> First of all: @ James Goulden: Great pictures!</p>

<p> I use three lenses, well mostly I use two.<br>

The 50mm 1.8 and the 17-50 2.8.<br>

But at this moment I'm shooting concerts in smaller places.<br>

If I'm getting a bigger zoom I'll probably buy the 70-200 2.8 IS<br>

For me at this moment it's how to get inside bigger venues to shoot pictures because it is most of the times not allowed to shoot with DSLR.</p>

<p> <a href="http://nedewe.wordpress.com/category/music/">http://nedewe.wordpress.com/category/music/</a></p>