Hypothetical Concert Lens Question

<p>This question is somewhat hypothetical, but could be practical at some point in time. I've already read Steve Mirarchi's article about concert photography, but I'm curious about what everyone else would do.</p>

<p>Let's assume I have a choice of 3 lenses that I'd consider taking to a concert. They are (all Nikon):</p>

 

<ol>

<li>50mm f/1.4</li>

<li>35mm f/1.8</li>

<li>12-24mm f/4</li>

</ol>

<p>Let's also assume I'll be right up front. Since it's hypothetical, body shouldn't matter, but if you must name a body, let's say a D90. Which lens do I take along if I can only take one? I know ideally I'd "have" a 24-70mm f/2.8, but I don't. :(</p>

<p>What sort of concert? Full orchestra? Jazz trio?<br /><br />What sort of light ... deep-colored rock-and-roll lighting, or steady see-the-orchestra type light?<br /><br />What does "right up front" mean? On the other side of a 15-foot security barrier, or at the front table in a small club? <br /><br />What sort of images are you trying to create? Head/shoulders performance portraits? See-the-whole-band-and-the-choir shots?<br /><br />I'm not being snarky, here, John. These things define the lens choice.<br /><br />That being said, if all I knew was that I was going to "a concert" with a D90, and needed to for some reason choose just one of those lenses, and I was for some reason not allowed to wear cargo pants with pockets where another lens or two could ride, or carry a bag... then I'd probably use the 50/1.4 for some more reach and that extra bit of speed. But that could also be a really, really wrong choice, depending on all of the stuff you didn't mention. Generally, I'd guess that the f/4 lens would be too slow for hand-held use.</p>

<p>The lens I use most often for concert photography (symphonies, jazz, choir) is a 70-200/2.8 VR, often with a 1.4x tele-converter. You can stop action of the performance at 1/30 second, with good timing and a little luck. You can get that at f/2.8 by bumping the ISO to 400 or 800. You can't get a clear shot without VR at less than 1/200.</p>

<p>That said, your chances of getting a big camera and 11" lens into a concert without press credentials are slim to none. Why not just enjoy the music and let us who are paid to shoot them do our job?</p>

<p>Steve's article assumes that you are shooting at a large venue with access, from the press area. Very few people on photo.net shoot in that environment, so it's not applicable much of the time. I'm writing (very slowly) a new article for photo.net on this topic that will address the concerns of most people who are able to shoot at events, typically in small venues that don't require access privileges.</p>

<p>That said, I usually shoot from on-stage to 15 feet away and use a 20mm/35mm/50mm combination or a 24-70/2.8. The fixed lenses range from 1.8 to 2.8. If there's a balcony, I bring an 85/1.8. This usually shoots me well.<br>

<br /> However, I now shoot the majority of shows with flash, which would work with an f4 zoom. I usually bounce the flash off a side wall and sometimes the ceiling and get what I want. (A recent shoot is <a href="http://www.spirer.com/pmeagle/">here.</a> ) Occasionally I have to use direct flash. The problem is that in most clubs, the lighting is so low that hand holding is only possible at 3200 or higher and f2 or wider. The results aren't all that good in that situation. On the other hand, a lot of people have trouble controlling or balancing the flash in these situations (it took me a while) and it can be a real mood killer if not used right.</p>

<p>FWIW, I almost always choose gear based on venue. If I've shot somewhere before, I usually know what positions will be available and might leave the longer lens at home, or maybe the stage isn't convenient for direct shooting and I leave the 20 at home. If it's a new place for me, I try to find what other photographers have done and pack accordingly. As Matt says above, there are a lot of questions that have to be answered before your primary question can be answered.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>70-200/2.8 VR</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I think he would have trouble shooting with that given that he said "shooting up front." </p>

<p>Do you have some photos posted taken with a lens that long?</p>

<p><strong>Why not just enjoy the music and let us who are paid to shoot them do our job?</strong></p>

<p>What a ridiculous thing to say.<strong><br /> </strong></p>

<p><em>Do you have some photos posted taken with a lens that long?</em></p>

<p>I shoot from positions compatible with the decorum of the event and the needs of the client, using a 70-200 for about 80% of the shots. I am not free to post pictures. While an amateur will probably not interfere with my shooting, he should not be encouraged to carry equipment which will probably be turned away at the door. Overstated, perhaps, but not ridiculous. How would he enjoy the music knowing someone was watching him return an expensive camera to his car in order to attend the concert ;-)</p>

<p>Sorry, in my head it was clear I meant a "rock" concert, but I guess it's not, especially if you shoot other types of concerts. No snarky-ness taken.</p>

<p>Rock concert, small-medium sized local venue (no huge stadiums), rock-lighting, proximity: from touching the stage to, say, 15' away.</p>

 

<p>Which brings us back to what sort of shots you're after. Capturing the whole atmosphere, or looking for that drop of sweat on the drummer's nose? The 50mm lens, at 15 feet, with the camera in vertical orientation, will just about allow a standing human subject to fill the frame, top-to-bottom. Just to help you scale things.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I am not free to post pictures.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You give up all rights? To all the concert shots you've taken? Why would anyone do that? Where are they published? If you can't post them, they must be somewhere.<br>

<em><br /> </em></p>

<p>Since I actually have photos to show, here are some photos taken in an environment that sounds like what you are talking about. The EXIF is in the photos, with Firefox and any of the EXIF viewer plugins you can see what lens was used and also that some used flash. Most were taken near the front of the stage. The ones towards the end were taken from the stage.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.spirer.com/pmslims2009/">Pictures.</a></p>

<p>Very cool pics, Jeff. Thanks for sharing.</p>

<p>I've used the Tamron 28-300mm VC 3.5 - 6.3 on a Nikon D700 body for concerts with some good results. I also used the 50mm 1.8 for when light would really get low. But with the D700's good high iso, normal low concert light souldn't really be that much of a problem especially in combination with the Tamrons VC / VR. What's nice about the Tamron is the wide range that it offers with still being a relatively small and light lens.</p><div></div>

It's all about the conditions–my favorite is my Leica 19 rammed right in someone's face when that's possible:

<br><br>

<center><a href=" title="Adolescents' Matt Beld by Roger Krueger, on

Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3434523670_88cdf4df67.jpg" width="354" height="500"

alt="Adolescents' Matt Beld" /></a><br>

<i>Adolescents' Matt Beld</i></center>

<br><br>

But sometimes a 135 from across the stage is a better fit.

<br><br>

<center><a href=" title="Adicts' Keith "Monkey" Warren by

Roger Krueger, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3470575024_c156d90457.jpg" width="333"

height="500" alt="Adicts' Keith "Monkey" Warren" /></a><br>

<i>Adicts' Keith "Monkey" Warren</i></center>

<p>I was at Van's Warped Tour recently, and also Dirtfest in Central Michigan, which are outdoor summer music festivals, and therefore extremely sunny.</p>

<p>A good amount of the press photographers attending had a D300 + 70-200mm and D3 + 17-35 combination.</p>