jay_hector

A PS zoom never (to me) looks crisp enough. A one-ring (zoom & focus) push-pull zoom lens creates better effects as you can zoom through the focal length faster than rotating a ring (which also throws in side-to-side problems). I don't know if you're using Nikon or Canon, but if Nikon, pick up a 43-86 ai zoom for thirty bucks and experiment with it with musicians. The weirdness and crispness of an in-camera zoom, used with say 1/30th shutter speed at f22, should give you some real unique shots (ignore the back side of the page bleed through on the R&T scan)...

http://www.jaypix.com/pix14/DSC_0549.jpg

http://www.jaypix.com/pix/jonesw1.jpg

Zooming is something that only looks good when it is done in the camera, not done in Photoshop (or other program). Learn the proper technique so your result is something that another person cannot duplicate. Here's an example of a zoom done in the camera...

http://www.jaypix.com/pix/mass.jpg