50mm 1.8

[showtm490]

I'm to do a shoot for a band next week at one of their shows which is in a low lite place. I only have the 18-55 that came with the camera along with an old 28-80 f3.5-5.6. Should I use either of them or go ahead and purchase a 50mm 1.8?

[PavelOlavich]

Originally Posted by showtm490

I'm to do a shoot for a band next week at one of their shows which is in a low lite place. I only have the 18-55 that came with the camera along with an old 28-80 f3.5-5.6. Should I use either of them or go ahead and purchase a 50mm 1.8?

STOP! lol....I'm of the minority that will not suggest that 50mm prime...it's often just too long for a cropped 1.6 DSLR....now if you had a full frame.....

And your zooms are too darned slow for the application you wrote of....by a long shot...often flash will remove the mood of the evening too, so flash may not be part of your solution....I'm not sure how far from the band you'll be but I suspect the 50mm might be too long of a reach unless you'll be in the audience....a wider solutution might be the ticket....

Get the 28mm F1.8...now if you're willing to pay some $$, I would strongly suggest the 24L and 35L, but those are around $1,200 each....but the 28mm I mentioned is around $400....the 50mm F1.8 may well work, for isolating certain band members, but I suspect it will be too narrow in field of view.....the 50mm F1.8 is cheap, and for the $$ it gives good performance, but based on it's low price, it is way overrated, to be sure...

Another angle....you could rent the 24L or 35L or both...this would be a relatively cheap solution that will give the best optical quality, and very fast aperture.

Leave those slow dog zooms home....

[showtm490]

rrrrr i was looking for the cheaper route. i guess i'll stick with the 28-80 till i save up.

[gryphonslair99]

Originally Posted by PavelOlavich

STOP! lol....I'm of the minority that will not suggest that 50mm prime...it's often just too long for a cropped 1.6 DSLR....now if you had a full frame.....

And your zooms are too darned slow for the application you wrote of....by a long shot...often flash will remove the mood of the evening too, so flash may not be part of your solution....I'm not sure how far from the band you'll be but I suspect the 50mm might be too long of a reach unless you'll be in the audience....a wider solutution might be the ticket....

Get the 28mm F1.8...now if you're willing to pay some $$, I would strongly suggest the 24L and 35L, but those are around $1,200 each....but the 28mm I mentioned is around $400....the 50mm F1.8 may well work, for isolating certain band members, but I suspect it will be too narrow in field of view.....the 50mm F1.8 is cheap, and for the $$ it gives good performance, but based on it's low price, it is way overrated, to be sure...

Another angle....you could rent the 24L or 35L or both...this would be a relatively cheap solution that will give the best optical quality, and very fast aperture.

Leave those slow dog zooms home....

A 50mm prime or any lens for that matter is only as long or short as the amout of room you have to move your feet. A 50mm will do just fine if you have a little room to move. If you are stuck right up front then you will have some problems.

As Dirty Harry once said " A man has to know his limitations."

[Gbee]

Don't wait ~~~ get the 50mm ƒ1.8 now!!!!

One usually finds one cannot take a group on stage anyway, it's just not possible ~ period ~ hence groups are shot in old junk yards, dilapidated warehouses and in funky long exposure poses at dusk.

You don't **generally** want to use flash, but you have no choice in this instance with your current gear, anyway a few flash shots are always necessary to set a mark by. You also need to merely **document** the band's presence at this venue ~ get the band to announce that you'll be taking a few flash shots for the first number or so ~ venues differ ~ some encourage photography, others don't ~ even if the band wants it.

Then you go available light, and here your fast prime shines, the 50mm you should find pretty neat, as you are working for the band they won't mind you coming on stage to maximize the potential. A Sigma 20mm ƒ1.8 could be a good choice too, but I'd buy something ~ never wait until you have saved up enough money ~ you need to learn too as you go.

Originally Posted by showtm490

rrrrr i was looking for the cheaper route. i guess i'll stick with the 28-80 till i save up.

[Max@Home]

showtm490,

...IMHO both your lenses are not up to the task...

...you need *anything* equal or faster than F2.0... 35mmF2.0 could do, 50F1.8, Sigma 20F1.8, Sigma 30F1.4... take your pick, but your current setup is too slow and might also have trouble focussing in dim light (not enough light in viewfinder = not enough light on AF sensors...)...

...*my* opinion, *my* €0.02 worth...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[showtm490]

thanks for all the advice and i may rent a lens for the event.

[YosemiteJunkie]

Originally Posted by showtm490

rrrrr i was looking for the cheaper route. i guess i'll stick with the 28-80 till i save up.

What have you got to loose by getting the 50mm 1.8 ?? It's like, $70 or so and a fun lens to play with for the price. Take it with you along with your 28-90. Give it a shot and see how it works for you. It very well may be to long a reach for that particular shoot but you won't know if you don't try. As far as our hobby goes it just chump change and the lens does give excellent quality photos for the price. Good luck with your shoot.

[TonyK]

I shot concerts with a Tamron 28-75 F2.8 Di and that works pretty well. You will be shooting between 800 and 1600 ISO so make sure you get a really good exposure (no pushing as the noise will start showing).

Good luck,

Originally Posted by showtm490

rrrrr i was looking for the cheaper route. i guess i'll stick with the 28-80 till i save up.

[aphotographynut]

I have to put in my 1.8 cents worth. I suggest buying the 1.8 MK II for this. It is only about 80 bucks. Now now, I realize it is dirt cheap, but I have to admit, I am very happy with the results. If it doesn't work for you, you are not out a ton of money either. If it DOES work, either keep it, or get the 1.4 lens later for more money.

Hope that helps.

[chrisshealy]

I bought the Canon 50mm f 1.8 and shoot a lot of bands live I have found it to be a great lens and paid 79.99 on beach camera. You can check out some of my shots on my website Chris Shealy my processing is not the greatest but you can get an idea of how well it works.What I have found is depending on how well the lights are will determine the ISO I have shot as low as 200 ISO with no flash in a club. Here is one pic shot at The Showbox in Seattle of Overkill.
Here is the exif data
File Name
fuckyou.jpg
Camera Model Name
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL
Shooting Date/Time
1/21/2007 2:35:36 AM
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/60
Av( Aperture Value )
2.2
Exposure Compensation
-1
ISO Speed
200
Image Size
1024x683
Flash
Off
File Size
301KB
Owner's Name
Chris Shealy

[jpr]

I shot an event 11/11/06 with 24-70 on 20d and 85 /1.8 on markIIn 800 ISO flash used only on patrons you can see photos here, was my first attempt

SmugMug - jprphotos' photo galleries

[jfrancho]

Get the 50 f/1.8, if that's what your budget allows. Personally, I have the 50 f/1.4, the focusing mechanism is more accurate and its a full time manual focus lens, which is a must for me. As far as 50 being too long, well sometimes, but not too often. In a small club, with tight quarters, and forced to shoot from the floor, 50 can be a little long. 20 or 28 is better in this situation.

These were all taken from the floor in tight quarters:

17mm w/bounced flash


28mm


50mm


100mm

[blister]

i agree with getting a 50mm f1.8 if u think u have room to move around as it is a bit long for 1.6X cameras. being a 50mm f1.8 user myself, ive had so much fun with this lens, making me more creative on angles and compositions due to the limited focal range. i have also shot live bands with it. since you couldnt capture the whole band playing, ive composed most of my shots close-up or in mid-shot framing, mixed with the different light colors, it gave out a more dramatic look. the f1.8 opening also let me shoot at a much lower ISO which kept the noise down to a minimum.

my suggestion is get the 50mm f1.8. that little plastic fantastic lens is really a bang for the buck. its well worth it. its cheap and selling it is pretty easy if u decide to get rid of it.

[PavelOlavich]

Originally Posted by blister

i agree with getting a 50mm f1.8 if u think u have room to move around as it is a bit long for 1.6X cameras. being a 50mm f1.8 user myself, ive had so much fun with this lens, making me more creative on angles and compositions due to the limited focal range. i have also shot live bands with it. since you couldnt capture the whole band playing, ive composed most of my shots close-up or in mid-shot framing, mixed with the different light colors, it gave out a more dramatic look. the f1.8 opening also let me shoot at a much lower ISO which kept the noise down to a minimum.

my suggestion is get the 50mm f1.8. that little plastic fantastic lens is really a bang for the buck. its well worth it. its cheap and selling it is pretty easy if u decide to get rid of it.

The 50mm F1.8 at around $79 is only a great bargain if one can use that focal length...otherwise it is a huge waste of $79...that's a nice lobster & steak dinner for two with a nice middle of the road Cabernet...in those terms $79 is not so little $, yea?