Recommendations for best concert lens?

[sicness]

I will be going to a Green Day Concert soon and wanted to get a great lens to take to the concert. I own a 500D with a 50mm 1.8 II lens which really didnt suit my needs on the last concert I went to but the fastness and the quality is really good but I wasnt satisfied with the range because I was sitting quite far from the stage. This time i want to prepare for it. My seating is maybe 80 - 100 meters away from the stage im assuming. Some lenses that i am considering and was looking are

Tokina 50-135mm f.2.8
Tamron 28-75mm f.2.8
Sigma 50-150mm f.2.8

Has anyone had experience in these lenses? I am not made of money so i wouldnt be checking out lenses like L series or somthing like that

Thanks!

[SquirrelDip]

Another option: Canon 85mm f/1.8.

f/1.8 and better IQ but you'll have to move around a bit...

[stoph]

I would agree with 85 1.8 but that isn't going to give you as much reach as you would like.

[ront]

I use a Sony a700, but my concert lens is generally my KM 28-75 f/2.8 lens. Most of the time it works very well for me. Most all of the pics found here were shot with this lens.
ront's Photos : Concerts

Ron

[SquirrelDip]

Originally Posted by stoph

I would agree with 85 1.8 but that isn't going to give you as much reach as you would like.

Totally agree but he's tight on cash.

Maybe a better option would be to rent a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS...

[Patt]

80-100 meters from the stage is pretty far. Firstly I would call the venue to make sure you can bring a DSLR to the show. Most likely they will say no. So you will likely have to sneak the camera in. Secondly, are you sure you want to put your camera in harms way at a Green Day concert? I've never been to one of their shows but I would imagine it can get a little rowdy.
I bought a Canon A650is point and shoot for my concert photography. Its easier to sneak in, keeps my 40D safe at home and it gives very good results. Now if I could get a photo-pass, I would surely bring my DSLR.
I would think that a 70-200/2.8 IS would almost be required for the distances you are talking. If you could get closer, I'd go with the Tamron 28-75/2.8; nice all around lens. I had the KM version when I had the KM 7D (may it rest in peace).

Here are some of my concert pics with the A650is:
Concerts - Free online photo gallery at PhotoCamel.com

Good luck.

Pat

[SquirrelDip]

Okay - rent with ample insurance...

[sicness]

Originally Posted by ront

I use a Sony a700, but my concert lens is generally my KM 28-75 f/2.8 lens. Most of the time it works very well for me. Most all of the pics found here were shot with this lens.
ront's Photos : Concerts

Ron

Ron, really awesome pictures! How far were you from the stage? Because i am really leaning towards the 28-75 f/2.8 lens. Thanks for the reply!

[ront]

Thanks sicness. I am a terrible judge of distance. Rarely am I ever on the front lines. I am guessing 50-60 ft from the stage. That is just a guess though.

Ron

[sicness]

Originally Posted by SquirrelDip

Totally agree but he's tight on cash.

Maybe a better option would be to rent a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS...

Squirreldip, Thanks for the replies. I was really thinking about the 70-200 lens. Im really loving that lens as far as i have heard on many forums. I know there are like 4 versions of this lens one F2.8 with or without IS and F4.0 with or without IS. I was going for the F/4.0 without IS because its all i would really go for as i am tight on cash. Dont really know if the IS on this lens makes a big difference. Beacuse with IS its going to go really over my budget. Especially the f/2.8 IS Well, I have 2 months 2 go before the holiday so who knows maybe ill be able to save up for that lens The 85mm you were talking about will not do good for me here because the way concerts are set up are really huge, almost as huge as a soccer stadium unless i am right up front with them. Which i couldnt get tickets to coz it was already sold out. So the closest i go was like 100 meters away about.

[sicness]

Originally Posted by Patt

80-100 meters from the stage is pretty far. Firstly I would call the venue to make sure you can bring a DSLR to the show. Most likely they will say no. So you will likely have to sneak the camera in. Secondly, are you sure you want to put your camera in harms way at a Green Day concert? I've never been to one of their shows but I would imagine it can get a little rowdy.
I bought a Canon A650is point and shoot for my concert photography. Its easier to sneak in, keeps my 40D safe at home and it gives very good results. Now if I could get a photo-pass, I would surely bring my DSLR.
I would think that a 70-200/2.8 IS would almost be required for the distances you are talking. If you could get closer, I'd go with the Tamron 28-75/2.8; nice all around lens. I had the KM version when I had the KM 7D (may it rest in peace).

Here are some of my concert pics with the A650is:
Concerts - Free online photo gallery at PhotoCamel.com

Good luck.

Pat

Hey pat Thanks for the reply! And Great Pictures for a compact camera! Really loving the ones with joe satriani! Well here in HK concerts, everyone brings cameras even though they say its not allowed, ive been to many concerts such as korn, my chem, simple plan, lost prophets, new found glory and flashes are going off everywhere Secondly, here, its not just a standing crowd, its more like a small soccer field with bleachers on the sides and in the back so there will be seatings which is where i booked the tikcets. And i am really leaning towards the 28-75 f/2.8 as where i am sitting, there is enough space to move around without being "annoying" But i am also thinking of what i am gona do with the lens after (am i going to more concerts, will i be shooting more portraits) if so I would really get the 70-200 F/2.8 but most of the times i like to shoot close shots where min 70mm will need me to walk around abit to get the whole picture in. That is why i am leaning towards the 28-75 as its exactly as you said its an all round lens. Does the IS on the 70-200 really make a difference? im sorry to hear about your km 7d

Thanks for the reply!
Pat

[sicness]

Originally Posted by ront

Thanks sicness. I am a terrible judge of distance. Rarely am I ever on the front lines. I am guessing 50-60 ft from the stage. That is just a guess though.

Ron

you and me both, i was also just guessing how far i was too i guess i am about the same distant as you were. haha

[sicness]

Oh rite and the reason why i wont pick the 70-200mm that much is because i know im really tight on cash to buy the f.2.8 but, the f/4 i can prolly squeez in but im am worried that the aperture wont be as fast enough to be handheld maybe because the stage lighting is really dim and i dont really like to crank my ISO above 800 1600 would be my max.. ARGHHHH

[Patt]

Originally Posted by sicness

Hey pat Thanks for the reply! And Great Pictures for a compact camera! Really loving the ones with joe satriani! Well here in HK concerts, everyone brings cameras even though they say its not allowed, ive been to many concerts such as korn, my chem, simple plan, lost prophets, new found glory and flashes are going off everywhere Secondly, here, its not just a standing crowd, its more like a small soccer field with bleachers on the sides and in the back so there will be seatings which is where i booked the tikcets. And i am really leaning towards the 28-75 f/2.8 as where i am sitting, there is enough space to move around without being "annoying" But i am also thinking of what i am gona do with the lens after (am i going to more concerts, will i be shooting more portraits) if so I would really get the 70-200 F/2.8 but most of the times i like to shoot close shots where min 70mm will need me to walk around abit to get the whole picture in. That is why i am leaning towards the 28-75 as its exactly as you said its an all round lens. Does the IS on the 70-200 really make a difference? im sorry to hear about your km 7d

Thanks for the reply!
Pat

IS is for camera movement, not subject movement. So it can help if your subject is standing still- for example- you can get the guitar player standing at a microphone sharp, but his hand may be a bit blurry.
As far as the KM 7D goes- it was a great camera- so many knobs for quick and easy adjustments. But KM did not have the lens selection or a follow up model to support it. So I had to sell it and buy Canon gear. Great camera for portaits, landscapes, concerts... but not good for sports or birds (slow to focus and low fps).
Good luck with your lens selection.

Pat

[Svenson]

I own the Canon 70-200 2.8L IS and LOVE it. I rented it twice and had to have it. I almost went with the F4 because of the price difference and thought it would be easier to convince my wife to spend the money on, but when I saw my wife didn't have such a bad reaction to me mentioning the 2.8, I decided to go all out and get the 2.8 IS ... and I am SO glad I did. I don't know what I would have done without the ability to go that low in many cases including concerts. I would give it a try by renting it if thats an option at all. When you decide to buy just remember that these "L" lenses will out last most of your cameras and lenses in your bag on both build quality and holding their value. I think if i would have short changed myself and got the 4.0 I would have wanted more down the road, but now i'm content with what I have
A couple examples with the 40D & the 70-200 2.8L I would say i was between 15 and 20 rows back on these.

[jeff5897]

You may want to see the original size of photos taken by these lenses, please download the photos and review the images's quality & sharpness.

I suggest Sigma 50-150, the shoot speed is very quick, and sharpness is good.

Tamron 28-75
Flickr Search Engine : Flickr original size search engine.
Sigma 50-150
Flickr Search Engine : Flickr original size search engine.
Tokina 50-135
Flickr Search Engine : Flickr original size search engine.

[sicness]

Originally Posted by Svenson

I own the Canon 70-200 2.8L IS and LOVE it. I rented it twice and had to have it. I almost went with the F4 because of the price difference and thought it would be easier to convince my wife to spend the money on, but when I saw my wife didn't have such a bad reaction to me mentioning the 2.8, I decided to go all out and get the 2.8 IS ... and I am SO glad I did. I don't know what I would have done without the ability to go that low in many cases including concerts. I would give it a try by renting it if thats an option at all. When you decide to buy just remember that these "L" lenses will out last most of your cameras and lenses in your bag on both build quality and holding their value. I think if i would have short changed myself and got the 4.0 I would have wanted more down the road, but now i'm content with what I have
A couple examples with the 40D & the 70-200 2.8L I would say i was between 15 and 20 rows back on these.

Svenson, im convinced! Outstanding pictures! well took! I would love to have one of those lens but its just way too over my budget. Maybe someday hopefully!. However, would you think that the 70-200 F/4 can take as great pictures that you have shown me? or atleast almost the same as them?

Cheers

[Svenson]

The f4 Would defiantly take very nice pictures, but it will all be conditional to your lighting... the IS feature and the ability to stop down to 2.8 are both designed to help in low light situations so the F4 with no IS would obviously have some issues with the lower light situations, but in general if you had enough light to work with im sure the F4 takes excellent pictures.

[Narsuitus]

You asked for a recommendation for the best concert lens to use at a distance of 80 - 100 meters away from the stage. I get by with the lower cost f/4 telephoto zoom. However, if I shot more concerts than I do, I would definitely get the higher cost 70-200 f/2.8 telephoto zoom which I think is the best for the situation you described.

If the lighting is too low for my f/4 telephoto zoom, I have three faster primes that I can use instead; 85mm f/1.8, 105mm f/2.5, and 180mm f/2.8.

[jeff martin]

From 100m I'm thinkin the 1200mm 2.8 at around $125k.