Lens for bar performance

[carlalex]

I have have these 3 lenses and wonder which 1 to keep on the camera. This will be my first shot of band performance in a bar.
35mm equivalent
28-90mm f3.5-5.6
80-300mm f3.5-4.5
36-360mm f3.5-6.3

[jfrancho]

None. And why use the 35mm FOV equivalent? Most generally refer to the actual FL, since that's its FL, regardless of format.

For shooting bands in small clubs, I use:

EF 28 f/1.8
EF 35 f/2
EF 50 f/1.4
EF 100 f/2.8

Lots of good info in this recent thread: http://photocamel.com/forum/street-u...tml#post313338

[keepright]

I would suggest the mid telephoto (40-150?) for most of it as it's the fastest lens and a focal length range that doesn't make you stay in the front row. Moving to the back of the bar and shooting longer -- putting more air between you and the subject -- will increase the smoky atmosphere. Using the wide end will let you get closer without needing to be in people's faces. I'd also keep the wide/standard zoom handy for the full scene as well as the in-your-face photos.

Other people will probably have different ideas, so hopefully you'll get a good range of opinion on this. Good luck and enjoy the shoot!

[jfrancho]

Other people will probably have different ideas

Ideas are one thing, but experience is another. Telephoto lenses rarely work well in a club, unless you can get to a spot to shoot over the crowd. The other problem a is that the longer the FL, the faster the shutter speed will have to be to mitigate camera and subject movement. 1/60 freezes most casual subject motion, while 1/120 will freeze all but the most energetic strumming, drumming or other movement. Being in front is always better than being in the back. Additionally, I don't think you'll get great results with a lens whose maximum aperture is f/3.5. I generally shoot at f/1.4 - f/2.2. You can get away with f/2.8, but there has to be a lot of good light.

To give you an example, this was shot with an EF 28mm f/1.8 wide open, 1/40 sec., ISO 3200.

[keepright]

Camera shake and subject movement are definitely going to be problems. I was hoping that carlalex had a stabilized camera, which isn't the case, but that doesn't change the approach I would take given the existing limitations. At its widest angle the 40-150 is almost a stop faster than the 14-45 at its telephoto end. The 14-45 is going to be tough to work with at anything other than its widest angle. That's great if the access permits it, but that might be a last-minute decision. Lenses are interchangeable for a reason, right?

Originally Posted by jfrancho

Additionally, I don't think you'll get great results with a lens whose maximum aperture is f/3.5. I generally shoot at f/1.4 - f/2.2. You can get away with f/2.8, but there has to be a lot of good light.

There are lots of lenses I could wish the OP had, but that doesn't answer the question. The lens that I would use for this job is the 35-100 f/2, and the two that I would buy if this was a regular paying gig is the 25 or 30 f/1.4 and the 150 f/2. But the difference also is that my experience is with shooting more classical singers, which needs a very different look than the more "rock and roll" in-your-(subject's)-face wide shots.

[jfrancho]

Technically, one can use whatever they have. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend using any of the OP's lenses to get any kind of useful results. Therefore, my answer is as honest as I can be. The best you've offered is a $2200 Olympus zoom that is a whole stop slower than what is usually required. Do we even know what camera the OP uses? If its an Oly, I wouldn't bother shooting above ISO 400.

Instead of trying dismantle others' sound advice, try using actual experience that relates to the OP's situation, or learn from others' related experience.

Here is another live performance picture. This time from a musical:

[carlalex]

I'd almost despaired of doing this. Looking at the exif data I could find on these types of shots, most seem to be under 40mm. I might try with the $1 stabilizer I saw in another post. I do have the fl36 flash unit if that will be allowed

[gpf]

Originally Posted by carlalex

I'd almost despaired of doing this. Looking at the exif data I could find on these types of shots, most seem to be under 40mm. I might try with the $1 stabilizer I saw in another post. I do have the fl36 flash unit if that will be allowed

Forgive me for butting in on a subject I know nothing about, however, it seems to me that a stabilizer will only correct the camera shake. The increased exposure time will have just the opposite effect on your target. If it's a rock band then you are only going to get blurs with a pin sharp background. You might well end up with a very disappointing night's work.

I'll shuffle back into my box now.

[jfrancho]

You're correct gpf, camera stabilization will not prevent subject movement. As I said in the initial post, 1/60 freezes most casual movement, and 1/120 freezes all but the most enthusiastic strumming.

This taken with a EF 50mm f/1.4, wide open, 1/160 sec., ISO 1600. Note the blurred hand.



carla: you can use flash, just make sure you run it by the bar manager/owner and the band.

This is using one flash on camera, and two slaves on located on the stage:

[keepright]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

Do we even know what camera the OP uses? If its an Oly, I wouldn't bother shooting above ISO 400.

Instead of trying dismantle others' sound advice, try using actual experience that relates to the OP's situation, or learn from others' related experience.

Yes, I do know what camera the OP is using, because I checked.

I'm certainly not trying to dismantle sound advice, such as your experience with various brands of cameras. I don't know you and have no reason to be so rude. I am trying to - did - answer the question asked. Your answer to the OP is to not even bother showing up. I suppose everyone has their own way of doing things, which is what makes the opinions on an internet forum so valuable.