lenses to use with e500

I wanna get an e500 and I wanna shoot stage performances with varying light and motion ie: rock concerts of the indie variety, since I can get access to shows like that. Maybe larger venues later.

I like the e500 cause I am so damn thrifty and its a good value. I plan to be able to to get pretty close to my subjects.
I know the kit lenses are not optimal so what should I look for?

Thanks,

c

my suggestion : 14-54/2,8-3,5

ctbook said:

I wanna get an e500 and I wanna shoot stage performances with
varying light and motion ie: rock concerts of the indie variety,
since I can get access to shows like that. Maybe larger venues
later.
I like the e500 cause I am so damn thrifty and its a good value. I
plan to be able to to get pretty close to my subjects.
I know the kit lenses are not optimal so what should I look for?

Thanks,

c

Click to expand...

Pretty close how much? I think the best lens for you is the 14-54.
Fast and sharp. But it depends on how close you can get.
With 14 mm you fill up the frame with a man standing at about 5 feet distance...
--
stefano-italy

ctbook said:

I wanna get an e500 and I wanna shoot stage performances with
varying light and motion ie: rock concerts of the indie variety,
since I can get access to shows like that. Maybe larger venues
later.
I like the e500 cause I am so damn thrifty and its a good value. I
plan to be able to to get pretty close to my subjects.
I know the kit lenses are not optimal so what should I look for?

Click to expand...

thrifty eh?
Bad news. Expect to spend substantialy more on a lens than the whole E500 kit!

Really? Hmmm. Maybe a poor choice of camera then...

The top class Nikon and Canon lenses aren't cheap either.

Imagewise the 14-54 isn't much better than the kit lens 14-45, at least not according to lens reviews at photozone.de. The main difference is that it's better built and have faster AF, which you perhaps need. People on stage tend to move a lot these days....

Anyway I think the cost issue will be the same irrespective of the DSLR's brand.

The 50-200 is about £699

The nearest equivalent from Nikon is an 80-200 F2.8 which has a smaller zoom range and is slightly faster at the long end. This lens goes for £799.

ctbook said:

Really? Hmmm. Maybe a poor choice of camera then...

Click to expand...

Good quality lenses are not inexpensive -- you get what you pay for.

Any other good quality prosumer EFL 28-100 f/2.8 will be as much if not more.

Most of the major camera stores that sell on line are selling the 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 considerably less than the "whole E-500 Kit". (1 lens)

Examples: (need to click the sites' add to cart to see lower price)

J&R -- $399.99
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3725932

B&H -- $429.95

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=DyV2znT5YQ!-1051633961?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=301929&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
--

I'm not trying to cheap out but I am trying to get the best for the least. It seems Oly has few offerings with this system for what I want to do. However, keeping the big picture in mind, it still may be a practical choice.

This has gone a different direction than I wanted. Sorry.

ctbook said:

I wanna get an e500 and I wanna shoot stage performances with
varying light and motion ie: rock concerts of the indie variety,
since I can get access to shows like that. Maybe larger venues
later.
I like the e500 cause I am so damn thrifty and its a good value. I
plan to be able to to get pretty close to my subjects.
I know the kit lenses are not optimal so what should I look for?

Click to expand...

If you can plan where you will sit, the 50mm f/2 lens will give you 1 - 1 2/3 f/stops more range than the 14-54mm lens (which in turn gives you 2/3 - 1 1/3 more f/stops than the 14-45mm lens). I've used the 50mm lens at ISO 800 on my E-1 for some low light concerts. Both the 50mm and 14-54mm lens are under $500. To give you an example of using the 50mm lens, take your current lens and set it as close to 50mm as it will go (45mm for the 14-45mm lens, 50mm if you have the 40-150mm), and then practice shooting without using the zoom.

If you are a little further back, the 35-100mm lens would be best, but if you describe yourself as thrifty, do note that the lens will be at least double what you paid for your E-500 kit (also the lens is a big lens, so you would not be inconspicous).

For closeups, the 14-35mm f/2 lens would also give you a good range, but it isn't available yet, and IIRC, it is even pricier than the 35-100mm.

Do note that unless you get permission first, cameras are often times not allowed in the venues, and you would need the appropriate permissions to be able to sell photographs of the band.

Concert Photos. 50-200 for the reach. The 14-54will not give you enough tele imho. The perfect one is the 35-100, but its very expensive
--
Jens Holm
---- Proud E system user----

ctbook said:

I know the kit lenses are not optimal so what should I look for?

Click to expand...

No. the 40-150 telezoom F/3.5-4.5 is THE lens for rock concerts. Useable for 80% of a rock concert coverage.

No gain in changing 14-45 to 14-54: just marginally faster (aperture) - and both too short for the task.
Meanwhile you can dream of (and save for) the 35-100 F/2.

Good photos are made by the photographer, not by the gear - and this is even truer at a rock concert: a true challenge...
Good Luck!
--
Rapick
Old Glory Ninetynine-five, New Companion E-Threehundred
PBase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick