Hip hop shows. Is a f2.8 zoom an option?

Hi

As a proud dad I'm following my kid to her hip hop shows. The lighting is terrible, the kids move fast, and sometimes they use smoke machines that make photography a nightmare for a long time after they turn the damn thing off. Flash is not permitted, naturally.

I'm using my T3i with the canon 85 1.8. The results are satisfactory for my use, but the problem is that I can't move around so a prime lens is very limiting for composition.

The question is will it be possible to take decent pictures with a f2.8 zoom, or is it too slow for these conditions. I've been trying to keep iso at 1600, assuming 3200 would be too noisy.

These are three pics I took during the last show. All in Tv mode, 1/320 sec, iso 1600, f1.8-2.0. Usually I take raw pics and convert but I forgot this time, so these are JPGs straight out of the camera.

(c/c welcome, thanks)

Nectar D Or said:

The question is will it be possible to take decent pictures with a f2.8 zoom, or is it too slow for these conditions. I've been trying to keep iso at 1600, assuming 3200 would be too noisy.

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iso 3200 may be noisy or it may not, but you will never know unless you use it. f/2.8 is more than a stop away from f/1.8, so if you want to keep the same shutter speed, you will have to bump up the iso.

i take pictures in dark bars and restaurants and sometimes use iso 12800 or 25600 ... it is far easier to clean up high iso noise than blur due to slow shutter speed ...

whatever works for you ...

The pictures aren't that great, the composition and image are good, but the over all IQ isn't great. Your camera and lens are decent, like was said see if you can bump up the ISO. Also see if you can take a monopod with you, places will let you in with a monopod when a tripod would be frowned on, this is what sports photographers use a lot; you'll see many of them using a monopod this summer with the London Olympics.

Another suggestion is experiment in camera with high ISO noise reduction and see if that makes a difference. I used this technique with my son's police graduation inside with my Xsi, and I noticed contrast suffered a bit, but not as badly as your images.
--
"Photography is, indeed, an inclusive language."
Ansel Adams

I shoot pro dance and one of my go to lenses is the EF 70-200L f2.8. I have both the I & II models. It's a great lens! Also have the 85 mm, both f1.8 & f1.2, but too slow on focus.. I keep my shutter speed at 1/250 and vary the ISO, often shooting 3200.. My suggestion is shoot raw and use LR. LR4 is really good and Adobe cut the price! Good nr.

I usually shoot with a 1DMkIV and 5DMkII, but also have a 7D. On that I use an EF-S17-55 f2,8 which is a very good lens. You should be pleased with a 70-200 f2.8 IS. Perhaps rent one and try it out first.

Thank you all for your responses.

I agree, my results are disappointing. This may be due to in-camera processing, though I haven't been able to get much better results with raw + DPP. I'll get LR and try it out. I'll start with practicing on my old pics. My PP skills need some improvement for sure.

I'm happy to hear reducing the shutter speed to 1/250 would be OK. This means I can get a 2.8 zoom and use iso 1600-3200 depending on the lighting.

I don't know about 70-200 focal range though. Sometimes I wish I could go wider than 85 so I can capture groups of dancers. A 50-150 sounds more like the range I need.

Nectar D Or said:

A 50-150 sounds more like the range I need.

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EFS 50-150f2 IS...that would be heavenly...!
Brgds

Nectar D Or said:

I don't know about 70-200 focal range though. Sometimes I wish I could go wider than 85 so I can capture groups of dancers. A 50-150 sounds more like the range I need.

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I also use a Ef28-70 f2.8 (soon to be upgraded), EF 16-35L f2.8 II, and have EF 35L f1.4 & EF 50 f1.4 if necessary, depending on the venue. Usually use a minimum of two bodies (sometimes three) to minimize lens swaps.

One other trick is a spare body with a wide angle (set to capture entire stage width) with a Pocket Wizard set to remotely fire the camera on a preset tripod. Like having a second shooter.

Nectar D Or said:

I don't know about 70-200 focal range though. Sometimes I wish I could go wider than 85 so I can capture groups of dancers. A 50-150 sounds more like the range I need.

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Yes, I agree 200% with the 50-150. 70 is not wide enough, on a crop body.

And I'll use it mostly for fashion shows, where I want to capture full body shots at the end of the runway.

Shamus1 said:

I also use a Ef28-70 f2.8 (soon to be upgraded), EF 16-35L f2.8 II, and have EF 35L f1.4 & EF 50 f1.4 if necessary, depending on the venue. Usually use a minimum of two bodies (sometimes three) to minimize lens swaps.

One other trick is a spare body with a wide angle (set to capture entire stage width) with a Pocket Wizard set to remotely fire the camera on a preset tripod. Like having a second shooter.

Click to expand...

Oh, that sounds fabulous but as an amateur I can't justify the cost of all this gear.

One f2.8 zoom is what I can afford at the moment. On a full frame body the 70-200 f2.8 would have been perfect, but I have an APS-C.

The spare body on a tripod with a wide angle must give you great results, especially if you can place it in front of the center of the stage.

I retired from another career in 2004, and while I had Minolta 35mm gear, started using digital with a Digital Rebel and kit lens. You can't get it all at once.

If you don't have a 50mm, look at either the f1.4 or f1.8. If you need wider still, the 35mm f2.0 is noisy (sound - not image) - (not USM) but not too bad for the price.

Also you can subscribe to Kelby Training (www.kelbytraining.com) on a monthly basis. Some outstanding videos...