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135mm f2 dc for concerts

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Paul JN

Paul JN

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Anyone use this for concerts. I am thinking to pair with a D810 and sometimes shoot DX (crop) to get the equivalent of 200mm.

What is the AF like?
 
Paul JN said:
Anyone use this for concerts. I am thinking to pair with a D810 and sometimes shoot DX (crop) to get the equivalent of 200mm.

What is the AF like?
Click to expand...
 
Paul JN said:
Anyone use this for concerts. I am thinking to pair with a D810 and sometimes shoot DX (crop) to get the equivalent of 200mm.

What is the AF like?
Click to expand...
 
Gearsau said:
I have 16 lenses. Only one has VR .... Nikon 70-200mm f2.8. With the current ISO capabilities of the newer cameras, you should be able to shoot with an ISO that will enable you to shoot at 1/125 or so.
Click to expand...
While I believed I could handhold a 135mm lens at 1/125th when using film, like many of us I now examine my results more closely on a computer screen where camera shake is more apparent. So without VR, I now set my personal "handholding limit" at 1/2xFL instead. As a result, for stage photography I prefer my 70-200mm VR, preferably with a monopod.

The term "Concerts" covers a wide range of lighting conditions. I have used the 135mm DC a few times to photograph bar bands. ISO 3200 was acceptable wide open, but to reduce the LoCA I use f/2.8 and ISO 6400 as my starting point. Even so, my shutter speeds were often 1/200th or so.

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I did not like mine at all in the low and changing light of the concerts I shot with it. Focus was slow and the DC virtually useless (which is the selling point of the lens IMO). I've tried various primes for concert photos and I always seem to end up with my 24-70 & 70-200 f2.8 on. Some situations allow use of primes; mainly how close I am. But the majority of the time those Trinities work just fine. The big boy with a 1.7 tc is amazing.
 
Michael Benveniste said:
Gearsau said:
I have 16 lenses. Only one has VR .... Nikon 70-200mm f2.8. With the current ISO capabilities of the newer cameras, you should be able to shoot with an ISO that will enable you to shoot at 1/125 or so.
Click to expand...
While I believed I could handhold a 135mm lens at 1/125th when using film, like many of us I now examine my results more closely on a computer screen where camera shake is more apparent. So without VR, I now set my personal "handholding limit" at 1/2xFL instead. As a result, for stage photography I prefer my 70-200mm VR, preferably with a monopod.

The term "Concerts" covers a wide range of lighting conditions. I have used the 135mm DC a few times to photograph bar bands. ISO 3200 was acceptable wide open, but to reduce the LoCA I use f/2.8 and ISO 6400 as my starting point. Even so, my shutter speeds were often 1/200th or so.
Click to expand...
 
Paul JN said:
Michael Benveniste said:
Gearsau said:
I have 16 lenses. Only one has VR .... Nikon 70-200mm f2.8. With the current ISO capabilities of the newer cameras, you should be able to shoot with an ISO that will enable you to shoot at 1/125 or so.
Click to expand...
While I believed I could handhold a 135mm lens at 1/125th when using film, like many of us I now examine my results more closely on a computer screen where camera shake is more apparent. So without VR, I now set my personal "handholding limit" at 1/2xFL instead. As a result, for stage photography I prefer my 70-200mm VR, preferably with a monopod.

The term "Concerts" covers a wide range of lighting conditions. I have used the 135mm DC a few times to photograph bar bands. ISO 3200 was acceptable wide open, but to reduce the LoCA I use f/2.8 and ISO 6400 as my starting point. Even so, my shutter speeds were often 1/200th or so.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I keep VR on when using a monopod unless the ahutter speed creeps into the 1/800 range.
 
knightmelodic said:
I did not like mine at all in the low and changing light of the concerts I shot with it. Focus was slow and the DC virtually useless (which is the selling point of the lens IMO). I've tried various primes for concert photos and I always seem to end up with my 24-70 & 70-200 f2.8 on. Some situations allow use of primes; mainly how close I am. But the majority of the time those Trinities work just fine. The big boy with a 1.7 tc is amazing.
Click to expand...
 
Gearsau said:
knightmelodic said:
I did not like mine at all in the low and changing light of the concerts I shot with it. Focus was slow and the DC virtually useless (which is the selling point of the lens IMO). I've tried various primes for concert photos and I always seem to end up with my 24-70 & 70-200 f2.8 on. Some situations allow use of primes; mainly how close I am. But the majority of the time those Trinities work just fine. The big boy with a 1.7 tc is amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Paul JN said:
Anyone use this for concerts. I am thinking to pair with a D810 and sometimes shoot DX (crop) to get the equivalent of 200mm.

What is the AF like?

-
Click to expand...
Yes, I use this for concerts and it works great for me. Being older glass it does flare a bit which helps to fill in the shadows a little. I like to stop down one or two stops. Changing to BW looks great too with this glass. Here are some samples from a concert... High ISO isn't too much of a problem for the BW as it resembles Tri-X.

Hope this helps... I use a D800e BTW and focus is plenty fast. DOF is VERY small at F2 so F2.8 is where I start. I also use the Constant Focus setting as very small movements can get it off.

Bill G

















Paul JN said:
Photo Geezer
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Excellent shots - thank you
 
If it's for night time indoor concerts, the DC lenses struggle with focusing in mixed artificial light, I would use it in manual focus mode only
 
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