Anyone shoot dark events with EPM2/off camera flash?

I'm wanting to shoot a music gig at a pub but only choice I have atm is Epm2 - 14-45 Godox 665 (sony) +X1 trigger (olympus) or a Nikon D5100 with a kit lens a Godox 685 (sony) +X2 trigger (nikon)

I've only shot nightclubs/music gigs before COVID with a Sony A7S and ambient light which was awesome but still a bit limited. I've done some video with Em1 MK1 and Gh5s.

Really mostly concerned with the AF of the EPM2 as don't have time to prective and will have to have the flash off camera is its almost twice the size of the EPM2 body lol especially with the XT in the EPM2 and then the 685 on top of it. I can however hold the whole combo pretty good with both hands lol

I know nothing of the Nikon or Sony cameras you mention — but the EPM2 was what convinced me to switch to Micro 4/3 about 10 years ago. After a few years, I moved on to more advanced Oly gear.

I don't know if you're going to be moving around, or shooting from one vantage.

If moving around, I have covered high school grad prom dances with my (higher-end) Oly gear and a radio controlled flash on a hand-held monopod. I'm one-handing both the camera and my 'lightstick', so it's a bit of a contortion at times.

Even with better lenses and gear, locking focus in dim light can be a struggle. Here, I've toyed with the idea of adding something like a small LED lamp to give the camera a better chance of finding focus. (The flash would then overpower the lamp, in the photo.) The drawback of this is that you will draw even more attention to yourself and further distract from the show.

If you're remaining in one spot, put the flash on a light stand and fire away. If manual focus is possible (and the targets aren't moving,) take a few test shots to lock in the focus and lighting.

Used to do cocktail parties with E-pl1 built in flash on low power driving a few strategically placed auto strobe flashes (SunPak if my memory serves me). Worked out better than expected at ISO 200.  Auto flashes set to Aperture f/5.6, lens set to f/2.8. Shutter speed 1/125.

Tedolph

Arek Halusko wrote:

I'm wanting to shoot a music gig at a pub but only choice I have atm is Epm2 - 14-45 Godox 665 (sony) +X1 trigger (olympus) or a Nikon D5100 with a kit lens a Godox 685 (sony) +X2 trigger (nikon)

I've only shot nightclubs/music gigs before COVID with a Sony A7S and ambient light which was awesome but still a bit limited. I've done some video with Em1 MK1 and Gh5s.

Really mostly concerned with the AF of the EPM2 as don't have time to prective and will have to have the flash off camera is its almost twice the size of the EPM2 body lol especially with the XT in the EPM2 and then the 685 on top of it. I can however hold the whole combo pretty good with both hands lol

You will be able to use flash inside the pub?

OM mani padme hum wrote:

Using a flash will aggravate the venue, the patrons and the band. Unless you know all these people and have their prior agreement I wouldn't even consider doing it. A faster lens and higher ISO are your friends here IME.

That's why I asked. I was surprised he intended to use flash.

MNE wrote:

OM mani padme hum wrote:

Using a flash will aggravate the venue, the patrons and the band. Unless you know all these people and have their prior agreement I wouldn't even consider doing it. A faster lens and higher ISO are your friends here IME.

That's why I asked. I was surprised he intended to use flash.

Lots of music places allow flash but I've mostly done no flash my A7s and Gh5s and some flash but very little. Also I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't invited by the band. promoter or the venue itself.

OM mani padme hum wrote:

FWIW, I cannot recall seeing anyone with a flash at a music venue or festival for decades, occasional punters with cell phones excepted. It's really, really annoying for everyone; I loathe flashes and have never used one at any music venue. For studio work or poorly lit corporate type events, yeah okay, but for gigs?!? It's not as if we're still stuck with High Speed Ektachrome at 160 ISO, or maybe 1000 if pushed. However, if you've got an in and it's all been cleared I guess the flashes will only aggravate the audience.

If you've got something f2.8 or faster I'd use that, and adjust the ISO as necessary - if you can get it high enough with an E-PM2(?) - but sometimes stage lighting is almost non-existent in small venues, or you can have several stops difference between one person and the next across the stage. If you have to use a kit lens and thus f5.6 I suppose flash is the only option...

If the lighting is especially poor, switching to monochrome can make life much easier.

You haven't seen someone light up a whole areana with a small flash on a m43 camera?

OM mani padme hum wrote:

FWIW, I cannot recall seeing anyone with a flash at a music venue or festival for decades, occasional punters with cell phones excepted. It's really, really annoying for everyone; I loathe flashes and have never used one at any music venue. For studio work or poorly lit corporate type events, yeah okay, but for gigs?!? It's not as if we're still stuck with High Speed Ektachrome at 160 ISO, or maybe 1000 if pushed. However, if you've got an in and it's all been cleared I guess the flashes will only aggravate the audience.

If you've got something f2.8 or faster I'd use that, and adjust the ISO as necessary - if you can get it high enough with an E-PM2(?) - but sometimes stage lighting is almost non-existent in small venues, or you can have several stops difference between one person and the next across the stage. If you have to use a kit lens and thus f5.6 I suppose flash is the only option...

If the lighting is especially poor, switching to monochrome can make life much easier.

LOL I'm not going back 20 years of to use film or b&w for that matter, I use to use Superia 1600 20 years ago to shoot night clubs.