Best camera for Concert Photography?

[aliciatx]

Right now I have the Canon S2 IS and it hasnt given me any problems but Im always up for an upgrade, but I need help choosing which camera would be best to upgrade to. I take most of my pictures at concerts so Im trying to find one that would be the best in those conditions. My Canon has never caused me any trouble so I figured I would stick with a Canon. I had decided that I would upgrade to the new Canon S5 IS but then a friend of mine told me that bc of the higher megapixels that the pictures might actually come out worse than if I used a lower megapixel camera due to the noise at the concerts. I figured I would come here and get some professional opinions about what I should get. Should I get the Canon S5 or stick with something like the Canon S3 bc of the megapixel count? Or would you recommend a totally different camera all together?

Thanks in advance for any help you might give!

[Photo-John]

alicia-
I think there might be a little confusion about the word, "noise." When we talk about photography, noise essentially means the same thing as grain. The sound noise at a concert won't affect your photos at all. However, in low light, when you increase the ISO setting on your camera, your photos will show more noise. Which is basically the same thing as saying they'll get grainy.

Your friend is right about higher pixel counts causing more noise. However, the cameras that were introduced in 2007 have really impressed me with their image quality and low noise. I think you'd be very impressed and happy with the S5 IS. If you want to look at alternatives, check out the Olympus SP-560UZ and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18. They're both 8-megapixel cameras with 18x zoom lenses. We have the Olympus in-house for an expert review right now and I have been impressed with it. A fulll review should be available soon.

Is there anything you don't like about your camera? Is there anything it hasn't done well? Why do you want to upgrade?

[aliciatx]

Im still happy with my current camera for the most part, Im just really bad about always wanting the best possible so I usually end up upgrading my camera once a year bc Im always looking for something better. If SLR cameras were aloud into concerts, I would already have one, but they arent so Im trying to find the next best thing other than a professional grade camera. Im usually always within the first couple rows at all the shows I go to, but I want a camera that will do good from close up and for the odd time that I might end up a couple rows back. My Canon S2 does a pretty good job from pretty far away except without the flash it is almost impossible to get a clear picture if there is any movement at all from me or the subject that Im taking a picture of.

So you dont think the S5 will cause the pictures to be more grainy than the S3? They should come out clearer, right? I always assumed the higher the megapixels means the better the picture...I didnt know that it could actually have the reverse effect. I think I will go with the S5 if you say it will be a good camera to get, since I do not want to stray too far away from the camera I already have. Though I have heard the Panasonic camera that you mentioned is a very good camera and have heard about many people who have used it during concerts and loved the results, which would you choose?

Thanks so much for your help.

[Photo-John]

Alicia-
If you're comfortable with the Canon, then you should probably stick with Canon. The S5 IS will have better high ISO performance, it will be faster, and of course it has more resolution. The main difference with the Panasonic and Olympus are their lenses - they both have 18x optical zooms. But if you've been ok with the zoom range on your S2 IS, then I think you'll be happier with the S5 IS. It will be familiar, you won't have to completely learn a new interface. And I think Canon's compact cameras have the best image quality. Although, the studio tests I shot with the Olympus do look very good. I don't have any hands-on experience with the Panasonic so I can't really say anything about it. Panasonic's superzoom digital cameras have been popular with this community, though.

You should share some photos here. I'd love to see concert photos shot with your S2 IS. So it's a common thing to use superzooms to shoot concerts? And the security people never tell you you can't take the S2 IS in? I mean, it's obviously not a point-and-shoot camera.

[aliciatx]

The only cameras you can not take into concerts are cameras with removable lenses. It is pretty common to see super zoom cameras at shows bc everyone wants to get the best shots possible, and it doesnt hurt if the camera can make it seem like you were closer than you actually were. Ive seen some people who were like 20 rows back and some of their pics look like they were right up front. I like to have a large zoom bc Im obsessed with taking pictures at shows, I hardly come out from behind the camera throughout the whole show, but Im big on getting all different angles and distances, so the zoom makes it possible to get a really good up close face shot then also to be able to get a full body shot as well.

I would love to share some pictures with you, if you really want to see them. Some are better than others. All of my concerts are Country acts though...so you might not even know who the people are unless you like Country music. The best quality pictures I got were at a festival during the day, natural light is so much better than having to use a flash. I have over 5,000 concert pictures, so I dont even know which ones I should post.

[aliciatx]

Here are a couple pictures of Kenny Chesney that I have taken with my S2. Sorry if they are a little big.

[aliciatx]

I bought the Canon S5 IS and have already taken it to a concert to test it out, it did a great job. All I was hoping was that it would at least be as good as the S2, and it is just as good, possibly better. I am not sure yet, I need to test it out some more.

thanks for all the help.

[mn shutterbug]

CANON SX100 is great digital camera to take photos on concerte

Is this all you have to offer on this forum? Every one of your posts have been the same, "buy the Canon SX100". Is there a point to this? I mean, most people like their camera, but you must be obsessed with yours. It's just really strange.