Advice - Live Music Photography - What Camera?

[liamthomson]

Hello all!

I have been researching buying a camera for quite a while but I just cannot seem to settle on the right choice.

Basically the top 4 I am considering are: Sony DSLR-A100, FUJI FinePix S9600, Canon 400D and the FUJI FinePix S6500fd.

I will be shooting Rock Bands of various different sizes in a Live Setting On-stage. This means low, unpredictable lighting, NO FLASH ALLOWED and a lot of movement.

I need a fast camera that can keep up with the action and never miss a beat but at the same time produce sharp, exciting images with no blur and no graininess in these conditions without using a flash of any sort (it is not allowed)

Please can you offer me some advice and recommendations on the above Cameras and any others you believe suitable?
Thanks!
Liam

[SmartWombat]

A DSLR would be my pick, not the Fuji SLR-shaped cameras.

DSLR means you can buy extra lenses that are better for low-light photography.
Otherwise you've just got what comes with the camera and no other choice.

As large a sensor as you can afford
For the same megapixel count, a larger sensor means better low noise performance in dim light.

Image Stabilisation won't deal with subject movement, only camera shake.
So you may not find it a benefit to your work.