Canon 50mm 1.4 for low light pictures? or what would you recommend?

[Pete7D]

I have a canon 7D, and I will be shooting lots of rock band in concerts, low light or lots or color lights and spots, what lens would you recommend, i was thinking about the canon 50mm 1.4 or sigma.

I dont want to use a flash if its possible,

and I will be able to be walk freely all around musicians and stage. so distance wont be variable.

thanks

also what settings would you recommend

I only have right now the stock lens 28-135mm

[armando_m]

I'm sure the f1.4 would work wonders, but since you can walk freely, I'll would rather have a wide angle zoom, f2.8 preferably, and get up close and personal with the musicians

[Anbesol]

I would definitely prefer the 50mm over anything else, its going to be the fastest (for under $1k) and the most useful focal range, especially considering as you say you have free range for all sorts of distances. To get the whole band in an image would require a fairly long distance, but definitely workable.

Though maybe I misinterpreted what you said "distance won't be variable"? If you are limited to very close quarters of moving space with the band, then a shorter focal range, like a 24-35mm range would be more appropriate.

[Pete7D]

yeah I think I will go with the 50mm I will be able to move all around the band so distance wont be a issue.
What ISO and speed would you recommend

thanks

[Photo-John]

I've used my 70-200 f/2.8L for concert photos with professional lighting. The concept of the 50mm f/1.4 is nice and it is very fast at f/1.4. The problem is, f/1.4 doesn't allow for practical depth-of-field and you're going to get a lot of throwaways where your subject is out-of-focus. That being the case, I think your best bet is an image-stabilized f/2.8 zoom. Which zoom depends on how close you can get.

As far as ISO goes, that's going to depend on how much light you have to work with. I try to avoid going over ISO 800 with my EOS 7D. But for shooting a concert I think I'd push it up to ISO 1600 if I needed to.

[Pete7D]

So what lens would you recommend for this kind of events? one with f/2.8?

[Photo-John]

So what lens would you recommend for this kind of events? one with f/2.8?

Like I said, I've used my 70-200mm f/2.8L - and that was with slide film back in about 2000. With your 7D's high ISO ability you should have no problem with a lens like that - other than it's heavy. And if you get the IS version, you'll really be set. The real question is how close you'll be. If you're really close the 70-200 might be too long. If that's the case, then the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS might be good. I'd also take a look at what Tamron and Sigma have in the way of image-stabilized zooms. It's too bad the Canon 24-105L is an f/4 lens instead of an f/2.8.

[Pete7D]

ok thanks
and yes I will be really close in fact on the stage if I want to.

so you would recommend sigma or tamron lenses?

thanks

[Photo-John]

ok thanks
and yes I will be really close in fact on the stage if I want to.

so you would recommend sigma or tamron lenses?

Sure - the good ones, anyway. Compared to the camera manufacturers, Tamron and Sigma seem to have lesser quality control. So the chances of getting a bad sample are higher. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy their lenses. Once of my most-used and favorite lenses is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. Most of the product photos you see in the pro reviews here were taken with that lens. And Tamron has some new image-stabilized, "VC" lenses that look great. I've been lusting after the 17-50mm f/2.8 VC lens since it was announced. I expect the Canon 17-55mm has better auto focus, though.

[Loupey]

Based on what you've stated so far... crop body... unhindered access...ambient light shooting... here's my take on it:

1) the 50mm is going to be too long and all your shots will take on your typical 1/2 to 3/4 body shots

2) why consider zooms if you have access?

3) what is your budget?

I'd recommend the 28mm f/1.8 over the 50mm f/1.4 for this application. The 35mm f/1.4L is good too but expensive. The 16-35mm f/2.8L mk II would be good if you really have to have a zoom. You're probably not going to be shooting at these wide apertures (due to extremely shallow DOF) but it will help to see through the viewfinder better and also give you that option to go shallow DOF if the opportunity presents itself.

If you can't spring for the 16-35mm f/2.8L II, I'd go 28mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.8 and be done with it.

[Pete7D]

ok thanks guys for the very aprecciated tips.