Lens and other general questions

[tanqueray]

sorry to barge in here but, since it's kind of on topic...
would a Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 pretty good for low-light conditions such as concerts, indoor, outdoor at night (or little light), etc. or even just everyday use, day or night.
anyone have personal experience with this lens? or other suggestions?
i've heard great reviews about this particular lens from a person on a different forum and he also uses it as his everyday, multi purpose camera where ever he goes. that is basically what i want/need.
excuse the ignorance, i'm not too shabby with photography. pretty new to this.

 

[jstuedle]

For low light/available light concerts it should be OK if you can shoot 800-1600 ISO or better with acceptable noise and your hand holding technique is real good. If you can shoot at 1/20 sec. at 55mm and get good shots, you'll be alright.

 

[beato]

Won't 1/20th make it really blurry?

 

[ANDS!]

Won't 1/20th make it really blurry?

You cant hold still for 1/20th of a second?

 

[beato]

I don't know, my photography teacher always said never go under 90 without a tripod.

 

[ANDS!]

I don't know, my photography teacher always said never go under 90 without a tripod.

Most likely offering the EXTREME advice so as to not have you trying to hand hold something for 1/3 or 1 second.

I mean really. . .break a second into 100 pieces - surely a person can hold still for that long.

Also try it yourself. Photograph some cars, and put the camera into Shutter Speed mode, letting the computer (or whatever) figure out the AP - 1/100th of a second is plenty fast.

 

[beato]

Haha I guess I'll try it. Maybe thats why I could never get enough light lol.

 

[Sideburns]

I try to stay above 1/30...
90? You mean like...1/90 of a second? That's way faster than you need to hand hold a lens under 100mm...

 

[jstuedle]

Won't 1/20th make it really blurry?

Sometimes blur, like that of drummers sticks or the lead guitars hands/fingers make very cool pictures. With practice and good holding technique the blurr will not be from the camera.

 

[jstuedle]

You cant hold still for 1/20th of a second?

Sorry, but I can and do on a regular basis. The 35mm f/2.0 is easy, a 50mm requires more concentration on technique. Proper stance, contact of the camera firmly against the face, and a firm grip with both hands.
Here are some examples shot from 1/13th sec. to 1/20th sec. Just a few I grabbed off pbase that I still have up there. To see EXIF, go to the link in my sig. Look for "live bands" and some of the older ones before I started shooting strobist style.


50mm f/1.8, 1/15th ISO 800 D1X
http://i.pbase.com/o6/68/574768/1/78350375.kT9yJPOg.Bluff_0015.jpg

35mm f/2.0 1/15th ISO 800
http://i.pbase.com/o6/68/574768/1/77955047.JItcbeqj.LFire_Feb022007_0013.jpg

35mm f/2.0 1/13th ISO 800
http://i.pbase.com/o6/68/574768/1/77955048.wFdddy6O.LFire_Feb022007_0014.jpg

20mm f/2.8 1/20th ISO 800
http://i.pbase.com/o6/68/574768/1/77955052.GU2SMxZ8.LFire_Feb022007_0018.jpg

20mm f/2.8 1/20th ISO 800 D1X
http://i.pbase.com/o6/68/574768/1/77951893.GV8gNlAs.LFire_April272007_0012.jpg