2 Questions, hopefully simple

[jameserenshaw]

Hi,

I'm pretty new to photography. I've been using a Sony Cybershot camera for quite a few years, and only just moved onto an Olympus PEN E-PL1. Not quite an SLR, but getting there.

I've never used a proper lens camera before, and I'm a bit stumped on 2 things. The first is zoom, my Sony Cybershot DSC-T10 had a zoom of 3x optical zoom, it was much better (for zooming in) than the 14-42mm kit lens I got with my Olympus.

I was wondering in terms of zoom, what the equivalent mm would be for the optical zoom I had on my Sony Cybershot, so I could get back to a similar level of closeness as I had before with a better camera.

The second question is a bit more tricky. I like to go to music concerts and my Cybershot handled the conditions quite well. It's usually a lot of different coloured spot lights, not a lot of light and a lot of movement. I've only tried low level light shots a few times, and it's not always been great, the next concert is at the end of June, and I don't want to be caught out. I was wondering can anyone give any tips on shooting at concerts, or point me in the direction of other articles/threads?

Thanks in advance.

James Renshaw

 

[dxqcanada5]

The Sony lens has an 35mm equivalent focal length range of 38 to 114mm.

Micro four thirds 14-42mm = 28-84mm : 35mm equivalent
14-54mm = 28-108mm : 35mm equivalent

Usually with low light shooting you want a lens that lets more light in (large max aperture)... fast lenses are usually fixed focal length.
ie Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (100mm : 35mm equivalent)

 

[tirediron]

A 14-42 zoom is a 3x optical zoom, it's just not quite as long as your P&S was. As far as concert shooting, dxq's spot on - fast glass and high ISO.

 

[jameserenshaw]

Thanks for your replies guys, I'll try for a faster lens and pump the iso up at the concert.