Best camera for concerts?

[Jcampbelll]

At least you would need a D90.

 

[Rekd]

Keep saving

^^^ This.

If your camera can handle high ISO then keep it and put your money into glass.

Otherwise, put your money into glass 'cuz you can't afford a high ISO body. :shrug:

 

[mjhoward]

If you plan to never spend more than that on a camera... then I might suggest the Canon SX30 simply for its long long reach (24-840mm equiv f/2.7-5.8) that you might want for large concerts. It is $400 but might come down a bit around the holidays.

 

[Village Idiot]

I'll have to go ahead and call BS on this... Having tested neither Nikon nor Hasselblad, I feel confident the 'blad would be far superior to anything Nikon or Canon have ever made.

You are wrong.

You really need to give us a budget. The "best" camera for it would be a d3s, as stated above. Which is ~$6000 for the body only. Then you would need some very fast lenses. I'd reccomend a 50 1.4 ($400), 85 1.8 ($430), 70-200 2.8 ($2,000) ...and thats just if your shooting from right near the stage. If your gonna be fairly far away (more than 100 feet or so, you'll want a 300 mm 2.8 ($5,000), and possibly a 400mm 2.8 ($6,000)

Obviously that isnt practical for someone taking casual concert photos

1D MKIV is better.

 

[bigtwinky]

First thing to know is that if you show up with anything that looks like "professional" gear to a show, they won't let you in. I'm not talking small bars and stuff, you can probably get away with it no problem, I'm talking slightly bigger venues. You will need a press pass to gain access to the venue to shoot with your professional gear.

So if you show up with a dSLR and a white long lens to shoot from the nose bleeds, you won't be allowed to. Even if you show up with a dSLR and a 50 1.4, which is a small lens, you won't be allowed to shoot.

That is why you are allowed to shoot with your finepix or any other P&S camera, because they wont get great pictures. On most tickets, there is a notice that you aren't allowed to do photography.

Look into a Canon G12 or something similar. A higher end P&S camera.

Things to look for are good high ISO performance, RAW file shooting so you can tweak and improve in post and an optical zoom, not digital. Digital zoom is crap. It is the same thing as cropping the shot after you take it. Optical zoom is a real zoom.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Samsung makes a f/1.8 p&s for around $400 (TL500) but it doesnt have much long range. Only a 3x zoom.

 

[Destin]

I'll have to go ahead and call BS on this... Having tested neither Nikon nor Hasselblad, I feel confident the 'blad would be far superior to anything Nikon or Canon have ever made.

You are wrong.

You really need to give us a budget. The "best" camera for it would be a d3s, as stated above. Which is ~$6000 for the body only. Then you would need some very fast lenses. I'd reccomend a 50 1.4 ($400), 85 1.8 ($430), 70-200 2.8 ($2,000) ...and thats just if your shooting from right near the stage. If your gonna be fairly far away (more than 100 feet or so, you'll want a 300 mm 2.8 ($5,000), and possibly a 400mm 2.8 ($6,000)

Obviously that isnt practical for someone taking casual concert photos

1D MKIV is better.

I'm calling bull. It is a proven fact that the d3s is the best low light dslr in the world right now. Multiple tests have paired it against the 1D MKIV and the d3s wins in low light performace every time, which is the most important thing for both concerts and sports, which is what the cameras are mainly built for.

 

[Village Idiot]

I'll have to go ahead and call BS on this... Having tested neither Nikon nor Hasselblad, I feel confident the 'blad would be far superior to anything Nikon or Canon have ever made.

You are wrong.

You really need to give us a budget. The "best" camera for it would be a d3s, as stated above. Which is ~$6000 for the body only. Then you would need some very fast lenses. I'd reccomend a 50 1.4 ($400), 85 1.8 ($430), 70-200 2.8 ($2,000) ...and thats just if your shooting from right near the stage. If your gonna be fairly far away (more than 100 feet or so, you'll want a 300 mm 2.8 ($5,000), and possibly a 400mm 2.8 ($6,000)

Obviously that isnt practical for someone taking casual concert photos

1D MKIV is better.

I'm calling bull. It is a proven fact that the d3s is the best low light dslr in the world right now. Multiple tests have paired it against the 1D MKIV and the d3s wins in low light performace every time, which is the most important thing for both concerts and sports, which is what the cameras are mainly built for.

Not necessarily.

Low light performance for sports isn't always needed, especially if you're in a strobed arena. There's also reach and lens selection to factor in. Plus the D3s only does 720p video.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I say they both suck because $6000 before lenses is just a tad over the OPs budget. So whats the point?

 

[ghache]

For 400 you cant do much for low iso. you might by able to get a d40 used or the canon equivalent but thats pretty much it. you still need to get a lens, a 50mm 1.8 would be your best bet but that takes you way out of your budjet.

 

[bigtwinky]

I say they both suck because $6000 before lenses is just a tad over the OPs budget. So whats the point?

Canon vs Nikon pissing contests have nothing to do with OPs in any thread. They are their own beings and can manifest themselves anywhere

 

[lizheaemma]

I guess my question is, are the venues that you want to shoot at going to let you in with a professional camera, without a press pass, most won't...

 

[Destin]

Yupp, even though I took part in it, I agree that this isn't the place for a canon vs nikone pissing match.

For what the OP is looking to do, I'd reccomend a nikon P7000, canon g12, or canon S95.

Realistically, I, for myself would go with the canon g12, for it's remote in plug for use with an intervalometer (and I'm a nikon guy, so thats saying alot).

For the OP, the s95 might be better as it's smaller, and has a max. aperature of 2.0, vs the 2.8 on the g12 and p7000. It doesn't have as many control dials, but it is smaller and easier for the average person to use.

So, to the OP, check out the canon s95. Not going to get pro quality shots or have alot of zoom, but its one of the best compact point and shoot you can get right now in my opinion.

 

[Village Idiot]

$415 covers shipping & Insurance. 30D + kit lens

Canon Digital Photography Forums

This camera is suitable for concert photography. It's not the latest and greatest, but it fits your budget. Save up for an additional lens and this could be feasible.

 

[Stutterfly]

Keep saving

Yes.

or... D7000 and hire a fast tele? D300s maybe?

Many options.