Needing Lens Suggestions - Low Light And Zoom

[Bingo]

Good Morning -

I'm shooting Canon DSLR. I'm open to other brands (Sigma/Tamron etc if they are good enough). I'm using a Rebel XT but have access to and am upgrading to a 7D.

I'm doing a lot of band/concert photography. Indoors almost exclusively, fairly low light and of course not using any flash. Trying to capture the haze and colorful lights and emotion of the shots.

The downside is I'm on a budget. I finally upgraded to the 50 1.4 and L-O-V-E it!! (If you don't own this lens do yourself a favor and get it!).

However, I often have to move around a lot and often can neither get close enough or sometimes even far enough back to get the shots I need. I'd really like to find a lens with some small zoom ability but is still fast enough to use in those challenging settings and get good crisp shots. Something like the quality of the 50 1.4 but with the range of the crappy 18-55 kit lens.

The Kicker: I'd like to stay under 500-600 if possible.

Does anything like this even exist out there??

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer or tips are welcome too.

Bingo

 

[Stutterfly]

Under 500-600 for a fast zoom? Good luck.

My 24-70 f2.8 cost around $2k (Nikon) I believe the Tamron/Sigma equivs (Canikon) are around $1k...last I looked anyway.

Even then though, that's going from 1.4 to 2.8, and you will notice the difference. I do, anyway, in my photography (concerts)

If I've been using my 50mm 1.4 for awhile then switch to my 24-70 2.8 I automatically think there's something wrong with it, but in reality it's just not as fast. It's lovely and crisp, but it ain't gonna beat the 1.4 for speed.

Try the second-hand market, or some place that sells grey market.

Also, I mentioned low-light cameras/lenses in my most recent blog post.

 

[analog.universe]

There is a Canon compatible sigma 24-70 2.8 that is like $900, but I'm not sure of the quality.. the Canon version is an industry standard and about 400 more. Think of the cost of your 50, and it doesn't zoom.... it's not easy to manufacture nice glass, so you pay for it.

 

[djacobox372]

Sigma makes a respectable 24-70mm f2.8 that sells for around $450-500 on the used market.

 

[gsgary]

I was going to say 16-35 until i saw your unrealistic budget

 

[EPPhoto]

The fastest zoom you'll find are all 2.8.

My Nikon 17-55 2.8ED was $1500 and my 24-70 2.8ED was $1900.

What you're looking for is a 10-200 f/1.4. that's sharp at any length and costs between $500-600 LOL!! That's hilarious, I'm sorry!

Not only is that not even close to reality, but even if it WAS...it'd cost somewhere around $10,000 haha!

Sent from Erics iPhone www.ericporado.com

 

[Patrice]

Primes are just about the only choices available faster than f2.8, and even primes of 1.4 to f2 quickly get expensive as you move away from the 50 mm focal length. Samyang make a very nice 85mm f1.4 in your price range but it's not auto focus. Manual focus at f1.4 is a challenge.

You might have to save up some coppers for a body with good low light performance and a fast (2.8) mid range zoom.

Look at some of eRose's posts. She does concert/band photography, you'll get some good insights there.

 

[metro2]

How fast/slow does it have to be on a 7D?

 

[pdq5oh]

You can find a non-VC Tamron 17-50 2.8 for under $500. new if you look around. Or buy a used one for a little less.