Passes for upcoming concerts, need help please

[ket2785]

Hello guys,

I am lucky enough to have some passes for some well known artists coming up in the near future. Here is a little bit of a background to my experience, I started shooting in bars etc, made my way onto tribute bands and theatres (bigger audiences), now working for a publication.

I understand that I require fast lenses, but I only really have one which is the 35mm af-s f1.8, I also own a nikon 70-300mm VR F3.5-5.6 and the 18-55 kit lens. one or two of the concerts I am shooting will be outdoors in daylight (evening but in summer) so good light so I was thinking that the 18-55 and the 70-300 will perform quite well anyway. The others are going to be with less light as they are indoors (wembley arena and Indigo2). So.... the 35mm f1.8 will be good for those however, I dont have the zoom capabilities. Ideally I would like to purchase a 2.8 zoom but I am not rich and they can be costly, any advice for me? What would you do in this situation? I have the lenses to get close ups but they are not very fast in low light. Renting is an option but the costs will add up quickly with the amount of concerts I ams hooting.

Thanks everyone in advance ;-)​

 

[subscuck]

If you want a reasonably priced 17-50 constant 2.8, look into the Tamron. It's better optically than your kit lens, about $450US. Sigma has one as well for about the same price, but the Tamron tends to get spoken of better. For something longer, anything that'll do low light well is going to cost.

When you're using your 70-300, dial up the ISO as high as you're comfortable with on your body. You don't say which Nikon body you have, so I don't know how high is too high for you. Of course, even if I knew, I still wouldn't know, cause I shoot Canon, so I'm not sure where acceptable ISO reaches it's limit on various Nikon bodies.

Other than that, if this is something you're pursuing professionally, save, save and save some more for good glass. Honestly, right now the only better than decent lens you have is your 35. You need more like that. What's the possibility of getting the publication you're doing the work for to spring for a lens, ideally, or at the very least a rental?

 

[Trever1t]

you posted in the wrong section (you are pro but posting in the beginner section) Try the equipment section.

fast lenses are relatively expensive. Save up.