Phot exposure - concert photos

Frank1 · Nov 20, 2011

Hello,
I have a problem taking good photos at concerts in a theatre.

I have a Nikon D80 with an 18-200mm VR F3.5 zoom lens. Taking photos in the 'A' mode set to F3.5 with an ISO 1600, yields photos exposed at 1/3 second. All pictures exhibit motion blur due to the 1/3 second exposure.

If I switch to the 'S' mode and set it to 1/30 second, I get under exposed pictures.
I cannot use flash since the subjects are too far and also disturb people.
I cannot increase the ISO because there is too much noise.
Reducing the the F number with a new lens would increase the blur due a reduced depth of field.
How do the professionals do it?
Where do I go from here?
Thanks

clanthar · Nov 20, 2011

Sounds like you've figured it out. There are cameras with much better noise control at higher ISOs. The Pros use those cameras.

Joe

MTVision · Nov 20, 2011

Frank1 said:
Hello,
I have a problem taking good photos at concerts in a theatre.

I have a Nikon D80 with an 18-200mm VR F3.5 zoom lens. Taking photos in the 'A' mode set to F3.5 with an ISO 1600, yields photos exposed at 1/3 second. All pictures exhibit motion blur due to the 1/3 second exposure.

If I switch to the 'S' mode and set it to 1/30 second, I get under exposed pictures.
I cannot use flash since the subjects are too far and also disturb people.
I cannot increase the ISO because there is too much noise.
Reducing the the F number with a new lens would increase the blur due a reduced depth of field.
How do the professionals do it?
Where do I go from here?
Thanks

That lens isn't really a good lens for low light conditions. Reducing the f# with a faster lens would allow you to get a faster shutter speed and it wouldn't cause an out of focus image unless you aren't nailing your focus. The blur from DOF is different than a blurry picture.
Is a tripod feasible at the concerts? That would help.
That lens has a variable aperture doesn't it? Isn't it 18-200 f/3.5-5.6? So, it wouldn't always be 3.5 - if you zoom in your aperture will get smaller. I might be wrong about the lens. There might be an 18-200 f/3.5

Frank1 · Nov 20, 2011

Megan, yes, that's the zoom lens I have. The F stops down to 5.6 when I zoom in to 200mm. It is 3.5 at 28mm.
The problem I've seen with DOF is where I focus on one person, and the person behind is out of focus. I am trying to prevent that.
A faster lens, say an F2.8, would improve the exposure by 1 or 2 stops. This would expose correctly with about 1/6th or 1/10th second. I would still have subject motion blur. I think I would need at least another 2 stops.
What about what Joe suggested, a better camera body. Maybe a D5100?
What do pictures look like at an ISO of 6400 (my extra 2 stops from 1500)?
Thanks
Frank

cgipson1 · Nov 20, 2011

A better body would help.. as would a much faster lens. 50mm 1.8 lenses are relatively cheap.. and you could get sharp, crop-able shots with it.

Also stabilizing the camera somehow... rest it on the back of a seat, or against a wall... sneak in a Gorilla pod that you can anchor to a seat or rail. Use a remote or the self-timer to actuate.

I wouldn't bother with a 5100.. good body, but still not going to do what you want. The D7000 has the most advanced tech for the least amount of money.. and handles high ISO shots unbelievably well... that would be your best bet.

MTVision · Nov 20, 2011

cgipson1 said:
A better body would help.. as would a much faster lens. 50mm 1.8 lenses are relatively cheap.. and you could get sharp, crop-able shots with it.

Also stabilizing the camera somehow... rest it on the back of a seat, or against a wall... sneak in a Gorilla pod that you can anchor to a seat or rail. Use a remote or the self-timer to actuate.

I wouldn't bother with a 5100.. good body, but still not going to do what you want. The D7000 has the most advanced tech for the least amount of money.. and handles high ISO shots unbelievably well... that would be your best bet.

The d5100 does handle ISO just as well as the d7000. They have pretty much the same sensor. The d7000 has more dedicated controls and can take af and af-s lenses. So if you can afford the d7000 get it but if not the d5100 has similar performance as the d7000.

MTVision · Nov 20, 2011

Frank1 said:
Megan, yes, that's the zoom lens I have. The F stops down to 5.6 when I zoom in to 200mm. It is 3.5 at 28mm.
The problem I've seen with DOF is where I focus on one person, and the person behind is out of focus. I am trying to prevent that.
A faster lens, say an F2.8, would improve the exposure by 1 or 2 stops. This would expose correctly with about 1/6th or 1/10th second. I would still have subject motion blur. I think I would need at least another 2 stops.
What about what Joe suggested, a better camera body. Maybe a D5100?
What do pictures look like at an ISO of 6400 (my extra 2 stops from 1500)?
Thanks
Frank

I'll post some pics from the d5100 @ ISO 6400 when I get home.

MTVision · Nov 20, 2011

This is one I had on flickr. It's not 6400 - it's 3200 1/125 f/1.6

It was a little underexposed (I'm always under exposing for some reason). If it hadn't been underexposed there probably wouldn't be very much noise. There wasn't that much anyways. I'll still try and post a shot at 6400 when I get home!

clanthar · Nov 20, 2011

This is 25,600 ISO -- yep, twenty five thousand.

It's noisy but it's also unfiltered in order to see just how bad it really is. Noise filtering would clean this up considerably: Canon 5D mkII.

Joe

Frank1 · Nov 20, 2011

That photo looks great on my computer. I don't see any noise.
I've seen reviews of the D5100 with ISO 6400 and above tests. Unfortunately, it's hard to judge from those tests.
Megan, am anxious to see your ISO-6400 picture post.
Thank you
Frank

Frank1 · Nov 20, 2011

Joe, that is a fantastic photo for ISO 25,600.
Unfortunately, since I am not a professional, just taking some pictures, I cannot buy a Canon 5d Mk II.
Frank

cgipson1 · Nov 20, 2011

Here is a 25,600 ISO shot from my D7000... just a test shot in a dimly lit room (one incandescent bulb about 15 feet away. (I left the Exif data in, in case there was a question) No tripod or remote.. just set on a desk and hand actuated.

Frank1 · Nov 20, 2011

That is a great sample for the D7000 at ISO-25,600.
The D5100 noise performance is similar to the D7000.
This is probably my answer.
Thanks for these samples.
Frank