Taking Photos at Concerts

[Squeezer]

Went to the Tim and Neil Finn Concert last night with my 300D and a Sigma 70-300mm

Got some "reasonable shots" by cranking up the ISO to 800, setting the Shutter speed to 1/60 or higher and Aperture fully open.

Found that even then I had to bump up the Shutter speed due to Camera shake ( Too hard to smuggle a Tripod in !!).

Apart from using an expensive Telephoto prime is there anything else worth doing for any future events.

Are you better off pulling back on the Zoom to get more aperture and then cropping. I found the shots I took at Full Zoom were fuzzy and dark which is not suprising since I tried to compensate for lack of tripod by increasing shutter speed to 1/80 or 1/100

[Squeezer]

Click to view full-sized image!
Hosted by UGBox Image Store

Resized only - No Cropping


Click to view full-sized image!
Hosted by UGBox Image Store

Resized No Cropping


Click to view full-sized image!
Hosted by UGBox Image Store

Cropped and Resized

[FranchiseJuan]

For concert work you need:

- To be in the front row, or in the first few rows.
- To be using fast primes or constant apiture F2.8 zooms
- IS, VR, AS or a monopod.
- Shutter speeds from about 1/40-1/100 will work for most situations. slower you get motion blur.

These are all asuming you are not going to be using flash. As far as I can see, all of these shots are a little soft. Have you done any shapening at all?

[Fatmantan]

I found out the hard way

I went to a concert, about the 4th row. The pics looked great on my lcd screen, but when i got home

Do not, i repeat do not dance/jump around while taking photos

Oh well, got a couple of good shots.

Also do not use your zoom if youre shaking a lot....just resize and crop the shots as u did.

[jbman]

Originally Posted by FranchiseJuan

For concert work you need:

- To be in the front row, or in the first few rows.
- To be using fast primes or constant apiture F2.8 zooms
- IS, VR, AS or a monopod.
- Shutter speeds from about 1/40-1/100 will work for most situations. slower you get motion blur.

These are all asuming you are not going to be using flash. As far as I can see, all of these shots are a little soft. Have you done any shapening at all?

I totally agree on this as well. I have found without a fast prime you have no chance of getting enough light in.

This is a photo I took at a small concert. I wasn't too far away from the singer so I wasn't to hard, but as you can see it is hard to get enough light without a prime.
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec
F-stop: f/4
Digital ISO 800
Format: Canon RAW
Camera: Canon EOS 300D
Lens: Canon 80-200mm USM

[Squeezer]

Originally Posted by FranchiseJuan

These are all asuming you are not going to be using flash. As far as I can see, all of these shots are a little soft. Have you done any shapening at all?

No sharpening or anything done to them. Straight off the Camera... Into Irfanview - Image - Resize to 1600 width keeping aspect ratios

As for location I was about 50-60 metres away off to the side in a Corporate box so it wasn't the ideal location for photos but great for food/drinks and a good view.

[Amfibius]

I got this picture with a 28-135IS. I was sitting about 50m from the stage. ISO800, F/5.6, 1/60s. No flash



Not too shabby for a humble slow lens

[de-coder]

May I be so bold as to ask how you take a DSLR into an event? It's not exactly something you can slip into the jacket pocket, or do you just get the mrs to take an extra large handbag?

[Amfibius]

de-coder it was in China. I had it in my messenger bag which does not look like a camera bag

[ring wraith]

please for the love of god, dont use a flash in a concert, it detracts both from the atmosphere and for the performer. imagine having to contend with little (or big) flashes as you solo, sing or double kick in time.

[Squeezer]

Originally Posted by de-coder

May I be so bold as to ask how you take a DSLR into an event? It's not exactly something you can slip into the jacket pocket, or do you just get the mrs to take an extra large handbag?

Being a Corporate box they don't do bag searches and the like. Had the DSLR in my backpack as well as binoculars etc.

Was planning on just taking a P&S Digital for a couple of happy snaps but the batteries were totally flat so I had to take my DSLR. If asked to I would have happily formatted memory card and put the camera back in the car.

P.S. and no I wouldn't use a flash at a concert - apart from the fact that it wouldn't have the throw to illuminate anything.

P.P.S There were LOTS of people taking Videos and Pictures with phones. Neil and Tim at one stage commented that in the "old days" people held lighters above their heads and now it was Mobile phones