Music gig lens choice

[koffiejunkie]

Hi guys,

I'm going to a music festival next week, taking the camera with me. Last time I went with my 35mm f/2 and 50mm f/1.8 - You can see some my shots here. Going through all my pics, I came to the following insights:

1. All my pics were at in the 100 to 400 ISO range
2. I shot mostly between f/2.8 and open, with a handful between f/2.8 and f/5.6
3. The majority of shots ended up with 1/100 or faster shutters.

So, given that I can push ISO to 800 or 1600 without any issues, and since I don't have the 35mm lens any more, I decided I'll just take the 24-105L f/4 and be done with it.

I am, however, tempted to hire something longer for when I can't get up close or I just want a tighter composition. The two lenses I'm contemplating are

* 135mm f/2 L
* 70-200mm f/2.8 L

What do you guys prefer for gigs like this? I'm kinda not wanting to stick out with the white drain pipe, since I'm not press and don't want to draw unnecessary attention, and the 135 L is one sweet lens, but at the same time it's not much longer than what I have.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Aah damn, never mind. Lens rental company don't have the 135L (or anything similar) in stock. Only the 70-200mm f/2.8. I guess that settles it

 

[bwana]

So, given that I can push ISO to 800 or 1600 without any issues, and since I don't have the 35mm lens any more, I decided I'll just take the 24-105L f/4 and be done with it.

Why so cautious with the ISO?

Just for the sake of it I had a look over some recent shows. 24-70 f/2.8 on the 7D, the 70-200 f/4 on my 1D, on stage I swap that out for the 50 f/1.4.

Have you thought about the 200mm f/2.8?

 

[koffiejunkie]

Why so cautious with the ISO?

I think I had it on Auto, which on the 40D meant it was pretty much pegged at 400. With the 50D, I'm usually pretty liberal, but lots of dark backgrounds means the noise shows. Anyway, the stages are usually pretty well lit, and I tend to use spot metering and meter for the faces, give or take. That usually gives me a lot of light to work with.

Just for the sake of it I had a look over some recent shows. 24-70 f/2.8 on the 7D, the 70-200 f/4 on my 1D, on stage I swap that out for the 50 f/1.4.

Thanks

Have you thought about the 200mm f/2.8?

Yes, the 200mm f/2.8 L was actually my first choice over the 70-200, for the aforementioned reasons, and also because it actually fits in my bag, but the rental company don't have any stock.

 

[bwana]

I really enjoy shooting live music events, almost as much as sport, and that 200mm f/2.8 is pretty tempting . . .

 

[koffiejunkie]

I really enjoy shooting live music events, almost as much as sport, and that 200mm f/2.8 is pretty tempting . . .

It is, especially since it's pretty cheap, as far as L glass goes.

 

[bwana]

It is, especially since it's pretty cheap, as far as L glass goes.

The thing is after spending 1-2 hours in a torrential downpour to shoot the Elton John concert earlier in the year weather sealing is pretty high up on my list of requirements for all new purchases.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Is the 200mm f/2.8 L not weather sealed? Where I'm going it might be wet too.

 

[bwana]

Is the 200mm f/2.8 L not weather sealed? Where I'm going it might be wet too.

Nope. Pity too because apart from that it looks like a great lens.

 

[koffiejunkie]

I'm not opposed to wrapping some plastic around my kit. But usually I figure if it's dry enough not to get the front element wet, I don't worry much about the rest

 

[bwana]

I'm not opposed to wrapping some plastic around my kit. But usually I figure if it's dry enough not to get the front element wet, I don't worry much about the rest

I have family members who travel a lot and that means an almost endless supply of disposable shower caps.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Unfortunately by the time I had my dates confirmed and placed my order, all variants of the 70-200mm were out of stock. So I guess I'll shoot the whole thing with the 24-105L and 50mm f/1.8.

 

[bwana]

Unfortunately by the time I had my dates confirmed and placed my order, all variants of the 70-200mm were out of stock. So I guess I'll shoot the whole thing with the 24-105L and 50mm f/1.8.

Ouch.

 

[koffiejunkie]

It's not so bad. I can get by with what I have. I still have my 70-300 too, and if the light is good I can get away with that.

But the 70-200mm f/2.8 would just have been nice

 

[koffiejunkie]

Well, the 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM performed beautifully. I hope it is fully weather sealed, because I spent most of the time standing in the rain! Still works though, so it should be OK.

 

[bwana]

Well, the 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM performed beautifully. I hope it is fully weather sealed, because I spent most of the time standing in the rain! Still works though, so it should be OK.

Nope. But I did warn you to be careful.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Nope. But I did warn you to be careful.

Didn't see your edit. Oh well...

 

[bwana]

Didn't see your edit. Oh well...

Only the IS versions of the 70-200 (2.8 and 4) are weather sealed. That's why I want one! Until then I'm stocking up on disposable shower caps!

 

[koffiejunkie]

And there I thought you were after the IS...

I really liked this lens and the pictures so far look good, but I'm not saving up for one just yet. I found it a bit too long on the short side when I'm reasonably close. I can see how it would be perfect on APS-H or full frame, but with 1.6x crop it's a bit too much and I found myself using the 24-105L a lot more than I expected. There were some things I didn't like about it too: focus is slow-ish, it focus creeps, it zoom creeps (quite badly). Oh, and I seriously need IS on a lens like this.

 

[bwana]

And there I thought you were after the IS...

I really liked this lens and the pictures so far look good, but I'm not saving up for one just yet. I found it a bit too long on the short side when I'm reasonably close. I can see how it would be perfect on APS-H or full frame, but with 1.6x crop it's a bit too much and I found myself using the 24-105L a lot more than I expected. There were some things I didn't like about it too: focus is slow-ish, it focus creeps, it zoom creeps (quite badly). Oh, and I seriously need IS on a lens like this.

First I've ever heard of a 70-200 doing this, particularly as it has a fixed barrel length. That, along with you saying it was slow in focusing, makes me think they rented you a real lemon.