Advice on a New Camera

Lao Lao

Hey all,



I'm looking to upgrade my camea and I kinda have an idea of what I'm going to go with but would appreciate any advise / comments on the below.



My absolutle max spend is 2K. I want the camera for general photography but I may also have a chance to get into covering gigs. At first, it will just be unpaid work but it is something I would really like to develop if I could.



Right, then, I'm thinking of going with a Cannon D50 and possibley a couple of lenses but am unsure whether to go with 18-55mm or a 17-85mm and if I could afford it maybe a 18-135mm or 200mm? Any other lenses I should be thinking about?



On the flash, would a 430EX II be good enough or should I opt for 580EXII? Is it really worth the extra couple of hundred quid?



Also, where is the best place to buy at the minute? I think I would prefer to buy in shop rather than online and have no problem travelling up north.



Thanks in advance for any help!

Thecageyone

For gigs you're far better off with fast primes, like 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, 28mm f/2.8 for getting the whole stage in perhaps. Flash just kills the ambient lighting that will have been set up specifically for the set. Wide apertures - a camera that handles high ISO really good and IS/VR lenses or a Body with built in IS, like the Sony A900.

hbr

Lao Lao wrote: »

My absolutle max spend is 2K.

That's a good budget for a camera.

I want the camera for general photography

That part will be easy.

but I may also have a chance to get into covering gigs.

Not so easy.

Right, then, I'm thinking of going with a Cannon D50

Now might be a good time to buy a 50D. Prices for the 50D
body have fallen to about €700. This puts it in the same price
category as it's smaller siblings the 500D and 550D. I reckon
we will see a new Canon model fairly soon. 60D?

and possibley a couple of lenses but am unsure whether to go with 18-55mm or a 17-85mm and if I could afford it maybe a 18-135mm or 200mm? Any other lenses I should be thinking about?

None of those lenses would be good for gigs. Even the humble
€100 50mm f/1.8 would be better. I have the 18-135mm and it
is quite good in daylight, but it would be too slow for gig shots.

I'm inclined to agree with Cagey, some fast primes or perhaps
a couple of large aperture zoom lenses. Such lenses are very
expensive and could devour your entire budget.

Perhaps you could compromise by getting the 50D body with
the 18-135mm as a walk around lens for general photography
and something a bit better for gig shots. The best choice depends
on the shots you will be taking. The Canon 50mm f1/4 is very
good, but maybe the wider field of view of a 35mm ish prime
would be better if you are close to the stage.

Have a look at these nice gig shots posted by
stunt_penguin. These were taken with the cheap
and cheerful 50mm f/1,8.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055975983

On the flash, would a 430EX II be good enough or should I opt for 580EXII? Is it really worth the extra couple of hundred quid?

Either one would be nice, but not essential.

Also, where is the best place to buy at the minute? I think I would prefer to buy in shop rather than online and have no problem travelling up north.

I was going to suggest that you buy on-line, but I see the 50D
body is €799 in Conns, so you could possibly consider buying
it here.

AnimalRights

Thecageyone wrote: »

Flash just kills the ambient lighting that will have been set up specifically for the set.

90% of gigs I cover have SFA lighting so it does depend on where she is shooting a gig, medium/large venues which will have lighting or small pubs/clubs which won't.

Thecageyone

This month's Digital SLR magazine pits all the usual Semi-pro dslrs against one another. The 50D is in there. verdict 4.5/5, very good. But ... they do say noise is evident after ISO 800.



Another option, and one they highly rate, is the Nikon D300s, more expensive but they say it's great up to ISO 1000. 50mm and 35mm lenses are dirt cheap on Nikon systems too. The others reviewd would chew up your whole budget - D700, EOS7D, Alpha 900, EOS 5D mk II [only one to get 5/5 but body only is £1700 according to them]

Thecageyone

AnimalRights wrote: »

90% of gigs I cover have SFA lighting so it does depend on where she is shooting a gig, medium/large venues which will have lighting or small pubs/clubs which won't.

Your flash will still kill any lighting they have though no? And that is of course, if flash photography is permitted to begin with. Just easier to swing a cam about without a flash unit, and use fast primes instead ... though you would want a cam with great ISO handling.

AnimalRights

Thecageyone wrote: »

Your flash will still kill any lighting they have though no? And that is of course, if flash photography is permitted to begin with. Just easier to swing a cam about without a flash unit, and use fast primes instead ... though you would want a cam with great ISO handling.

But as I said they don't have light!!!
And all pubs/small clubs will nearly all allow flash.
But as I said if OP is referring to a bigger venue then she should have light and yes flash probably isn't allowed, my original point was letting you know that not everywhere has light!

Thecageyone

AnimalRights wrote: »

But as I said they don't have light!!!
And all pubs/small clubs will nearly all allow flash.
But as I said if OP is referring to a bigger venue then she should have light and yes flash probably isn't allowed, my original point was letting you know that not everywhere has light!

they play in the dark?

AnimalRights

Thecageyone wrote: »

they play in the dark?

Look around not a decent light in sight..Thomas House Basement.

Thecageyone

Grand if you're allowed use flash, I imagine some performers wouldn't like a flash going off in their face while they play. Even in basic pub lighting though, a good camera with a prime lens at high ISO should get nice shots. Even if you need to add fill light later in LR.

AnimalRights

Alas I'm hitting my head on a brick wall talking to you!

Thecageyone

:rolleyes: whatever ... expert ...


Jaysis, there is some narky people in here, take a few gig shots and they're experts in the field. if you can't manage bright shots in a bar with a good cam + lens, give it up already. Let's be honest, that shot you posted above, would benefit from mad fill light, or something to lift it. Did you use flash on that? Doesn't look like it.

CabanSail

If you want to argue the finer points of Gig Photography, please start another thread. The discussion here is quickly derailing what was asked in the OP. I also am concerned at the tone of some of the posts.

Play nice or play elsewhere.

AnimalRights

We differ wildly on our pp techniques as was discussed b4 with the eyes on that child photograph of yours. All photographers are different, I didn't want that photo I posted 'lifted', it was a dark dingy basement and I wanted to portray that in the shot, hence my use of the flash on low power!
And as a last comment on this the music I photograph doesn't go with ambience it's fling 100mph Punk Rock!!! you're here long enough to surely work that out!! I know ure style of shooting after all and you've left the Sony camp to go with a Nikon 200!! Need I go on!!

AnimalRights

Aahh typed that last reply on my iPhone. Didn't see ur reply cabansail.

Thecageyone

Fair enough. I wasn't slating your shot, just felt it could do with a boost of fill, personal preference as you say.

We'll agree to disagree on this one eh?

I would still suggest a body that can handle high ISO decently, and fast prime lenses.

The D300s body:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D300S-Digital-Camera-Body/dp/B002J9GIB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1279875519&sr=8-1 -

£1123/€1335

Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-50mm-1-4D-Nikkor-Lens/dp/B00005LENO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1279875633&sr=1-1

£229/€272

and/or

Nikon 35mm AF-S DX f/1.8

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-AF-S-DX-35mm-f1-8G/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1279875738&sr=1-1

£179/€212

Buying the body + either one of those leaves you around €500 to get a general zoom and flash gun on top.

That's what I'd go for, but with the Canon 50d you would have a lot more cash left over after buying the body, to get more lenses and gear.

jpb1974

My absolutle max spend is 2K. I want the camera for general photography but I may also have a chance to get into covering gigs. At first, it will just be unpaid work but it is something I would really like to develop if I could.

Don't rule out other brands e.g. Sony and also remember to check and see what feels good in your hands.

Thecageyone

True that. If I'd not found a good deal on a D200 I'd have waited until I had a little extra and bought An A550 body. Sony dslrs supposedly have the best implementation of Live view.