good lens to shoot a rock concert

[SgtHooch]

Hello,

 

I just bought my first Sony camera (A6000) and am wondering what lenses are recommend to shoot a concert. I am switching from a Canon G-16 due to its performance. It was good, but not great. I found that it had a hard time focusing when fully zoomed in on the musicians. Everything I've read and seen online, suggested I try an A6000, given my budget.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Username]

`    

  

    

The 18-105/4 OSS can offer you the identical wide-to-tele

range as your G-16. It's a full stop less transmission at the 

long end but, compared to the tiny sensor in the G-16, you 

now have a giant sensor that can more than compensate 

for that by raising the ISO, while still producing less image 

noise [due to it's far less crowded field of pixels]. 

   

You can use the Clear Image Zoom to double the long end 

of the zoom without compromising the AF ability. CIZ is a 

function of the body and firmware, not the lens. It basically

does in-camera cropping while interpolating the lost pixels

so as to maintain the full 24MP despite the cropping. 

[SgtHooch]

`    

  

    

The 18-105/4 OSS can offer you the identical wide-to-tele

range as your G-16. It's a full stop less transmission at the 

long end but, compared to the tiny sensor in the G-16, you 

now have a giant sensor that can more than compensate 

for that by raising the ISO, while still producing less image 

noise [due to it's far less crowded field of pixels]. 

   

You can use the Clear Image Zoom to double the long end 

of the zoom without compromising the AF ability. CIZ is a 

function of the body and firmware, not the lens. It basically

does in-camera cropping while interpolating the lost pixels

so as to maintain the full 24MP despite the cropping. 

Thank you! I was looking at the very same lens, but wasn't sure if it was truly right for my purposes. It's good to know that Sony has a giant sensor and much bigger than the G-16. I saw a lot of noise on the telephoto end, and not just at the last concert I shot. Night shots of the city skyline also contained lots of noise.

 

I'm a casual photographer and prefer to let the camera handle the apertures/shutter speed/ISO for concerts. I'm not good enough to adjust the controls in a manual setting.

 

Much appreciated and it's good to know that the lens recommended was the lens I was looking at. Thanks again.

[Username]

`    

    

Just to be sooper clear about your "giant sensor":   

 

Relative to the G-16 sensor it's huge. But in most 

conversation about sensor size in general, APSC 

is not gigantic nor huge. OTOH, it's not small. It is 

the "default" size of the digital marketplace when 

you limit discussion to "system" cameras, usually 

meant to mean "interchangeable lens cameras".    

    

Also be aware that altho you will get less noise it 

will not make "noise free" images in the shooting 

conditions you're encountering. No camera at this

time can do that, altho the a7S2 comes amazingly 

close. No free lunch acoarst ... expensive camera 

and lenses, but only 12MP resolution.  

   

Let me be clear that the a7S2 is very special. The 

cameras that hold "second place" to a7S2 are not 

"almost as good". But amongst all cameras on the

next "noise fighter" tier below the a7S2, your 6000 

is right in there with the best of them. Use it well. 

[SgtHooch]

Thanks, again. I'm looking for a camera that will perform better than my G-16 and I think the A6000 will fit the bill. I realize that there will be some noise for low light shots, but if I can fix some of that in post, great.

 

Do you know the best time to buy this lens? I'm seeing it for $548 at Best Buy/Amazon and this seems like a good price. I'm a guy on a budget and need to get the most bang for my limited buck.

 

Thank you.

[JCC]

I am a concert photographer.

 

F4 is almost unusable in a dark club.  If the lighting director puts good white front light or a follow spot on performers you can get away with F4.  Most venues will not allow you to flash a performance.

 

The 24-70 2.8 is the bread and butter of most concert shooters, and the 70-200 2.8 for front of house or soundboard shoots. 

 

I however favor prime lenses.  The majority of my concert shots are with an 85mm 1.4 or 1.2

 

Depending on what venue, and what distance I'll be shooting from I may also carry the 16-35mm GM.

 

I shoot with an A7Rii and an A7S.

 

Examples on my website, or gallery here.

 

JCC

[Username]

I am a concert photographer.

 

F4 is almost unusable in a dark club.     

   

 ..................

   

Spoken like a true Concert Photographer.   

    

But any job you can shoot with a 2.8, I can

shoot better with a 4.0. But enuf about me, 

or about you. This lens is for Sgt Hooch as 

an upgrade from his G-16.   

   

Not denying that f/2.8 would further reduce 

high-ISO noise, while further reducing DoF,  

and hanging more weight off the front. It will 

certainly will do all that. But to say that 4.0  

is "almost unusable" in a dark club ? In any  

venue where that holds true, then a 2.8 is

also "almost unusable", altho it has a slight

advantage if you can live with reduced DoF. 

   

Working in dark or crazy lighting one stop is 

not a make-or-break matter. It get you some 

improvement in your "hit ratio" ... waaaaaay 

important, given the exhorbitent cost of film

and processing these days ;-)   

   

FWIW, here's the a6000 at ISO 10K. Noise 

is simply NOT a problem. It's there if you 

choose to look for it:    

    

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

   

   

[f/5.6 ,1/30, TWIMC]   

     

  

Here's the a6000 at a lowly ISO4K, but cropped

to less than half the frame ... street lighting kinda

mimics flash. At ISO 4K, even with rather severe   

cropping, noise is not a problem. 

   

   

    

    

Here's the forerunner of the a6000, the Nex-6, 

at ISO 26K:    

    

   

    

[f/4.5, 1/20, TWIMC]

   

 

  

  

   

`

[SgtHooch]

I am a concert photographer.

 

F4 is almost unusable in a dark club.  If the lighting director puts good white front light or a follow spot on performers you can get away with F4.  Most venues will not allow you to flash a performance.

 

The 24-70 2.8 is the bread and butter of most concert shooters, and the 70-200 2.8 for front of house or soundboard shoots. 

 

I however favor prime lenses.  The majority of my concert shots are with an 85mm 1.4 or 1.2

 

Depending on what venue, and what distance I'll be shooting from I may also carry the 16-35mm GM.

 

I shoot with an A7Rii and an A7S.

 

Examples on my website, or gallery here.

 

JCC

Thanks, JCC. I appreciate the info. Although I am not a professional; I am just an enthusiast. I used my G-16 and was satisfied with about two-thirds of the shots, but I quickly learned the limits of it. I had better performance shooting in arenas than stadiums. That said, I was looking for something that was a little better than that, which led me the to A6000. 

 

I'll be shooting in an arena again, so I'm hoping the lighting will be a little better. I wanted something with a decent focal range that could also shoot fast. Finally, I want to let the camera do all the work as adjusting aperture, shutter and ISO is beyond my ability...at a concert.

[SgtHooch]

Spoken like a true Concert Photographer.   

    

But any job you can shoot with a 2.8, I can

shoot better with a 4.0. But enuf about me, 

or about you. This lens is for Sgt Hooch as 

an upgrade from his G-16.   

   

Not denying that f/2.8 would further reduce 

high-ISO noise, while further reducing DoF,  

and hanging more weight off the front. It will 

certainly will do all that. But to say that 4.0  

is "almost unusable" in a dark club ? In any  

venue where that holds true, then a 2.8 is

also "almost unusable", altho it has a slight

advantage if you can live with reduced DoF. 

   

Working in dark or crazy lighting one stop is 

not a make-or-break matter. It get you some 

improvement in your "hit ratio" ... waaaaaay 

important, given the exhorbitent cost of film

and processing these days ;-)   

   

FWIW, here's the a6000 at ISO 10K. Noise 

is simply NOT a problem. It's there if you 

choose to look for it:    

    

fULTON JEFF DRUM 3013 E2 WS.jpg   

   

[f/5.6 ,1/30, TWIMC]   

     

  

Here's the a6000 at a lowly ISO4K, but cropped

to less than half the frame ... street lighting kinda

mimics flash. At ISO 4K, even with rather severe   

cropping, noise is not a problem. 

   

River St Nites 0323 E3 WS.jpg   

    

    

Here's the forerunner of the a6000, the Nex-6, 

at ISO 26K:    

    

OTR Univ Club 01 0007 GS E1 WXS.jpg   

    

[f/4.5, 1/20, TWIMC]

   

 

  

  

   

`

Thank you. I appreciate you mentioning that.

 

The images you posted look great and if I can get something like that, I'll be very satisfied. I have Lower Reserve Seats (U2 E+I Tour 2018), so I'll be close enough to the action to hopefully, get some good shots. My G-16 performed decently and I think the A6000 will be a step up.

 

Anyway, thanks again for the all the good info. I'm still leaning towards the 18-105mm, but will keep researching. I've looked at primes, too, but wanted to be able to zoom in when something interesting happens.  Much appreciated.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

Please be aware that most venues and acts do not allow paying guests to bring cameras with large lenses. Cameras with detachable lenses are often prohibited altogether.

 

That means you could bring in your Canon zoom camera but probably not an a6000 with an 18-105 lens.

 

The Sony equivalent of your Canon would be an RX100.

[SgtHooch]

Please be aware that most venues and acts do not allow paying guests to bring cameras with large lenses. Cameras with detachable lenses are often prohibited altogether.

 

That means you could bring in your Canon zoom camera but probably not an a6000 with an 18-105 lens.

 

The Sony equivalent of your Canon would be an RX100.

Thanks, Jaf-Photo. I've been re-reading the venue's (SAP Center) camera policies and the promoter's (Live Nation) camera policies, which ironically seem to conflict. I thought cameras with detachable lenses were prohibited and that was why I bought the G-16. But I saw a guy with a DSLR with some type of telephoto lens. So, I was hoping to get in with my A6000.

[Username]

`    

    

  

Enforcement of rules is often a bit uneven or sloppy.   

   

If I were attempting/hoping to skate the rules about

large lenses/interchangeable lenses/"pro" gear, I'd 

definitely bring my a6000 rather than my a72, cuz it 

has that "cute little snapshooter" style and size. But 

Jaf's comment about how it looks with the 18-105 is 

not to be ignored. I'd arrive with some cheap, verrry 

compact lens on it to assure it looks like a "cute little

snapshooter" upon inspection. I'd have the 18-105 

in a soft pouch in my pants pocket :-)     

    

-------------------------------------------------------------------  

   

Acoarst, thaz all about the a6000 vs the a72. Having 

plenty of gear, I do have the ultimate stealthy ILC on 

hand, the discontinued Panasonic GM5, about 40% 

smaller than an a6000 ! and mine is RED ! With the 

dinky collapsible 12-42 on it, it will always pass as a 

"cute little snapshooter" ... "serious cameras" are not 

only bigger, but never RED :-) Being M43 format, it's 

longer reach lenses are quite tiny, easy to smuggle 

into a venue. Even after mounting a tiny tele, no one 

thinks a tiny red camera is any more threatening than 

a phone camera.  

    

If I needed to smuggle/camouflage an a6000, if I had 

real concern about enforcement by the venue, I'd put 

some dopey stickers on it and cover the name Sony 

with a sticker or black tape. And acoarst don't carry it 

in anything like a real camera bag. You should use an

embroidered cloth tote bag containing: 

 

your camera [but not your long lens]  

an old non-photo phone

spare sox 

asprin 

small notebook of silly homemade poetry  

   

.... or suitable variations on the above :-) 

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

Just because one person managed to skirt the rules doesn't mean you will be able to - or that you should try.

 

There rules aren't there to mess with hobby photographers. They're there for public safety reasons. If you consider what kind of things a nasty person could hide inside a hollow lens and camera body, you wouldn't want them in the audience either.

[RathPhoto]

Spoken like a true Concert Photographer.   

    

But any job you can shoot with a 2.8, I can

shoot better with a 4.0. But enuf about me, 

or about you. This lens is for Sgt Hooch as 

an upgrade from his G-16.   

   

Not denying that f/2.8 would further reduce 

high-ISO noise, while further reducing DoF,  

and hanging more weight off the front. It will 

certainly will do all that. But to say that 4.0  

is "almost unusable" in a dark club ? In any  

venue where that holds true, then a 2.8 is

also "almost unusable", altho it has a slight

advantage if you can live with reduced DoF. 

   

Working in dark or crazy lighting one stop is 

not a make-or-break matter. It get you some 

improvement in your "hit ratio" ... waaaaaay 

important, given the exhorbitent cost of film

and processing these days ;-)   

   

FWIW, here's the a6000 at ISO 10K. Noise 

is simply NOT a problem. It's there if you 

choose to look for it:    

    

fULTON JEFF DRUM 3013 E2 WS.jpg   

   

[f/5.6 ,1/30, TWIMC]   

     

  

Here's the a6000 at a lowly ISO4K, but cropped

to less than half the frame ... street lighting kinda

mimics flash. At ISO 4K, even with rather severe   

cropping, noise is not a problem. 

   

River St Nites 0323 E3 WS.jpg   

    

    

Here's the forerunner of the a6000, the Nex-6, 

at ISO 26K:    

    

OTR Univ Club 01 0007 GS E1 WXS.jpg   

    

[f/4.5, 1/20, TWIMC]

   

 

  

  

   

`

are you looking at the same images I am? Those are incredibly noisy shots.... 

 

Saying F/2.8 isnt much of an advantage over F/4 is insane.... have that larger aperture is a huge advantage in low light. 

[SgtHooch]

Please be aware that most venues and acts do not allow paying guests to bring cameras with large lenses. Cameras with detachable lenses are often prohibited altogether.

 

That means you could bring in your Canon zoom camera but probably not an a6000 with an 18-105 lens.

 

The Sony equivalent of your Canon would be an RX100.

Jaf-Photo what lens would you recommend for the A6000? I read/seen that the kit lens was decent, but there were better options with a similar focal length. If I could being a lens that wouldn't look "professional" but perform well (w/ a little zoom capability) under concert conditions, I will. I just don't know what that would be.

[Username]

Just because one person managed to skirt the rules doesn't mean

you will be able to - or that you should try.

 

There rules aren't there to mess with hobby photographers. They're

there for public safety reasons. If you consider what kind of things a

nasty person could hide inside a hollow lens and camera body, you

wouldn't want them in the audience either.

     

Well OK ... we're on the page about that. My suggestions 

are all about "smuggling in" some extra photo versatility,  

while not crossing over the line, in the inspector's eyes, to 

the genre of gear thaz forbidden for good reason.   

    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------  

    

FWIW here's that tiny "stealthy" full featured ILC, my GM5,

perched on my a6000 showng relative size ... and acoarst  

its ultra-innocent-looking silly color:    

  

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

    

    

Note the red rectangular "lump" near the Panasonic logo 

which is its EVF. I would never call any box "full featured" 

unless it has an eye-level viewing eyepiece [aka EVF] :-)   

14-42mm in the M43 format equals 28-85 FF, and there's 

20MP on tap, which is neither too few nor too noisy. BTW 

to any who think the button array on such a midget body 

can be challenging ... yes it is ! 

    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------  

   

Also, FWIW, I've finally snagged a Sony 18-105/4.0 at a 

palatable price [$470 open box]. Patience paid off nicely. 

And the 5% kickback store credit from my BestBuy visa 

card will buy the UV filter for it. Fortunately, I won't hafta 

worry that it might look "too pro" ... as I'm welcome at all 

venues that I care to frequent. I got the GM5 on a whim, 

not out of necessity. For me, it's about relaxing subjects 

in casual "permission requested" shots of strangers. The 

less imposing the look of the gear, the more cooperation 

one can expect. Many strangers ask my permission for a 

phone shot of me, and I have no problem with that. But I 

don't have a fancy phone, so I want my camera to be no  

more intimidating than a phone when it's my turn to ask 

permission for a shot. 

    

It's obvious that I favor both neck straps and UV filters. 

Arguments for and against such frippery are already well 

argued elsewhere in the forum archives. 

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

Jaf-Photo what lens would you recommend for the A6000? I read/seen that the kit lens was decent, but there were better options with a similar focal length. If I could being a lens that wouldn't look "professional" but perform well (w/ a little zoom capability) under concert conditions, I will. I just don't know what that would be.

It's a tall order. The kitlens retracts and it does provide usable results, even though I'm not a fan. The main problem will be reach and by extension noise, if you crop to get closer.

 

Not having to sneak, I've used a FF camera with a 24-70/2.8 and a 70-200/2.8. With good stage lighting, that's certainly enough.

 

I don't break rules, though, so it's kinda difficult to recomment something other than say a RX100. You could probably flip your A6000 for a III or IV.

[Username]

are you looking at the same images I am?

Those are incredibly noisy shots.... 

 

Saying F/2.8 isnt much of an advantage over

F/4 is insane.... have that larger aperture is a

huge advantage in low light. 

   

Same images, yes.  

  

Thanks. Quite incredible images !   

It's like they are actually made out 

of noise ... such fine noise indeed. 

Gaaawwwwd ... I miss my TMZ :-(  

   

You have drunk the f/2.8 KoolAid. 

If I need speed, I'll go faster than  

f/2.0 ... but 2.8 vs 4.0 ? One lousy 

stop is huge ? Too much KoolAid

will make you piss purple.  

   

Huge advantage ? A bit less noise 

is no "huge advantage". You find 

five-digit-ISO noise objectionable ? 

Chakkun assuh goo. But where'd 

you get an insane idea like cutting 

ISO in half [f/2.8 vs 4.0] is gonna 

hugely [your term] clean that up ?  

Also, with reduced DoF the writing 

on the wall would be an eye strain,  

ruining the contradiction between 

the writing-on-the-wall and intense

kinetic performer :-(

    

Here's M43, kit lens, and ISO 13K. 

Another incredible ... enjoy !   

     

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

    

   

Yup, it's in church.  Zorki Nelson is   

putting "mas" back into Christmas !

   

  

[TWIMC: 5.6, 1/50, 85mm FF Eqv.]  

   

   

  

  

`

[RathPhoto]

Same images, yes.

 

Thanks. Quite incredible images !

 

You have drunk the f/2.8 KoolAid,

 

Huge advantage ? A bit less noise

is not a huge advantage.

 

Here's an M43, kit lens, and ISO 13K.

Another incredible ... enjoy !

 

Heard XMas 05 0898 E4 WM.jpg

You must have bad eyes if you can't see all the noise.... Very noisy images you're posting....

[Username]

You must have bad eyes if you can't see

all the noise.... Very noisy images you're

posting....

   

What good is your 20/20 vision when 

your reading comprehension is zilch ?  

   

I posted the last image bigger than all 

the earlier postings cuz it's made from

a smaller format. Maybe someone will 

explain that to you .... Meanwhile, you 

can exercise your 20/20 on this:   

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

  

    

This fine heap of pixels is from an old 

a3000, an exceptionally noisy camera. 

This is only ISO 3200 ... rather ancient  

sensor tech as compared to the a6000

referenced by the thread author ! But it 

happened to be the right choice for this 

particular opportunity.  

   

Apologies for lack of lens speed data,  

but this was a "pint glass & duck tape" 

optic, which acoarst does not register 

in the exif file. 

   

 

 

 

 

` 

 

    

  

`

[RathPhoto]

Maybe someone can explain what "no noise" means. And can also explain how a much wider f/2.8 aperture is far better than f/4.

 

Since you think f/2.8 is no better, anything you ever say on this forum will be ignored.

[Username]

Maybe someone can explain what "no noise"

means. And can also explain how a much

wider f/2.8 aperture is far better than f/4.  

 

Since you think f/2.8 is no better, anything

you ever say on this forum will be

ignored.

    

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

      

   

   

 

    

  

`

[RathPhoto]

I seriously cannot take you seriously. Making up words, saying noisy images aren't noisy, saying a bigger aperture is useless, like really, why are you here being a troll. Go back to your bridge.

[Username]

`   

  

 

I seriously cannot take you seriously. Making up words, saying

noisy images aren't noisy, saying a bigger aperture is useless,

like really, why are you here being a troll. Go back to your bridge.

   

ROTFLMFAO

   

Does the hook hurt your mouth ?    

  

I'm assuming that the pain is so distracting 

that your reading comprehension suffers by 

it ... and that, contrary to evidence thus far,

you prolly really did graduate 8th grade .....

      

   

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

     

    

---------------------------------------------------------   

     

Sometimes I shoot at f:2.0, and then acoarst 

I hafta ADD noise to the image in post:    

     

     

    

 

    

 

 

  

`

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

Dudes! There is room for different points of view. I'm sensitive to noise but at the same time I acknowledge that most of the world's iconic photographs are grainy and have other technical issues.

 

Let's get back to the OP's question. He must think we're nuts here (always a possibility).