Best Nikon DX lens upgrade for concert and club photography on a $600 budget
Asked 3/12/2012
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2 answers
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I shoot with a Nikon D7000 and currently have the kit lens, a manual-focus 50mm f/1.4, and a speedlight. I’m preparing for a music photojournalism internship and need to decide how to spend about $600 for concert/club work.
Most of the venues are dark clubs and music spaces around 1,500 capacity. I may sometimes be able to get close to the stage, but access can vary. I’ve considered replacing my manual 50mm with an autofocus version, adding a fast 35mm prime, or using my speedlight with a diffuser. I’ve also thought about a fisheye, but I’m unsure how useful that would be for photojournalism.
Given this budget and setup, what lens or accessory would make the biggest difference for low-light concert photography on Nikon DX?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
A 1500 person venue isn't small. At least, it's not small enough to light it with a speedlight, unless you're using it to illuminate a spot using a Flash Extender, or you're triggering it remotely.
Talk to the people you will be working with/for. Ask them what they use. They may even have some equipment you can make use of. Find out what kind of access you can have. If you can move around freely and get very close to the stage, you can do some good stuff with wider lenses and use your proximity to give a more intimate feel to your concert photography. On the other hand, if you're stuck on a balcony only, you may have little choice but to use a telephoto lens. These matters (your mobility and possible need for a longer lens) may dictate that you need to use a monopod to steady the camera.
Check out concert photography groups on Flickr. Decide what photos you like stylistically, and why. Look at the EXIF data to figure out how the photo was made.
Originally by user1359. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1359
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For this budget, a fast prime is the best upgrade. From the answers, the strongest single recommendation is an 85mm f/1.8: it gives you more reach than a 50mm, stays fast for low light, and suits concert work well if you can’t always get very close.
A few key points:
- A 1,500-person venue is not really “small,” so your shooting position matters a lot.
- If you have close stage access, wider/normal fast lenses can work well.
- If you’re farther back or restricted, you may need more reach and possibly a monopod.
- A speedlight usually won’t light a venue that size unless used very selectively or remotely; if flash is allowed, use it sparingly.
- A fisheye is more of a special-effect lens than a core photojournalism lens.
Before buying, ask the people you’ll be working with what access you’ll have and what gear they use. That will tell you whether you should prioritize wider coverage or extra reach. But if you need one practical purchase now, the 85mm f/1.8 is the safest recommendation from the community advice.
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