Auditorium Photo at night

[Richard DeYoung]

In a couple of weeks I will need to photograph my grand daughter playing a Viola with a symphony orchestra. Shot will be from about 50 feet and at night under minimum stage lighting. I will be using a canon 40D with lens available : 70-200 f4 L and a 400 f5.6L. I will be using a Tripod with remote shutter release.
Question: Which lens to use and what ISO F stop combinations to think about.
Anyone with prior experience at this type of shot using equipment similar to mine that has thoughts about this please give me your input.
Thanks for your help.

[ptrd]

I am by no means great but I would suggest taking the 70-200 and shooting at F4 with the highest useable ISO possible. Shoot RAW and hope Noise Ninja can help :)

[humminboid]

I shot my granddaughter's stage production of "The King and I". First time I had ever done that. Flash off! Nikon D 50, 50mm f/1.8 lens(75mm equivalent)@ f/2and ISO 400. They came out fine.

I was sitting damn near in the rear of the auditorium. No noise issues until I had to crop radically, but for 8 X 12, just fine.

Next time, I will take my 28-105 on the monopod shoot at f/3.5, just in case somebody gets lucky with seats closer to the stage...of course, if I was closer, I wouldn't really need the 28-105....hmmmm...

I should of had my monopod with, but bracing on my knee provided few camera movement moments.

If you are at 50 feet, the 200 mm will give you the same image size as at ~13feet, so wide open and sensitivity of 400-800 should work. Camera steady!

Play with...uhmmm...adjust it when you get there. That's the beauty of digital.

Good Luck!

[danchez]

you might want to consider renting a better lens, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L.

[Richard DeYoung]

what better lens would you try?