What is the BEST lens to use for a Dance Recital?

[PhotoByLeal]

What is the BEST lens to use for a Dance Recital?

Low light?

I have never used my camera at a Dance Recital, so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
A

[Clint_Smith]

depends on where you are in relation to the subject and the type of lighting the venue has.

however, everyone is gonna tell you the fastest one you can get your hands on.

[Ahh!]

I'm just playing in my own mind right now, but I might slow the shutter and add a flash to get more abient light and capture some motion with a freeze of the flash at the end of the exposure...seems the wide open spaces of an f1.x would be nice...

[PhotoByLeal]

Clint,

It is my little girl in her dance class or her recital. So, lighting is to the minimal at times!
Some of her dances will be with great light on them, but I will be in the stands where it is dark.


Peter,

We are not allowed to use flash while they are performing, that’s why I do not know what lens is the best lens to use for this?

I have a Canon 85 1.8, do you think that would work?

Thanks,
A

[HOUSCOUS]

85/1.8 would be nice, but 200/1.8 would be much better.

---Minghao

[AndrewCCM]

Those stages are notorious for uneven lighting.. HOT SPOTS, and DARK SPOTS... Tough to shoot in. I used a 70-200 IS F2.8 for my son's drama performance... It worked fine.. but you really need to dial in the exposure if they are moving around. Shoot RAW. I got a lot of overexposed images of my son due to very harsh light in spots... I was using a 5D for the body.

[PhotoByLeal]

Thanks,

Minghao and Andrew!

No I have to find a 200mm 1.8 or a 70-200mm 2.8!


Later,
A

[Ahh!]

Given no flash, start out at theatre lighting assumptions of ISO 100 / f1.8 @ 1/60 and chimp it out from there. Or use the math and push your ISO by 2 stops and start @ f2.8. Theatrical lighting is hotter than school lighting, so you may have to go 2 stops more right away, so you start at ISO 400, f1.8 @1/60. If you are trying to freeze action, you will have to trade off time for ISO... F1.8 has a tight DOF, so watch your focus. Bring a 'pod if you can.

[daveb]

Last week I did dance image number 50,000 (according to my iMATCH database) so I shoot a LOT of dance

dance rule 1 - No flash unless the "lighting" is so bad that you can not image without it.
(DANCERS HATE FLASH)
What the other folks have said is correct watch the hot spots ... and work with them. You can get some interesting looks

I do most with a 70-200 2.8 No pod (many venues will give you a hard time using a tripod)

My starting point is usually ISO 640 1/100 and f3.2 and I tweak in from there (dropping ISO 1st if I can)

Total motion freeze in dance IMHO is over rated you want to give some sense of motion So I tend never to shoot more that 1/125.

Just my 2c --- I will of course need change

[Digital Daddy]

How about a teleconverter on your 85? Maybe a monopod would not be a problem. For sure shoot raw. Enjoy the show, sometimes we get so caught up shooting we forget to just watch.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by HOUSCOUS

85/1.8 would be nice, but 200/1.8 would be much better.

---Minghao

You're reading my mind again. A 35 or 50 1.4 would be nice too. Do we know what body/sensor crop value you are using?

[PhotoByLeal]

Originally Posted by venchka

You're reading my mind again. A 35 or 50 1.4 would be nice too. Do we know what body/sensor crop value you are using?

Dave,

Thanks, now I need to sell some mys R/C stuff to by the Canon 70-200 2.8.
I have about $2500 in this truck, that I need to get at least $1000 to $1500.
Thanks for the heads up.

Barry,
Thanks, I do shoot RAW and I will look into a teleconverter on my 85 1.8.
I know what you mean about getting caught up in shooting, but I try not to do that!
I have to enjoy my little girl's dance, because she is only 4 once!

Wayne,
Thanks, I am using a Canon 30D, I wish I hade the $$$$$$ for the Canon 35L!

Thanks,
A

[tc82742]

i use my 50mm 1.4 for dance, i bump the ISO and shoot raw.
if i have hot spots and dark spots.. i open two jpegs from the raw, one underexposed for hotspots, and one over for the dark.. then will merge them together in PS.
i shoot in Aperature priority usually for dance with my settings at 1.8 or 2.8 depending on how much light.
solos typically use one strong light, so i will close down my ap a little more.
i think your 85mm will work if you are further back.. but i am usually right up front or to the side.. so i use my 50mm.

[PhotoByLeal]

tasha,

Thank you!

I will have to try it out!

oH by the way, NICE website!!!!

Later,
A

[tc82742]

thanks!