Which Camera should I buy for action/night/concert shots?

[iconboyips]

I currently have a Canon IXUS V5 Camera, which I've been very very happy with. I like it's compact design and its take some good photos in the dark.

However, last year I went to 3 concerts, and just recently to a Kylie concert.

the camera was okay I suppose, so long as the subject was close up.

Main and most niggling problem is that only 7 out of 39 shots were printable as the others were really blurred and out of focus.

There were these few 7 which were reasonably clear but not fantastic, though the colours were great.

I'm looking for a replacement, and am not worried about the size of the camera though the more compact the better. Have recehtly looked at coolpix s7000 and IXUS700

BUT I REALLT NEED SOME ADVICE FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS KINDA STUFF.

THANKS!!!!

[speaklightly]

Iconboy-

The one solution is to obtain a digital camera that can use high ISO numbers. When you can use high ISO numbers, you can dispense with the flash. The Fuji F-10 is capable of using ISO settings up to 1600, which exceeds most small digital cameras that are mostly capable of just ISO 400.

With the type of concert photos you are taking, do you have a need for a lot of zoom? Or can you get close enough to use just 3X optical zoom?

Sarah Joyce

[iconboyips]

That answers some of my questions.

Well, for Kylie I was right beside the stage, though had to use both my 3x optical and my digital zoom to take it up to 6.9 zoom to get into action at the back of the stage.

But even when she was sat right beside me she was still a bit blurred!

Same for the last 3 concerts last year!

THANK YOU!

[iconboyips]

Anyone else got any other suggestions or models to look out for?

[jessie25]

I know what you mean, and I have a whole lot of very disappointing photos from a bunch of concerts.

Concert photos without a flash will almost always be blurred and out of focus, because the performers are moving quickly and the lack of flash in low light means the camera will need to use a longer shutter speed. Higher ISO will help to some extent (at the expense of some noise in the shot) but won't completely solve the problem.

You can try to not compound the problem by getting a camera with image stabilization, which will mean less camera shake at the telephoto end especially. However, note that most of the blurring in these photos comes from the subject moving, not the person taking the photo.

I find the best solution is to try to snap photos at moments when the performers are standing relatively still, or, better yet, at moments when the stage lighting is bright, illuminating the performers and the background. More light means the shutter speed will be faster, which will result in less blurring. Lighting during a concert is constantly changing, so if you can take photos at the brighter moments, they'll be sharper.

Or, just use the flash and hope that security doesn't take away your camera.

[Rex914]

Or, just use the flash and hope that security doesn't take away your camera.

Flash doesn't do squat when you are 100 meters away from the subject. It only works if you are in front of the stage, and how often is that going to happen? Think of it this way. You are in an infinitely large pitch dark room and you are trying to find some object in the room. You light a match. The object is 100 feet away. Do you think that your match will help you immediately spot the object? Nope. That's the idea.

Your best bet is getting a camera that does well in ALL of the following areas, not just one: high ISO, large aperture, and IS.

Of those, having a large aperture is the most important, because it makes the best use of the little available light that there is to take the shot using the fastest shutter speed possible (stopping action and reducing blurring and camera shake). That's why you want f/2.8 and faster for any action/night/concert/indoor-available-light shots where flash is of no help or banned.

IS helps, but only if your subject is standing still. ISO works in conjunction with the others, but cannot stand alone.

I would highly recommend looking at the Panasonic FZ line (FZ3 for starters) because they meet these specs very well.

[speaklightly]

Rex-

You have me confused. How in the heck is the AF Assist Lamp going to help when, by your own description, you are indeed sitting "...100 meters..." from the stage.

As I understand it, the AF Assist Lamp only goes out for around 10 to 15 feet at the most. Am I missing something?

Sarah Joyce

[Rex914]

Yah, my bad. I forgot to take that one off.

[jessie25]

Flash doesn't do squat when you are 100 meters away from the subject. It only works if you are in front of the stage, and how often is that going to happen?

Actually I'm usually right in front of the stage at concerts. I go early and line up. I went to a concert Saturday night where I was so close to the stage that I could literally put my hand out and touch the lead singer's shoes.

Anyway, the original poster implied that he was right up close at the concerts in question too, which is why I mentioned flash - which works really well at that range, as my own pictures from Saturday's show with my new Canon A520 prove.

[Rex914]

Actually I'm usually right in front of the stage at concerts. I go early and line up. I went to a concert Saturday night where I was so close to the stage that I could literally put my hand out and touch the lead singer's shoes.

Anyway, the original poster implied that he was right up close at the concerts in question too, which is why I mentioned flash - which works really well at that range, as my own pictures from Saturday's show with my new Canon A520 prove.

Ah, didn't catch that. I got a little put off by the original poster's style, which is probably why I missed it. I'm still not terribly partial to built-in flash since it tends to wash out the subject or make things too harsh, but it's better than missing the shot entirely or botching it.

[iconboyips]

Actually I'm usually right in front of the stage at concerts. I go early and line up. I went to a concert Saturday night where I was so close to the stage that I could literally put my hand out and touch the lead singer's shoes.

Anyway, the original poster implied that he was right up close at the concerts in question too, which is why I mentioned flash - which works really well at that range, as my own pictures from Saturday's show with my new Canon A520 prove.

Thanks, your info helps, and so does your recommendation.

At the concert I too was right at the front and able to put my hand up over the barriers, for once the crew didn't seem to care about cameras.

However, even when Kylie was sitting down right in front of me she was still a little blurred around the edges on the photos.

Everyone else who has contributed thanks, but can you spell iso speed and apterures/shutter speeds out for me, as i'm not really up on photography and need an idea of specific figures to look out for on camera specs.

My current camera has a current iso range of 50-400, is 400 high enough or do i need to be looking higher?

THANKS!

[speaklightly]

iconboy-

ISO 400 will work if there are spotlights and a fair amount of ambient light. However, while you can indeed take the picture at ISO 400, you still have to watch the shutterspeed like a hawk.

On a good night, when using ISO 400, I will see shutter speeds around 1/25 down to 1/15. Those shutter speeds need a tripod or a monopod to reduce camera movement. Also keep in mind that when you are taking photos at those low shutter speeds, you cannot stop any movement or motion at all, without getting blurred and out of focus shots.

The only way to get higher shutter speeds, that will allow you to hand hold your digital camera, is to have a digital camera that is capable of using higher ISO speeds such as ISO 800 and ISO 1600. There are a few point and shoot digital cameras out there that can use ISO 800, and just one that I currently know of that can use ISO 1600, and that is the Fuji F-10.

The next question to be asked is how much noise (seen as graininess in the image) does any point and shoot digital camera generate at its highest and next to highest ISO numbers, because that is where your concert photos are going to be taken.

In the recently published review of the Fuji F-10, over at dpreview, high ISO photos at 800 and 1600 showed less than expected noise. Jeff will soon be doing a review of the F-10 right on this website as well.

Sarah Joyce

[iconboyips]

You seem to know what you're talkingabout and have helped my search elvolve.

Finepix F-10 is on my list of considerations....however, the next step. I'm looking at DSLRs and one big drawn=back is that the LCD does not act as a view finder I'm edging towards the canon 350D IF i have to go down this route, BUT, the LCD cannot be used as a viewfinder....any suggestions on this front?

Cheers
Damian (aka iconboyips). :)

[speaklightly]

Damian-

Yes, the Canon 350XT would give you a much better tool to take the photos that you desire. However, it will require an investment of about $1500+ to get the camera and the lenses that you desire. The Fuji F-10 is selling on the internet for around $325.

So the answer is yes, the Canon 350XT will take excellent photos at a price. I own and use the Canon 350XT, the Canon 20D, and the Nikon D-70 so I have lots of experience with dSLR cameras.

I also have a Fuji F-10 on order and it is due to arrive on 05/18. So I will be posting ISO 1600 photos with that camera in a concert environment as soon as I get the F-10.

I purchased the F-10 as a go anywhere camera when I don't want to trot out the heavy artillery.

Sarah Joyce