I'm new with digital cameras. What digital camera would be good for low light concerts and shows ? I would prefer 4 meg and up , good macro . Priced up to $ 600 .
At that price level, your top choices would be the Panasonic FZ series cameras. If you were willing to go a bit higher on the price, please consider the Pentax 1stDS, and the Canon 350XT Digital Rebel.
Please keep in mind that the Panasonics can use a maximum ISO setting of 400, where as the Canon Digital Rebel can use a max ISO setting of 1600, and the Pentax 1stDS can use a max ISO setting of 3200. The higher ISO settings on the dSLR cameras will produce less noise and will give you higher shutter speeds enabling you to stop action on stage and to deal with variable lighting.
Yep, I am looking forward to the Fuji F-10 also. Mine nwill be delivered on 05/18. Are you going to post some sample low light digital photos for us? I hope so!
I actually found the FZ series (I had FZ20) rather disappointing for low light conditions... As the LCD didn't 'gainup' in low light conditions like my previous all-in-one did (Kodak DX6490) it was rather hard to see what you were doing on the LCD/EVF.... It was a great camera, but low-light photography was not one of its greatest strengths IMHO...
The new Fuji will be interesting in this regard as long as the LCD gains up....
Obviously a DSLR is the ultimate solution for better high ISO performance and an optical viewfinder, and over time you can 'upgrade' with better lenses, and specialty lenses (like a good dedicated macro lens)...
Last edited by jeisner; 05-15-2005 at 08:51 PM.
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Joel - Canon 50d, EF16-35/2.8 Mk1, Σ 50/1.4, EF100/2.8 Macro, EF70-200/4 IS, 430EX II http://www.eisner.id.au
I actually found the FZ series (I had FZ20) rather disappointing for low light conditions... As the LCD didn't 'gainup' in low light conditions like my previous all-in-one did (Kodak DX6490) it was rather hard to see what you were doing on the LCD/EVF.... It was a great camera, but low-light photography was not one of its greatest strengths IMHO...
Well, what do you mean by "low light?" My experience with concerts and stage events is that you're not really working in a "low light" environment, at least there always seems to be enough light to show the subject in the EVF, anyway, and shutter speeds of 1/30 to 1/125 aren't uncommon. I suppose if you're shooting in a dark bar, that would be "low light," but even there, what performers don't perform under spotlights?
I was referring more generally with using the camera as a low-light camera... But your right, I don't know if a concert would actually be best described low-light...
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Joel - Canon 50d, EF16-35/2.8 Mk1, Σ 50/1.4, EF100/2.8 Macro, EF70-200/4 IS, 430EX II http://www.eisner.id.au
I defintly think that concert shoul be considered as "low-light" environment.
As for ex. when there's a video shot of a live, many time the light balance as to be redone a lil' more powerful to allow pro cameras to be able to render good stuff with enuff light.
So for an usual DC, i think it is still low light. (unless you get there when TV staff comes )
I probably have taken as many or more stage performance/concert environment photos as most folks, because that is a speciality of mine. I own the Panasonic FZ10 and FZ-20 and I have never gotten a shutter speed as high as 1/125 when using my Panasonic FZ's.
To my way of thinking, and I could be incorrect, the stage performance/concert environment digital photos are very much a low light level situation. It was because of that very problem that I moved from the Pansonic FZ's to the dSLR venue just to get greater ISO numbers and less noise.
Here is a link to photos taken with various digital cameras, using ISO 400:
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Originally Posted by jeisner
be your umbrella!
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