Best setting for stage show? - Success! Pic added

[handicap18]

An 80-200 f/2.8 lens would without a doubt give the OP more versatility to frame the shot how she wanted. However, I chose the $100 option vs the $1,000 option when recommending a low light lens. Its all a give and take when it comes to lenses and now the OP knows the pros and cons of both.

I partially threw the nifty fifty out there because I think (IMHO) that every Rebel owner should have one.

I completely agree. While it would be great that we could all get ourselves a 70 or 80 -200mm f/2.8 lens, for many of us it just isn't in the budget. It would be one thing if one plans to take the pics as the official photographer and then sell them to the other families. I'm guessing that the majority of us don't have the time or the initial investment opportunity to accomplish this. Thus recommending the 50mm f/1.8 to others with a Canon or Nikon dSLR to get this lens is a very good idea. Especially for those with situations as the OP, who has the kit or kit type lens and a long inexpensive zoom for the lens set-up. The 50mm f/1.8 is a great inexpensive 3rd lens to add to your camera bag if your like most of us, a regular ol' amerture photographer/hobbiest. $80-120 to spend is a lot more realistic for many of us compared to $800-1700.

 

[ducklite]

I completely agree. While it would be great that we could all get ourselves a 70 or 80 -200mm f/2.8 lens, for many of us it just isn't in the budget. It would be one thing if one plans to take the pics as the official photographer and then sell them to the other families. I'm guessing that the majority of us don't have the time or the initial investment opportunity to accomplish this. Thus recommending the 50mm f/1.8 to others with a Canon or Nikon dSLR to get this lens is a very good idea. Especially for those with situations as the OP, who has the kit or kit type lens and a long inexpensive zoom for the lens set-up. The 50mm f/1.8 is a great inexpensive 3rd lens to add to your camera bag if your like most of us, a regular ol' amerture photographer/hobbiest. $80-120 to spend is a lot more realistic for many of us compared to $800-1700.

I strongly suggest working with a locally owned camera shop that takes trades. I bought my 80-200 used for about 40% less than the retail. It came with the hard case and all accessories, was mint, and had a full 30 day no questions asked return policy. It is my workhorse lens, I use it for 90% of the photo's I take, and would be absolutely lost without it. I've taken at least 20,000 photos with it over the past couple of years, and it always performs. I wouldn't hesitate to buy used in the future.

Working with a local shop to buy used gear can really help you build your gear bag up at an affordable price.

Anne

 

[PoohJen]

Yay! Success!!! Thank you for all the useful advice, and for trying to lure me further to the darkside by more and more expensive lenses!

I wrote down the settings you recommended, and armed with my cheat sheet, set away! And...3 minutes into the show my camera stopped working. Just stopped. and it's dark, and I need to focus on my kid up there! Looks like it says CF Full.....hmmm, what the insert colorful epithet here does that mean?! (I'm really not that pathetic...but I was not expecting that!).

Finally figured it out; thank goodness had another card (with me!!!) in my pretty camera bag.

Here's a nice shot of the crap shooters. cropped and cloned out partial figure at right.

This shot is untouched, just posting to give you perspective of where my seat was. Both were shot with my 18-125. Wow, that white dress really messed with my camera in this shot!

I was able to get several shots that I am really happy with, thanks to y'all. I'm thrilled to have them; thanks everyone!

 

[jann1033]

nice job jen

 

[ducklite]

Nice job Jen! Try playing with your brightness and constrast a bit in your editing software to see about adding some definition to the dress.

Anne

 

[scanne]

Great pictures. What show was it?

 

[spoon2003]

Good Job, Jen!

Sue

 

[ColleenS]

Wow. you did a great job! Congrats.

 

[PoohJen]

Thanks Y'all! I was able to get some nice shots, like the crap shooters above, out of the bunch. I do admit that I felt funny about taking too many shots in the audience, b/c of the camera noise. and I had to keep trying to avoid heads in front of me. But it's a first step, I'm learning alot, and look forward to more opportunities to play with my camera! and maybe someday I'll remember to bring a tripod..

The show was Guys and Dolls; 7th thru 12th graders. The cast was amazing; I truly enjoyed watching the show. This was DS's first outing in theater; I hope he does it again!

 

[tinksdad]

Those look great Jen!! The photography world is SOOO big and vast that we can spend the rest of our lives working on being better. Daunting, but fun and well worth the effort. And, with digital it's pretty cheap as well.


Keep up the good work!!