I'd skip the Sigma 28-70 2.8. The copy I tried was hardly sharp wide open. The contrast was also low. You mentioned the Nikon 85mm 1.8. If the lighting is low then I honestly believe this is the best choice. I'm assuming you'll arrive early enough to get in any position you might need so a 50mm "could" do what you need. The fact is that for most of the stages I've ever seen a 50mm would have put me at an odd angle sort of looking more up at the people than I would have cared for. Even at a concert I would prefer a longer lens for a more natural perspective. I'd also advise skipping any 2.8 zoom that didn't have VR or OS. 2.8 is a relatively fast optic but just won't cut it when the lights get really low. This is even assuming you have a clean 1600ISO available.
The 85mm 1.8 is some kind of hidden gem in Nikon's lens lineup IMO. Sharp even wide open and focuses so fast on slower bodies (D70, D50, ect.) that you'll wonder why some folks want an AFS version of it. All of the school events I shoot have other people's kids in the photos so I don't show those online. Just to give you an idea though, here's some photos I did at a concert with better lighting than I've ever seen at a school event... http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/gallery/656545
Now a 2.8 can cut it with that good a lighting setup most of the time but few are that sharp wide open. When you really want to isolate the subject do you really want to be limited by a 2.8 maximum apeture? When the light really goes low do you really want to not have any option left other than a slower than you can hold shutterspeed, higher ISO (if you aren't already maxed out), or underexposure and shoot RAW hoping you can salvage something later on?
Thanks for your comments. Since I've already purchased the Sigma from Erik, I'm hoping it will serve me well at this point. The 50mm 1.8 is also on my short list and if I could find a used 85 I would probably pick that up as well. I intend to try the 80-200 2.8 in similar conditions before the big day just to see how it fares. If it doesn't give the results I'm looking for, it might be back up for sale to fund the 85 1.8
P.S. Your H&BF photos are nice I did notice most were shot at f/2.8 1600iso
The 85mm 1.8 is some kind of hidden gem in Nikon's lens lineup IMO. Sharp even wide open and focuses so fast on slower bodies (D70, D50, ect.) that you'll wonder why some folks want an AFS version of it. All of the school events I shoot have other people's kids in the photos so I don't show those online. Just to give you an idea though, here's some photos I did at a concert with better lighting than I've ever seen at a school event... http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/gallery/656545
Now a 2.8 can cut it with that good a lighting setup most of the time but few are that sharp wide open. When you really want to isolate the subject do you really want to be limited by a 2.8 maximum apeture? When the light really goes low do you really want to not have any option left other than a slower than you can hold shutterspeed, higher ISO (if you aren't already maxed out), or underexposure and shoot RAW hoping you can salvage something later on?
Thanks for your comments. Since I've already purchased the Sigma from Erik, I'm hoping it will serve me well at this point. The 50mm 1.8 is also on my short list and if I could find a used 85 I would probably pick that up as well. I intend to try the 80-200 2.8 in similar conditions before the big day just to see how it fares. If it doesn't give the results I'm looking for, it might be back up for sale to fund the 85 1.8
P.S. Your H&BF photos are nice I did notice most were shot at f/2.8 1600iso
Hopefully it will work well for you. :
Thanks for the comment on the Hootie photos. The majority of them were at a very good shutter speed (1/100), 2.8, and many even lower than 1600ISO. The lighting is so much better than the average school event though...
The closest I can show for how the lighting is at my son's school for example (my son so I can show this one all I please)...
That one is at 1600ISO, f/1.8, 1/45. The lighting will vary but I pretty much had to bracket everything because of low shutter speeds. Basically I'd take a 3 shot burst of every photo (such as this one) and hope for one without any motion blur. Usually I'm really shooting for (but can't get) 1/60s. I've found that for the speed of general motion, 1/60s is the minimum to freeze things. I can't tell you how many times I've brought my Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 DX and ended up leaving it in my bag thru an entire event because of poor lighting. Here's hoping your lighting situation is even slightly better.
That one is at 1600ISO, f/1.8, 1/45. The lighting will vary but I pretty much had to bracket everything because of low shutter speeds. Basically I'd take a 3 shot burst of every photo (such as this one) and hope for one without any motion blur. Usually I'm really shooting for (but can't get) 1/60s. I've found that for the speed of general motion, 1/60s is the minimum to freeze things. I can't tell you how many times I've brought my Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 DX and ended up leaving it in my bag thru an entire event because of poor lighting. Here's hoping your lighting situation is even slightly better.
That's a great capture. His intent and focus on the book is excellent. I also like the 'tools' sitting on the rail in front of him. I too hope my lighting situation is as good or better than what you had there. This performance is going to be at an actual theatre (it's huge ordeal to the family that she even got selected) so I'm hoping the stage is lit up real nice. I may try to find a place that rents lenses (no idea where to look ) and borrow a 85 1.8 for the evening.
That's a great capture. His intent and focus on the book is excellent. I also like the 'tools' sitting on the rail in front of him. I too hope my lighting situation is as good or better than what you had there. This performance is going to be at an actual theatre (it's huge ordeal to the family that she even got selected) so I'm hoping the stage is light up real nice. I may try to find a place that rents lenses (no idea where to look ) and borrow a 85 1.8 for the evening.
Thanks. He was working as my photographers assistant that night so I kept my extra batteries, memory, and lenses in front of him so he could hand off to me on cue. Bonus for him is that only pro photographers are allowed in the balconies so he got a killer view (not that he was paying the play much mind.)
Conratulations to your family and your daughter. If it's a professional theatre then hopefully they've got some really good lighting.
The closest I can show for how the lighting is at my son's school for example (my son so I can show this one all I please)...
That one is at 1600ISO, f/1.8, 1/45.
Very nice ambient light shot!!! I didn't know Nikon could perform that well at ISO 1600
Comments
The 85mm 1.8 is some kind of hidden gem in Nikon's lens lineup IMO. Sharp even wide open and focuses so fast on slower bodies (D70, D50, ect.) that you'll wonder why some folks want an AFS version of it. All of the school events I shoot have other people's kids in the photos so I don't show those online. Just to give you an idea though, here's some photos I did at a concert with better lighting than I've ever seen at a school event...
http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/gallery/656545
Now a 2.8 can cut it with that good a lighting setup most of the time but few are that sharp wide open. When you really want to isolate the subject do you really want to be limited by a 2.8 maximum apeture? When the light really goes low do you really want to not have any option left other than a slower than you can hold shutterspeed, higher ISO (if you aren't already maxed out), or underexposure and shoot RAW hoping you can salvage something later on?
P.S. Your H&BF photos are nice
Thanks for the comment on the Hootie photos. The majority of them were at a very good shutter speed (1/100), 2.8, and many even lower than 1600ISO. The lighting is so much better than the average school event though...
The closest I can show for how the lighting is at my son's school for example (my son so I can show this one all I please)...
That one is at 1600ISO, f/1.8, 1/45. The lighting will vary but I pretty much had to bracket everything because of low shutter speeds. Basically I'd take a 3 shot burst of every photo (such as this one) and hope for one without any motion blur. Usually I'm really shooting for (but can't get) 1/60s. I've found that for the speed of general motion, 1/60s is the minimum to freeze things. I can't tell you how many times I've brought my Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 DX and ended up leaving it in my bag thru an entire event because of poor lighting. Here's hoping your lighting situation is even slightly better.
That's a great capture. His intent and focus on the book is excellent. I also like the 'tools' sitting on the rail in front of him. I too hope my lighting situation is as good or better than what you had there. This performance is going to be at an actual theatre (it's huge ordeal to the family that she even got selected) so I'm hoping the stage is lit up real nice. I may try to find a place that rents lenses (no idea where to look
Conratulations to your family and your daughter. If it's a professional theatre then hopefully they've got some really good lighting.
Very nice ambient light shot!!! I didn't know Nikon could perform that well at ISO 1600
Glass: >Sigma 17-35mm,f2.8-4 DG >Tamron 28-75mm,f2.8 >Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro >Canon 70-200mm,f2.8L IS >Canon 200mm,f2.8L
Flash: >550EX >Sigma EF-500 DG Super >studio strobes
Sites: Jim Mitte Photography - Livingston Sports Photos - Brighton Football Photos
It doesn't do too bad although you gotta blast it with some NR in post.