Concert Photography Help: I just found out that I will have the opportunity to be in the photographer's pit on Thursday to shoot 3 songs at a professional rock concert. I have only...

alissaspieces Loc: New York

I just found out that I will have the opportunity to be in the photographer's pit on Thursday to shoot 3 songs at a professional rock concert. I have only shot a few shows in the past and never in a pit. Any advice would be great. My gear:
d7100
Will rent d750
lenses:
80-200 2.8 no image stabilization
85mm 1.8
50mm 1.8
18-50 2.8 (for dx only)

Ok- so should I bring 2 camera's and have a short lens on my dx and a longer lens on my fx?

Is the 85mm long enough or should I use the 80-200?

Should I just use the 750?

Should I set it to auto ISO with a cap and a minimum shutter speed that it will fall to?

I know to shoot wide open...
I know to use single focus point and spot meter.

Should I shoot manual?

So...anyone have professional experience that can give me any great tips..I would appreciate it.
THanks!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

alissaspieces wrote:

I just found out that I will have the opportunity ... (show quote)

Alissa, I have never shot from a pit but I've shot a lot of dance from backstage.
I would shoot on Tv using Auto ISO with NO cap. The camera will always shoot wide open using the lowest ISO it can.
With a cap, when you reach the cap, the camera will be forced to shoot underexposed, or not shoot at all!
My guess is the 80-200 is just too long. The 18-50 would probably be best on the crop if it's fast enough for the light you'll have. The two primes will probably be best. Remember that wide open you'll have little dof. You can always ask those around you what works for them, I'm sure they will tell you.
Something has to float, and it can't be your speed with very low light or everything will be one big blur. There should be lots of light on the stage, but it will vary a lot. That's where the Auto ISO comes in. If you need the high ISO, you need the high ISO. Noisy shots are better than no shots.
See if you can find some utubes. Google concert photography Fro knows. That's Fro's gig. Good luck
SS

sbesaw Loc: Boston

alissaspieces wrote:

I just found out that I will have the opportunity ... (show quote)

Here is some good info:
http://www.lightstalking.com/concert-photography-lessons-from-the-pit/

http://www.adorama.com/alc/0013238/article/concert-photography-tips-from-the-pit-1

http://digital-photography-school.com/6-tips-for-budding-live-concert-photographers/

There is an excellent series on you tube. here is one of the series. u should look at them all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJFb-OjYu2o

when I shot concerts I used 2 Nikon D3s with 24-70 2.8 on one and a 70-200 2.8 on the other with a fisheye in my pocket.

Spot Meter, continuous to rip off a few at a time, start at SS 1/160 and ISO at 1600 and adjust as needed, aperture at 2.8. shoot full Manual.

Good luck, 3 songs fly by.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

In the pit eh... Rent a Df or D4s, raise your ISO fairly high, shoot RAW. I would rather have a 24-70 f/2.8 or a 14-24 f/2.8 being that close.

alissaspieces wrote:

I just found out that I will have the opportunity ... (show quote)

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Do you think the d750 will cut it? I can borrow one from a friend.

DavidPine wrote:

In the pit eh... Rent a Df or D4s, raise your ISO fairly high, shoot RAW. I would rather have a 24-70 f/2.8 or a 14-24 f/2.8 being that close.

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Thank you..I am going to read all of those! I don't have the 24-70...maybe I will rent it.

Do you think the 7100 will be ok? I am concerned about the sensor and low light capabilities.

Do most photographers carry 2 camera bodies?

sbesaw wrote:

Here is some good info: br http://www.lightstalkin... (show quote)

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Thanks! Yes..I was just watching fro..lol. He is good!
Luckily I have the opening act to shoot before the main performer so I can shoot..check out what I have and then tweek from there. I am concerned about the d7100 and it's sensor and low light capabilities. I think by iso3200 it gets pretty noisy. 1600 is good, 2500 fair.

SharpShooter wrote:

Alissa, I have never shot from a pit but I've shot... (show quote)

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

alissaspieces wrote:

Thanks! Yes..I was just watching fro..lol. He is good!
Luckily I have the opening act to shoot before the main performer so I can shoot..check out what I have and then tweek from there. I am concerned about the d7100 and it's sensor and low light capabilities. I think by iso3200 it gets pretty noisy. 1600 is good, 2500 fair.

Alissa, when I get home from work I'll post two shots, if I can find them(?), they will explain some.(8-9pm west coast) ;-)
SS

sbesaw Loc: Boston

alissaspieces wrote:

Thank you..I am going to read all of those! I don't have the 24-70...maybe I will rent it.

Do you think the 7100 will be ok? I am concerned about the sensor and low light capabilities.

Do most photographers carry 2 camera bodies?

If you can get the D750 get it. That's what I am shooting now, good low light and much lighter than the D3s. Those that can use 2 bodies do use 2 bodies. When you are in the Pit you are not necessarily trying to get the whole band, you are shooting up and it is crowded, The 24-70 allows for a full figure while 70-200 gets you tight on let's say the drummer or anyone of the band that is across the stage from you. It's usually too crowded to move around and everyone else is concerned with getting their shots.. The D750 will handle 1600 and 3200. The most important thing is get the best gear you comfortably can buy, rent, borrow or steal and then just run with it. Shoot what you got and have fun. It won't last that long

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

The D750 is a very good low light camera. Take alook at this story and video from dpreviews, you'll be amazed!

http://petapixel.com/2014/10/23/nikon-scores-another-dxomark-hit-with-the-d750-its-6th-ca...

http://petapixel.com/2014/12/06/hands-see-d750-performs-plethora-real-world-situations/

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

alissaspieces wrote:

Thanks! Yes..I was just watching fro..lol. He is good!
Luckily I have the opening act to shoot before the main performer so I can shoot..check out what I have and then tweek from there. I am concerned about the d7100 and it's sensor and low light capabilities. I think by iso3200 it gets pretty noisy. 1600 is good, 2500 fair.

If you can't shoot at least 3200 ISO I would use just enough fill from your flash to freeze the action but set your ISO around 640 with a aperture of F4 and your shutter between 80- 125 once you have these settings if the concert looks true to life leave these settings in manual,now set your flash on manual and adjust your flash to just freeze the action without it looking like you used the flash, now this is only if you can't get a body that you can use iso 3200 or above and get usable noise levels. Here are a few examples shot at iso640.. I hope you can get a body to shoot higher iso with but if you have to use 1600 or less this will work.

(Download)

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Thank you and awesome shots! But I can't use flash. I think the 750 will be good..just reading up on it now and it should be able to shoot higher then 3200. I am going to be close up so I am thinking that I would put the 80-200 on the 750 and bring the 7100 and put my 50mm 1.8 on that ...at least the extra light from the prime would be helpful. Or the 18-55..those are my thoughts.

greg vescuso wrote:

If you can't shoot at least 3200 ISO I would use j... (show quote)

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Thank you..I am checking them out now.

Mr PC wrote:

The D750 is a very good low light camera. Take alook at this story and video from dpreviews, you'll be amazed!

http://petapixel.com/2014/10/23/nikon-scores-another-dxomark-hit-with-the-d750-its-6th-ca...

http://petapixel.com/2014/12/06/hands-see-d750-performs-plethora-real-world-situations/

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Do people switch lenses in the pit or do they just use two camera bodies? My thoughts are using the d750 with the 80-200 and the 7100 with my 50mm prime 1.8 for the extra light and wider lens.

sbesaw wrote:

If you can get the D750 get it. That's what I am s... (show quote)

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Thanks!

SharpShooter wrote:

Alissa, when I get home from work I'll post two shots, if I can find them(?), they will explain some.(8-9pm west coast) ;-)
SS