18-55 or 55-200: I have a guy who says he wants me to take some photos of musicians. Cool. Well, I have two lenses; an 18-55 and a 55-200. Which lens should I use and why would I...

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

I have a guy who says he wants me to take some photos of musicians. Cool. Well, I have two lenses; an 18-55 and a 55-200. Which lens should I use and why would I choose it? I'm not sure if I'm going to be taking pictures of the musicians in action or what so please let me know why I would use one lens over the other.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Why not take both - use the wide for the group and the tele for individual head shots.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

A good way to get a sense of the field of view of various focal lengths is stand in one spot and take pictures of the same subject, using different focal lengths. Pay careful attention to how much you are able to include in the frame. Do this on several outings, and if need be, do additional analysis of the results on your computer. Think carefully about what you are seeing and how you achieved the result. Take the time to learn the basics; you will be glad you did!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Depends largely on how far you will be from the action and how wide of an area you will want your shots to cover. What about lighting? If you have to use a flash you will have to be quite close and the 18-55 would be the one. How fast are your lenses? Why can't you take both with you?
Do the musicians know you will be shooting? Not all allow it. If the photos are going to be used commercially it could be an issue.
If you can find out how close you will be and the approximate width of the desired shots (Leave yourself some room to crop) then mark out an area, have some friends stand in, or use chairs, etc, and do some test shots to see which lens will give the best coverage.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Linda From Maine wrote:

A good way to get a sense of the field of view of various focal lengths is stand in one spot and take pictures of the same subject, using different focal lengths. Pay careful attention to how much you are able to include in the frame. Do this on several outings, and if need be, do additional analysis of the results on your computer. Think carefully about what you are seeing and how you achieved the result. Take the time to learn the basics; you will be glad you did!

ChuckMc Loc: Prescott, AZ

Let me add to the above, that a long lens can give you some very nice natural, candid closeups.

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

DWU2 wrote:

Why not take both - use the wide for the group and the tele for individual head shots.

I planned on taking both but want to know how each is used. Mu favorite and prefered lens is th 18-55 but would like to know in what situation I might want to use the 55-200

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

bmike101 wrote:

I planned on taking both but want to know how each is used. Mu favorite and prefered lens is th 18-55 but would like to know in what situation I might want to use the 55-200

Depending on how far away you are, closeups.

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

It depends on what they are playing!

Ha!

repleo Loc: Boston

bmike101 wrote:

I have a guy who says he wants me to take some photos of musicians. Cool. Well, I have two lenses; an 18-55 and a 55-200. Which lens should I use and why would I choose it? I'm not sure if I'm going to be taking pictures of the musicians in action or what so please let me know why I would use one lens over the other.

'Musicians' ?? Is that as in a group or a series of individual portraits? If a group, I would use the 55-200 on a crop sensor. You don't want to be on top of them while they are playing.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Lighting is going to be a key factor. How fast are your lenses? Depending on the circumstances, using a flash may not be permitted. you might also ask how the photos will be used, that may help inform your lens choice if you're determined to use only one.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Usually, for that job I would say the 18-55 has the focal lengths that will be most useful for that type of shooting BUT, it is a slow lens and if shooting in low light you will pay the price. The 55-200 would be most useful if at a certain distance from the musicians but it is also slow if you are going to be working in low light.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Take both. Try them out ahead of time. The fastest glass will be your best choice, notwithstanding focal length when indoors. If stage lighting is great you may be able to “get away with” slower glass of course. In the end, take the fastest glass you have. Enjoy and have fun!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

bmike101 wrote:

I have a guy who says he wants me to take some photos of musicians. Cool. Well, I have two lenses; an 18-55 and a 55-200. Which lens should I use and why would I choose it? I'm not sure if I'm going to be taking pictures of the musicians in action or what so please let me know why I would use one lens over the other.

Whats the venue you will be shooting them in? How dark will it be? Will you be allowed to use a flash? How close will you be. Will they be performing or standing still for a portrait? Do you know how to use your camera in other than auto mode? If for example you will be shooting live musicians performing in the relatively low lighting of a club and can't get close enough to use a flash it is very likely the images will be very noisy and grainy with your lenses, and as a result of a slow shutter speed they may also not be in focus. Most photographers would be using a fast lens with an f/2.8 aperture or wider and high ISO to maintain a fast enough shutter speed to capture the image. If you are new to all this, as I suspect from your original question and use of the basic Nikon kit lenses, you may have a difficult time capturing a usable image with either one of your lenses. But to answer your question, if those are the only two lenses you have, bring both and see which one allows you to frame your subject better.

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

"I have two lenses; an 18-55 and a 55-200."

i have same two lenses. just curious what kind of camera you have.