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Using digital camera at live shows - advice needed

Lukin_ozLukin_oz Posts: 257
edited November 2006 in Given To Fly (live)
Just after some advice from anyone who has gotten good shots at a live show using their digital camera. Im attending the Oz tour and most of my seats are in the first few rows... now you cant use a flash, so I just after some feedback on the light and shutter speed settings people have found useful. Is there enough light on stage to shoot on normal settings without a flash? or do the aperture and shutter speed need to be adjusted? Any device would be appreciated
Those who dance are called insane by those who dont hear the music
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  • cropdustresscropdustress Posts: 4,339
    Lukin_oz wrote:
    Just after some advice from anyone who has gotten good shots at a live show using their digital camera. Im attending the Oz tour and most of my seats are in the first few rows... now you cant use a flash, so I just after some feedback on the light and shutter speed settings people have found useful. Is there enough light on stage to shoot on normal settings without a flash? or do the aperture and shutter speed need to be adjusted? Any device would be appreciated


    I got a very old and rather crappy olympus camera and I got some decent shots. Some from front row(s), some a lil further back.
    I got the best pics w/out flash, of course, but when the light was really bright and *natural* so to speak, no colors and all. I got some great shots then. After a show or two I figured it out, and had my camera ready for certain songs (i.e. DTE when the lights are REALLY really bright and heavy) and pics are amazing. I took many pics, even when the lights were out or colored, but I had to hold my camera VERY still and they came out blurry.
    I dont know much about this, Im guessing it depends on the camera and yourself.
    Just enjoy the show and take a few pics when you see good lights :D;)
    "I surfaced and all of my being was enlightened"
  • pluto32pluto32 Posts: 1
    I'd recommend setting your camera to "Shutter Priority" (on the dial, put it on Tv) and set your shutter speed to around 1/80th of a second. If that's too blury set it to 1/125th of a second. Just try different settings until you find the setting that is right for you.
    Also, set your ISO speed to 400.
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,898
    sounds dumb but do some mock ups in your garage with a buddy and shitty lighting with him moving around. it'll help you get used to Tv mode, and getting practice with the settings. 400 shutter or higher in this mode to make moving things look still.

    You can also try bracketing, shooting something with two or three settings, some camera will do this automatically on the right setting.
  • 1vs51vs5 Posts: 289
    ISO is the key.
    THe Fuji F30 can go as high as 3200.
    I used it for Europe and shot most of mine at 1600.
    The pics came out really clear for the low lighting at the shows.
  • 23Kev23Kev Posts: 2
    It really depends on what camera you have.

    If its a fairly normal Point and Shoot type camera then by putting the ISO up high will generate a lot of noise in the photos, looks a bit crap but will enable you to take photos at a decent shutter speed.

    As someone else said I'd put your camera on Shutter Priority (Canon call this Tv, other makers call it something else). Keep your shutter faster than 1/125 of a second and you should be right. Also as others have said make sure you try and keep the camera AS STILL AS POSSIBLE. You will also be able to go to a slower shutter if you do this, which should make the photos brighter.

    I'd love to take my DSLR with me to Bris 1 but I don't think they allow them :(.

    Kev
  • ozarkcoolchicozarkcoolchic Posts: 621
    I have an action setting on my digital and it takes great shots at the shows on that setting. When I am closer up it is a hit and miss situation, though.
    I wish I were the verb "to trust" and never let you down
  • pinkybeepinkybee Posts: 31
    Thanks for this info, it really helps.
    I'm hoping 'they' let my camera in - with it's movie camera option, I'm reading conflicting reports about it. Some are being made to coat-check there's. Yikes.
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    I wasn't aware that flashes weren't allowed. I was using a flash in row 2 of 6 shows this year.
  • tartan_penguintartan_penguin Posts: 3
    i took some pics from Sydney 1 with my Canon compact... was far back (door 7) and many were crap.... you can see a few of the better ones here:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/tartan_penguin/

    would advise you increase the ISO to as high as it can go and stand to avoid camera shake caused by people rockin in their seats!!
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