[TYOsborn]

Hi... My grandchildren are going back to school so with that comes school functions with the parents and grandparents stuck in the rafters of the auditorium. Since I have already missed so many photo shots due to other camera's abilities, I'd like to make sure I do it right this time.

This is what I have:

Pentax K200D
Pentax DA 18-250mm
Tamron AF70-300mm

Will what I have work or do I need to invest in another lens? One of the important reasons for me buying the Pentax K200 was for invents such as this. I don't want this to be a trial and error shoot (again). If what I have will work, what settings are recommended?

Thanks so much!

[heatherslightbox]

Since you're going to be doing inside shooting, you'll most definitely need to see about a decent external flash. As to which one you should, it depends on how much you're willing to spend.

I would say also that you need to consider getting a faster lens--a constant f2.8 would be good, which won't be very cheap. Depending on how much focal length you need, you've got a variety of options--
Short end--DA*16-50/2.8, Sigma 18-50/2.8, Tamron 17-50/2.8. The Tamron and Sigma are the most reasonably priced coming in at around $450 each.
Mid-tele--Tamron 28-75/2.8 or DA*50-135/2.8. If you don't need the extra reach of the 50-135, the Tamron is the best deal at around $400 new.
Long-tele--the soon-to-be-released 70-200/2.8s from Tamron and Sigma, priced at $699 and $799, respectively.

HTH,
Heather

[Marc Sabatella]

If you're in the rafters, as you say, forget flash - you'll just annoy the folks around you and it still won't light up the kids. You need a faster (eg, wider maximum aperture) lens. The top of the line chocies here are the DA*200 and 300, and the 200 is faster, so I'd pick that - you can always crop. If that's out of the budget, then a used manual focus K135/2.5, M135/3.5, M200/4 or K300/4 might be in order.

[TYOsborn]

If you're in the rafters, as you say, forget flash - you'll just annoy the folks around you and it still won't light up the kids. You need a faster (eg, wider maximum aperture) lens. The top of the line chocies here are the DA*200 and 300, and the 200 is faster, so I'd pick that - you can always crop. If that's out of the budget, then a used manual focus K135/2.5, M135/3.5, M200/4 or K300/4 might be in order.

That's what I was thinking about the flash as well. I do need to get one though. I don't *plan* to be in the rafters, but it always seems to work out that way no matter what time I get there. Well... I haven't tried being there TWO hours early yet, but I'd really just rather buy a lens that will do the trick. School functions can be long enough anyway.