[Woolcott]

Now that's a great idea!

Why thank you! The temptation to wear it even when I'm not wielding a camera at a gig is pretty near overwhelming. So easy to get a prime spot, yet so dastardly!

[rzarector]

Thank you all for the recommendations. It is always a good feeling when the lenses you are looking at pop up in convos like this. Means I am learning a bit. :-D

So I have a 600 dollar budget right now...I know....I know.....

I have rented the 50-130 many times and found it really sluggish and at times when zoomed all the way to 130 I had no chance of getting anything to focus. Only when I would pull out a bit would she focus. I really love the image quality. But I worry is that was just cause the lens I rented had an issue, or if its a standard with this lens. also the price tag of over 1k is steep for me.
(Image attached was with 50-130)

The 85 1.4 I have seen for hovering around 300 but worry about the MF aspect. I know I shouldn't but dropping this money on MF lens is a bit perplexing for me, when I can cover 70-> with my whole budget.

The fisheye had been a dream of mine for a long time but cant justify dropping 300 on one for those 2-5 shots then have it live in a bag most the time. Sure I could use it for landscapes and all but my Sigma 17-50 covers that for a walkaround all in one bad boy.

The other idea is finding the pentax 50-130 used. Borrow lenses has one for 600 but that scares me. I dont think its a good idea to buy from a online rental house with no security in purchase at all.

The Tamron covers my festival gigs from here on out or big shows where the pit is a bit further from the stage than I'd like. And is in my budget. I can save what I have now and save up for the pentax zoom lens but worry about the short comings for my use cases. ahhhh the choices are killing me.

[VoiceOfReason]

Sounds like you already realize the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 is your lens. Go for it.

[john5100]

My best ever purchase as a concert photog was a t-shirt with PHOTOGRAPHER in UV-reflective letters across the back - it stops people tutting and whatnot as you try to get from one side to another in smaller gigs!

Best idea I've heard in a while. I've had idiots give me a hard time when I have 2 bodies on a harness. Who other than a photographer carries 2 pro bodies to a show?

As for the lens, I love my DA*50-135mm for shows. Sure it's not the fastest focuser but but I'm not racking out all the way out and back in again. For stadium shows, I am needing a longer lens and I'm thinking about the Tamron 70-200mm or the DA 50-300mm WR because these shows usually have good light.

Fisheye concert shots look great. Don't over look that.

Concert Photos

[Kozlok]

I think the Tamron 70-200 is a beautiful lens. The rendering borders on magical. Focuses close, too, so a great dual-purpose butterfly lens or other near-macro work. The one and only flaw is right at 200/2.8 it has a glow. 180/2.8 is fine, 200/3.2 is fine. Just do be aware that it is kind of bad for whatever reason right at 200/2.8. Buy one used, sell it along if you don't like it/can't use it.

[rzarector]

What do you mean by glow? any examples? thanks!

[Giklab]

What do you mean by glow? any examples? thanks!

I'm interested to see this too.

[VoiceOfReason]

I think the Tamron 70-200 is a beautiful lens. The rendering borders on magical. Focuses close, too, so a great dual-purpose butterfly lens or other near-macro work. The one and only flaw is right at 200/2.8 it has a glow. 180/2.8 is fine, 200/3.2 is fine. Just do be aware that it is kind of bad for whatever reason right at 200/2.8. Buy one used, sell it along if you don't like it/can't use it.

I am going to have to check that out this weekend because mine just got here today. I took a couple shots of my cat with it.

[Kozlok]

It's been ages since I've used it at 200/2.8. Could only find one I'd kept. I remember them all looking like my Tak 50 at 1.4. Just soft, with a soft glowy halo around the stuff that should be in perfect focus. Any other FL and it's razor sharp at 2.8. I've read others had this problem, so I think it's somewhat common. I just avoid it, so never much of a problem for me. Full rez samples on Flickr, for those so inclined to pixel peep.

Here's 200/2.8. My puppy not being very agreeable:




And here's 200/4 Really very very sharp.

I quit doing most "concerts" because when I picked up my press pass silk, I was having to sign what I saw as Looney Tune restrictions. "Furthur" aka Grateful Dead 2.0 was the last straw for me.

Fortunately the "B-52's" have a different perspective so I can show photos external to the online publication I contribute to.

Shooting a concert can't all be closeups, you need context and the wide end of the 50-135 works okay for me, first photo. It just has great IQ, even wide open

Stuck in the sound pit for 3 songs in a large venue, I've got a Sigma 100-300/4 with a 1.5 TC on a tripod, second photo. It all depends.

[ScooterMaxi Jim]

Of course, it all depends what kind of concert situation you are going to be working. I shoot more club situations than large venues, and the lighting standards are 2-3 stops lower. Primes faster than f/2.8 are needed (unless you are shooting wide, then go with the new Sigma f1.8 when that becomes available). The Samyang 85mm f/1.4 is absolutely wonderful in these situations. Generally, the lens performs stopped down by about 2/3rds of a stop. Shooting with the K-01 and a loupe you can be quite stealthy if the situation demands it. (Artist is Frankie Lee, photo cropped from much-larger vertical image to show detail.) This image selected because of work against spotlight is quite good - a bigger problem with most zooms.

[rzarector]

I quit doing most "concerts" because when I picked up my press pass silk, I was having to sign what I saw as Looney Tune restrictions. "Furthur" aka Grateful Dead 2.0 was the last straw for me.

Fortunately the "B-52's" have a different perspective so I can show photos external to the online publication I contribute to.

Shooting a concert can't all be closeups, you need context and the wide end of the 50-135 works okay for me, first photo. It just has great IQ, even wide open

Stuck in the sound pit for 3 songs in a large venue, I've got a Sigma 100-300/4 with a 1.5 TC on a tripod, second photo. It all depends.

Funny you mention the dead. They use Jay Blakesberg for pretty much everything. Dude is great and has been with them for decades. I can see why they'd just say "nah" to most press people and others. I have seen Phil and Friends, Further, etc many many many times. Given Terrapin Crossroads is 15 minutes away its a frequented venue. Haven't shot there yet, pretty small and all.

---------- Post added 02-20-14 at 09:54 AM ----------

Of course, it all depends what kind of concert situation you are going to be working. I shoot more club situations than large venues, and the lighting standards are 2-3 stops lower. Primes faster than f/2.8 are needed (unless you are shooting wide, then go with the new Sigma f1.8 when that becomes available). The Samyang 85mm f/1.4 is absolutely wonderful in these situations. Generally, the lens performs stopped down by about 2/3rds of a stop. Shooting with the K-01 and a loupe you can be quite stealthy if the situation demands it. (Artist is Frankie Lee, photo cropped from much-larger vertical image to show detail.) This image selected because of work against spotlight is quite good - a bigger problem with most zooms.

Hmmmmm maybe I should keep an eye out for this lens used. May be able to find one for a wee bit cheaper. I do agree every prime I have used looks incredible compared to a zoom.

I went back to my lightroom and filtered for all shots with the Pentax 50-130 and many I did get incredible pictures at many focal lengths. Never saw much "bad" in it. The SDM dying issue seems to worry me a lot. Or Id be saving for this guy. I just hope Pentax updates this lens or gives us a great fast zoom this year. I'd love that.

As of now I think I am going to treat my paypal as a savings account and add slowly to it each week. Then if after 6 months Pentax makes no new zoom fast announcements then I will spring for the Tammy or Pentax, depending.

How much does it cost to repair or fix the motor on the 50-135 I wonder.....if it were to go out.

[Giklab]

$200-350 seems to be the average.

Funny you mention the dead. They use Jay Blakesberg for pretty much everything. Dude is great and has been with them for decades. I can see why they'd just say "nah" to most press people and others. I have seen Phil and Friends, Further, etc many many many times. Given Terrapin Crossroads is 15 minutes away its a frequented venue. Haven't shot there yet, pretty small and all.
.

They didn't say "Nah" to me and the other local media outlets who publicized the event and filled the venue. And I was okay with the routine, usual escort to to the sound pit, 3 songs and out and no commercial use. I mean how many picturres of some guy with a guitar do you want to look at?

But it was the first time I had to sign a contract requiring that my photos could not be shown except the editorial use by my publication. I am not allowed to show anything I shot in my portfolio or website. I am not allowed to make a print and display in a gallery or enter something in a juried show. So here is the only photo I made that I can show. Its called "No Furthur".

[ScooterMaxi Jim]

---------- Post added 02-20-14 at 09:54 AM ----------

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Hmmmmm maybe I should keep an eye out for this lens used. May be able to find one for a wee bit cheaper. I do agree every prime I have used looks incredible compared to a zoom.

I have to wonder how much lower the used units would be priced, as they aren't on the market often. Assuming a good copy, I suspect not too many decide to part with them unless leaving the brand. Keep in mind that the best prices new are on the units branded Bower or Rokinon (under $300) from good dealers. Also can be found as Vivitar, Samyang of course, possibly Bell+Howell, Polar, Falcon and Opteka.