Originally posted by Sandy Hancock I consider a quality tele zoom to be essential for bigger stages. As for which one: I rarely use my Sigma 70-200/2.8 now I have the DA*50-135. The latter is sharper, has better colour rendering, and has more decisive and accurate (but slower) autofocus.
I don't shoot concerts, but for stage performances or most any other situation (except
fast action shots) I'd go with the DA*50-135 over the various 70-200 lenses that are available.
If you're going with a prime then look at the FA77, FA*85, or on a budget the Samyang (,Rokinon, etc.) 85/1.4. For performances on relatively dark stages I often prefer the FA*85 (or the FA77 before I had it) to the DA*50-135. The FA*85 is almost identical to your DA*55 in wide-open performance (e.g. very good to excellent IQ at f/1.8 or often even f/1.6), but being longer makes it even better in these situations. The FA77 is almost as good, performing great wide-open at f/1.8. But these are two full stops faster than the f/3.2 to f/3.5 you'll want to use the DA*50-135 at (and most of the 70-200s should probably be stopped down even more).
On the wider end the best use of your money is probably the FA*24/2, DA35/2.4, or Samyang 16/2 (though I still love the DA15 and DA10-17).
Using a 2nd body with a different lens on it is a great idea if you don't mind carrying 2 cameras.
I usually advocate putting most of your money in lenses, but in this case you might want to put the Tamron 17-50 or a wide prime on your one body and get another body with a Samyang 85/1.4 or something. (Of course if you have deeper pockets and you're getting a second body anyway, the perfect solution is probably a Sony A65 or A77 with a Sony Zeiss 135/1.8, or a Canon with the 135/2 if you want to compromise a little).