What is the best digital SLR camera for shooting low light events such as concerts?

Question

I am looking to take more professional photos at the concerts I attend....which SLR camera's have the best features for composing low light, fast moving images?

Answer 1

Cat Lover & David are both correct.

Here is one-using Canon 135 mm f 2 lens.

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

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

and one with Canon 24-70 mm f 2.8

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

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

All at ISO 3,200 except the last one at 1,600

Answer 2

Unless you have permission to take pictures, most concerts will not allow DSLR or SLR camers.  They will confiscate the camera and may kick you out.  If cameras are allowed, they are only the small point & shoots that do not take good pictures under those conditions.  

So whatever camera you get, make sure SLRs are permitted, or you could lose it.

Answer 3

It is not the camera that will make a difference it will be the lens. Depending on how close you will be there are different lenses that will work. They all have one thing in common though. They are fast large aperture lenses. That said unless you are on stage or it is a day time out door concert you wont get very good shots. At night it is to dark and the flash wont help unless you are on stage. Some lenses to look at though would be

70-200mm F2.8 would be good if you are in the crowd. Expensive though.

70-300mm will give you more reach but will be a slower lens. Not good in low light. They will also be much cheaper.

Any other lens in this general range would be fine. The best ones will be an F2.8

Check with the venues before you bring an SLR to a concert though. They are not likely to let you in with one.

For some cameras to look at check out the following.

Canon Rebel XTi, XSi or Xs

Nikon D40 or D60

Answer 4

You're actually going to want to look at a combination of lense and noise performance.

Lense - aperture. Most likely primes, especially at 1.2

Noise performance - You may need to bump the ISO to above 400 depending on the lighting and how well it handles it