Whats a decent digital camera to buy to take excellent photos at a concert? (NO Pro cams allowed)?

Question

I went to the Projekt Revolution concert last night and noticed that my cameras REALLY suck and I have to invest in something worthwhile. I want something that you can zoom in at least 30 ft and still be clear. My Kodak Easyshare just won't hitting it. I had some really good photos, but nothing professional looking. Some girls next to me had awesome cameras and could zoom in to see set lists 20-30 ft away and it was still clear (I believe Canon). I either want a Nikon or a Canon, something thats gonna work well, and I won't have to purchase anything else anytime soon.

Answer 1

A Sony w55 i got that              after                         the optical zoom comes the digital zoom, it still does come clear just a bit unclear but way better than the ones you took or the new lumix Panasonic that is the top !no pro camera cant remember what its called the one that the bridge falls off or breaks that camera that zooms better than mine

Answer 2

Price : $411.27

Olympus SP-570UZ

10MP Digital Camera

20x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom

reference : http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.shopp-20/...

Answer 3

Hi there,

Good question. I think apart from the camera, you need to develop a little more technique at taking concert photographs (which will of-course come from experimentation and practice). I generally sneak in Canon SD800 IS to concerts. Have a look at some concert shots:

Trans Siberian Orchestra - http://www.flickr.com/photos/anirudhkoul...

Bon Jovi   - http://www.flickr.com/photos/anirudhkoul...

Van Halen - http://www.flickr.com/photos/anirudhkoul...

Some of them were published in the newspapers too. Apart from Canon SD800, I also have an upgraded version - SD870 IS (more resolution, larger screen, better looking), but SD800 is a little faster (while taking mutliple photos) and better at focusing in such situations.

Some quick tips, after looking at your photographs:

1. Never-never-never use a flash in concerts. Why?

- your flash light will generally not really reach the artist

- you can save your battery for more photos

- you loose the natural effect and ambience of concert lighting

- if there is fog or dust, your photo will come out all whitish

- if the concert place is anti-camera, they might notice you and might take away your camera

2. Only take shows when there seems to be enough light on the artist

- the camera works on light, lesser the light on artist, more time it takes for the camera to take photo - and if the artist moves, your photo will come out all blurry

3. Keep your camera at high ISO

- Higher the ISO, Lesser the light required, hence faster shutter speed -> good chance of photos not being blurry

- But, higher the ISO, higher is the noise. So keep it somewhere midway

- My camera goes till ISO 1600, but I generally keep it at 400, in very low light at 800.

4. When you compose the photo, the stutter speed is shown like 1/15th of a second. Try taking photo only when you get 1/20 or min 1/15 in difficult situations.

If its lower, chances of your photo to be blurry are greater. For composing, press the button half and then read the number. If you go all the way, it would be leaving up to chance.

5. Keep the camera in burst or continuous mode, i.e. it will take multiple photos till you keep the button pressed. After you composing (half clicking) and getting a good shutter speed, keep the button pressed and take 4-5 photos. Generally if an artist is singing, you can get his different expressions and then select the best later on at home.

6. Fool the camera to think your subject is bright.

Because the camera shutter depends on how bright most portion of the photo is, I generally zoom in so that the artists body is covering majority of the screen.  Its better than a big black background along wth a tiny person's head. Its also helpful when the background is bright.

7. If its still difficult, take a short movie from the camera at 640x480 resolution, go home, open movie in VLC player, and take out snap-shot of which ever portion seems best.

8. Be as close to the stage.

Generally, the more you zoom, more is the light required and hence, the shutter speed is slower -> more chances of blurry photos. When getting zoomed-in photos is difficult , try zooming out and then crop your photos at home to get the subject.



9. I forgot the say this earlier, but concerts and auto-modes in camera are enemies. All those auto and night modes will inevitably fail. Manual mode is your friend.

Hope your next photos come out great.