24-70, could be a good choice for this situation and for my needs?

Federico-Nov

Senior Member
Dear all!
I own a D750, a D3300 and a good variety of primes lenses (24 2.8 / 35 1.8 / 50 1.8 / 85 1.8)


I'm going to shoot in a theatre from the first raw... This is the theatre:
1345000124540DSC-2949.JPG

merlo.jpg


There are going to be groups, up to ten dancers.
I was thinking to rent a 24-70 2.8 in D750 and use the 85 in my D3300 for closer / individual shots, but I have the doubt if the 70-200 would be better.

These are just some framing-test shots, without even focusing properly... Just to evaluate the field of view (I was there to take some test pics but there was a show going on I had to be really fast not to disturb the ph in charge of the show)...

I was in the first raw but not in the exact center... Like 5 sits away. D750 with 85 1.8... During the event I will be in the exact center and with possibility to go closer, just under the stage

_DSC3741.jpg_DSC3744.jpg_DSC3745.jpg

I do social events, studio work, theatres, some street phothography, and I'm evaluating the purchase of this kind of zoom (Nikon 24-70)
It's a lot of money so I'm not sure but I think that I'm going to give it pretty a good use.

For theatres could be too wide but generally I like to be close to the action.

These are from the rehearsal
https://studio5.pixieset.com/ensayobailatuestilo

This is from another show D750 + 50 1.8 and cropping

_DSC2726-Edit.jpg

You can check some work here: Studio5 - Home | Facebook

So... Do you think that for this occasion 24.70 will be OK
Do you think it could be a good investment?

Thank you!!!
 
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SkvLTD

Senior Member
With a dark backdrop, you honestly won't need insane aperture, and from the front row, 35 or 50 can do mighty fine. I'd use the 35 or the 50 on 750 and forget 3300 in that poor lighting. Alternatively, if lighting would hold for the 3300, use a 35 or 50 on it and 24 on the 750. You can always crop later.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
If a 24-70mm will allow you to be close enough without having to crop much, then it should be fine. I used to photograph the local high school's drama productions, but I had to stay up in the balcony. I was far away so the 70-200mm f/2.8 worked better for me. Plus I always had my lens on a tripod.

The only time I ran into trouble was when they had a technical glitch and wound up turning the house lights on low rather than to use spot lights. It wasn't quite bright enough for the auto focus to work. Other than being in extreme low light, the 24-70 should serve you well. If possible, go for one with VR since your shutter speed may not be overly fast.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
So... Do you think that for this occasion 24.70 will be OK? Do you think it could be a good investment?
I find a fast 24-70mm to be an invaluable lens. Period. If this were my shoot, a 24-70mm f/2.8 on a D750 would be my go-to combination. I'd suggest the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 over the (Non-VR) Nikon version, though.

Nikon's VR-enabled 24-70mm f/2.8 retails at about $2,500 and is a lens I've not had a chance to shoot with so I can't comment on it. I'm sure it's an excellent lens, though, if your pockets are that deep.
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
I shoot a few stage production videos of a local dance school, in one theater (smaller) the 24-70 is great but in the larger theater I use a 70-200, both are Nikon lenses. I am usually in the back of the theater, tripod, sound etc. I am typically higher than the audience and have the bottom of the frame just at the front edge of the stage. I find the balcony area is too high and makes dancers legs look short and no dancer likes that.
 
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Federico-Nov

Senior Member
Dear Nikonites.
Thank you all for your suggestions.

This is the confirmed team for tomorrow.

IMG_20171202_205428987_HDR.jpg

D750 + 24-70mm: Main camara/lens.
D3300 + 85mm: Back up and close ups (because mommies and daddies don't care about noise if their daughter is flying in the air but let's hope she will be in focus)
35 & 50: Back up and maybe I'll give them some shots if some lens swapping is viable.

Black Rapid Dual sling
A YN 685 speedlight (just in case?)
A YN 622 radio (just in case?)
Lotta batteries, lotta SD

24mm 2,8 - 18-55 - 55-200 Will stay at home (18-55 and 55-200 are my last chance - desperado back ups, never used though)

I'll have to drive near by some "not-so-good-areas" and I'm thinking to "hide" the 24-70 in cargo pocket and not in the thinktank backpack
(Rental services does't offer a insurance and the autorized reseller price of a non-VR 24-70 here in Argentina is 2600 USD... yes a robbery by all means)

The rest of my stuff is covered by an insurance.

thank you again!
Bye!
 
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aroy

Senior Member
I have shot D3300 with 35mm F1.8DX, and upto ISO 800 if works fine, though ISO 400 is much cleaner. So you can safely use 50mm F1.8 + D750 as long as you can get the full width from where ever you are positioned.

Given sufficient light the 24-70 will track and focus perfectly, but if the light is a bit off AF may be a problem. As yet I have rarely found D3300+35mm combination not focusing in a dim scene.

Here a few dance shots

MSC_1933.jpg

MSC_1843.jpg
 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
As with most choices "it depends".

The bonus of a DSLR is that you can bring two (or three or six) lenses and change them up. Recently took a 85mm to an event but was glad I had tossed the small 35mm into the small camera case I had with me - needed the wider view.

If I was off to an event in a theatre like that I'd start with my Nikkor 70-200 2.8 but drop a 35mm or 50mm fast prime into my bag just in case 70mm proved to be too wide. I like the way the 70-200 handles - balances nicely and even hand held it allows you to hold it stable. I have the older VRI version but it manages fine. How high you can push your ISO depends on your camera more than the lens.

I also have a 24-70 2.8 and love that lens and if you are going to be closer to the stage it might be fine. Part of the 'it depends' is that it depends on whether you want to be able to get in close. Do you want a shot of the actor's face? Not likely with the 24-70 but the 70-200 from the right distance will get you that too. Depending on the bag you are taking bring them both. The bonus of the 35mm or 50mm prime is that some of them are small enough to fit into a pocket.

my two cents worth on this one.

Event photography is a specialty all it's own.
 

Federico-Nov

Senior Member
hi!!! It's tonight at 20.00 pm! (now it's 13:24 pm)

Well.
I really enjoyed the experience.

It's really tough to take pictures in such an event... from 20:00 to 23:00 with a HUGE amount of shows and dancers... I didn't count them but could have been around 35 or 40...

I arrived at home at 24:00 and didn`t have time to download the material but there are some solid shots.

24-70 was just perfect as reach.
It was a bit dark in certain situations because lighting, sometime, was really dim.
On that point, the 85mm 1.8 would have serve me better, for the aperture and better transmission of light (I test both lenses at 2.8, same ISO and SS and the 24-70 it's pretty darker)

It could be great to do some team working with another photographer... two D750 with 24 and 85 1.8... One do groups and the other single dancers.

In another kind of show, with longer exhibitions (like classic dance), I would give a try to 2 D750 with 24 and 50 or 85 and shift bodies.
In this case, with 40 3 or 4 minutes show, with no rest between shows, it would be insane.

I tried not to over use bursts
I decided to use Auto ISO and highlight spot metering considering that the lighting was similar to a rock concert. It Was changing too fast for manual adjustment.
I'll have to work on this aspects:


  • Beeing in the first raw, the point of view was a bit too low and I often got too much scenario (the front - vertical part of it). I didn't want to point too upwards for distortion. The third raw would have been better but I would have been between parents and they where constantly going to the first raw to take (cel phone) pictures and they would have been into the shot. I was also able to move freely and change the angle.
  • I should have changed SS more often and go slower if needed.
  • I could have changing metering depending on lighting.

I'll post some pics as soon as I edit them.
 
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