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Question on Zoom Lens Selection (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 6 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I just bought a used mirrorless camera - Sony A7C if it matters, and and am wanting some advice on a zoom lens.

I want a lens for use in a dark arena - there are dozens of performers with spotlights, so a lot of dark and light. I want to go between shots of the full arena and zooms onto individual acts or performers. I think that my best choice is between the Sony FE 24-240 f/ 3.5-6.3 and the Tamron 28-200 f/2.8-5.6.

Will there be a significant difference in low light performance between these lenses? I like the wider specs of the Sony lens but am not sure how much of a tradeoff I would be making with the smaller aperture.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This can get very expensive very fast. Okay, so 20 years ago concert photographers shot on 800 film pushed to 1600 or 3200 and shot on f/2.8 constant lenses, sometimes f/1.8 primes and then walked naked through the snow to milk the developer rodent for the C-41 chemicals. And now 6400 looks pretty darn good on a small sensor even. But it just means that concert photographers want more more more more!

200mm at f/5.6 is going to be really really hard to work with. Or whatever the Sony is at the same zoom setting.

I shoot a lot of smaller dance and circus shows and I use the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro, which is about 24-80 in full-frame terms. If I wanted to do larger arenas where I'd be farther away ... I'd probably get the longer brother of my 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro and put it on a second body or just swap lenses regularly. If you are going to be fairly far from the stage in an arena, I'd probably suggest you get something that's got a shorter zoom range but is faster and then use even just the kit lens for the wide shots because the longer the lens, the more problems you will have both with your hands shaking the lens and the subject moving.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago

Yeah I wish I had the flexibility to walk closer to the performers or have several cameras to switch between. I've been getting passable pictures with some f4.5 to f6.3 lenses, but with noticeable noise when zooming into people just outside of the spotlight. Hopefully the Tamron and a monopod will do what I want. I think that's the one I'll go with.