Guest rivercityrocker Posted May 2, 2013 Share #1 Posted May 2, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Is there anyone else out there shooting concerts with an M8? I'm a professional concert photographer. When I bought the M8 recently I was warned how terrible it was in low light and that it would never make a good concert camera. I have been bringing it to my shows to do test shots and I have to say that the M8 isn't nearly as terrible as everyone says it is. I find my results in a lot of cases are just as good as any of my newest Nikons. I'd like to hear some other people's opinions on this. My settings are simple. Auto ISO maxed at 1250, aperture wide open and shutter speed between 1/125 and 1/250. I usually shoot without the UV/IR cut filter to gain the extra 1/3 stop especially since correct color isn't crucial with this type of photography. Anyway, here's some shots from the last few shows I've done. (shots taken with either a CV 35mm f/1.4 or 28mm f/2 and one with a Zeiss 50mm Planar f/2). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 7 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/203881-concert-photography-with-m8/?do=findComment&comment=2312536'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 Hi Guest rivercityrocker, Take a look here Concert photography with M8. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted May 2, 2013 Share #2 Posted May 2, 2013 The filter factor of an 486 filter is 1.0. You may catch some IR though... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted May 2, 2013 Share #3 Posted May 2, 2013 I have shot a lot of concert/stage work on M8's in the past. You must use IR cut filters if there are any synthetic black fabrics in the pic. ISO up to 640 is fine. After that, noise starts to ingress. I have used up to ISO2500 with great results, but also bad. It is very dependent on accurate exposure and contrast level of the stage lighting. The M9 is a great improvement and I am confident the new M is even better but have not used it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMM Posted May 2, 2013 Share #4 Posted May 2, 2013 Besides the ISO discussion, I love the second picture you posted... :-) 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iedei Posted May 2, 2013 Share #5 Posted May 2, 2013 nice photos! i think you should save up and get a Noctilux F1....the speed and light will certainly suit your concert photography....it will likely take you some practice though...but probably money well spent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rivercityrocker Posted May 2, 2013 Share #6 Posted May 2, 2013 From my tests, removing the UV/IR gives me another 1/3 stop consistently. Every little bit helps. As I mentioned, I don't find the UV/IR cut filter necessary even with synthetic fabrics because concert lighting isn't about accurate representations of colors. If someone's pants go magenta it's not a real problem. I'm working towards an M-E, but until then the M8 is performing much better than I expected. I suppose the fact that I've got a lot of experience shooting helps me to nail the exposure. I can anticipate when the lighting is going to be favorable before I press the shutter-release. As much as I'd love a Noctilux in this market I simply cannot justify that kind of expense. I don't make nearly the money that I used to 10 years ago due to people shooting for free. If I need a nice clean image I can get it with an f/2.8 lens on a D3 or D4 or even a D700 more consistently. Clients don't care if it was taken with a Leica or a Rebel. I may pick up a CV 50mm f/1.1 sometime in the future because when push comes to shove I think you'd be hard pressed to see the difference between the Noctilux and the Nokton in a concert lighting environment. If you can tell the difference it's definitely not going to be a $9000 difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iedei Posted May 2, 2013 Share #7 Posted May 2, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) As much as I'd love a Noctilux in this market I simply cannot justify that kind of expense. I don't make nearly the money that I used to 10 years ago due to people shooting for free. If I need a nice clean image I can get it with an f/2.8 lens on a D3 or D4 or even a D700 more consistently. Clients don't care if it was taken with a Leica or a Rebel. I may pick up a CV 50mm f/1.1 sometime in the future because when push comes to shove I think you'd be hard pressed to see the difference between the Noctilux and the Nokton in a concert lighting environment. If you can tell the difference it's definitely not going to be a $9000 difference. well the Noctilux F1 can be found for about $5k.....but i agree with your points. I think a Nokton F1.1 would be a great choice, with budget considered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted May 3, 2013 Share #8 Posted May 3, 2013 I will bow to your 'on site' experience of the venues you go to, but my general experience is that concert lighting is in fact quite strong, where there is any light at all. In that sense, I doubt that a Noctilux is going to be a benefit in that light levels are fine. A lot, but not all, of my stage work is 'drama' which mostly has lower light levels. It those scenarios a Noctilux is occasionally helpful but even then I can go through a whole 3hr shoot without taking the Noct out of the bag. Every situation is different and you will know best how your lighting requirements are affecting you. The Noct is a nice lens to own though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikP Posted May 3, 2013 Share #9 Posted May 3, 2013 (edited) A small contribution from a concert yesterday - Jessica Andersson - a local but Swedish singer - shoot with M8 and Leitz Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8 // Handheld @ 1/90 and slightly adjusted in LR Edit: shoot with ISO 640 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited May 3, 2013 by ErikP 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/203881-concert-photography-with-m8/?do=findComment&comment=2313538'>More sharing options...
Guest rivercityrocker Posted May 4, 2013 Share #10 Posted May 4, 2013 I will bow to your 'on site' experience of the venues you go to, but my general experience is that concert lighting is in fact quite strong, where there is any light at all. In that sense, I doubt that a Noctilux is going to be a benefit in that light levels are fine. A lot, but not all, of my stage work is 'drama' which mostly has lower light levels. It those scenarios a Noctilux is occasionally helpful but even then I can go through a whole 3hr shoot without taking the Noct out of the bag. Every situation is different and you will know best how your lighting requirements are affecting you. The Noct is a nice lens to own though. I've shot several hundreds of shows in dozens of different venues all over the US and concert lighting is generally not strong. It CAN be strong at times, for brief moments, but generally the light levels are not fine. And it's not venue specific. All of those images were taken at the same venue in one week and each band had different light. Metric (top 2) had lots of strong spots coming in from the front and side for most of the show. it was good. I had shots coming in at ISO 160 frequently. Two Door Cinema Club (middle) was half and half. It was very dark about half the time and decent the other half. I was hovering between ISO 640 and 1250. Gaslight Anthem (bottom 2) was dark the whole time with mostly strong backlighting when there was light at all. I was at ISO 1250 the whole time and I was still struggling to get a good exposure while keeping a fast enough shutter speed. I had to push some of these in LR4 . With drama you may have lower light levels, but venture to guess you're also dealing with a lot less frenetic movement. You can get away with using slower shutter speeds which means you don't need the fastest lens. With my Nikons I can get away with f/2.8 lenses with no problems because I can easily shoot at ISO 6400. But with my personal constraint with the M8 being ISO 1250 I'm losing 2 1/3 stops so a Nokt or Noct would get me right about where I'd usually be with my Nikons. In any case, if anyone is interested I've written a book about concert photography. I guess it's geared towards DSLR users, but a lot of the same principles apply. http://www.amazon.com/Concert-Live-Music-Photography-Tips/dp/0240820649/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 9, 2013 Share #11 Posted May 9, 2013 my Bolshoi Ballet, all M8, except one. no problem Slide Show: Misha Friedman's Photographs of the Bolshoi : The New Yorker 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rivercityrocker Posted May 10, 2013 Share #12 Posted May 10, 2013 my Bolshoi Ballet, all M8, except one. no problem Slide Show: Misha Friedman's Photographs of the Bolshoi : The New Yorker Those Bolshoi pics are amazing. Great work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
desu Posted May 10, 2013 Share #13 Posted May 10, 2013 my Bolshoi Ballet, all M8, except one. no problem Slide Show: Misha Friedman's Photographs of the Bolshoi : The New Yorker Great colors. What lens(es) did you use? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martha Posted May 10, 2013 Share #14 Posted May 10, 2013 my Bolshoi Ballet, all M8, except one. no problem Slide Show: Misha Friedman's Photographs of the Bolshoi : The New Yorker Wow, triple WOW!!!! I think I saw those images in the "New Yorker" when the article came out and was wowed then. So often, pros will put down their Leica rangefinders and pick up one or two Canikons for "professional" images. That is truly a shame, IMHO. Thank you, Misha! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
misha Posted May 10, 2013 Share #15 Posted May 10, 2013 thanks, one lens - summicron 28/2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted June 30, 2013 Share #16 Posted June 30, 2013 It depends on what concerts you're talking about. I made perfect shots at ISO 320 with SAA 90 at F2.5 and 1/180. I was stunned when I saw the sharpness afterwards. It was a ballet, maybe I should call it Theatre photography. Nevertheless, most spotlights make this kind of exposures possible. I must say that a few of your photoos could have been a bit darker to catch the concert sphere. So no problem for concert photography with an M8 in my view, although you have to be a bit more carefull than with for instance a Monochrome of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgary Posted June 30, 2013 Share #17 Posted June 30, 2013 my Bolshoi Ballet, all M8, except one. no problem Slide Show: Misha Friedman's Photographs of the Bolshoi : The New Yorker Beautiful thankyou for sharing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted July 1, 2013 Share #18 Posted July 1, 2013 I have done a fair bit of stage shooting- with m8 and m9 - and sometimes together. The M9 is definitely better when the light is low. Having a few more stops to play with can just give you just enough shutter speed to stop movement at times where it can be tricky with the M8. Most of the time though the M8 is fine and it can be good to use fast lenses at a longer focal length. If you use 35mm on the M8 then the CV 35. 1.2 is a pretty good option for a fast lens... it is almost a 50mm Noctilux on the m8... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted July 1, 2013 Share #19 Posted July 1, 2013 ....... except for the focal length. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted July 1, 2013 Share #20 Posted July 1, 2013 Nokton 50/1.1, not quite as fast but a lot more affordable. Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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