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Question

Best camera for low light action

Jul 2, 2015 11:50AM PDT

Hi. My husband is in a band and I need a camera either digital or SLR to take action shots of guitar players, a drummer and dancers that are not blurry. I am steady but the current Canon SX60 is not good at this. I don't have a lot of money to spend - maybe $500 or $600 but need good photos for facebook, posters and club owners. I want to get something for next weekend where I won't need classes to use LOL. Appreciate any help you can give me. I'm new at SLR type and also want something compact. Appreciate all input !

Discussion is locked

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Answer
For this, you stage the shots.
Jul 2, 2015 12:22PM PDT

Add lighting as needed to get the shot. Have them stand still for the shot. This is, as you say for the facebook and posters. Do it like the pros. You don't take glamor shots in the dark.

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Answer
Low light action shots
Jul 2, 2015 4:38PM PDT

Any of the DSLR cameras will do.
Mastering a DSLR camera without some photography know-how is asking a lot.
You will have to depend on the automatic mode and many times that is not enough when dealing with low light action situations.
At some point you will want to adjust the ISO or the shutter speed off of the Auto mode.
A DSLR camera is not compact.

The better than average low light compact cameras are:
Canon G16, Nikon P340 or Panasonic LX7.
They sell for about $350.
They are not as good as the DSLR cameras.

I suggest you hire a photographer to make the pictures.
Especially for Poster or Club Owner shots.

...

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Answer
Low light action is really hard to do on a budget.
Jul 2, 2015 9:03PM PDT

I would recommend you bump up your budget at least a little and get a Canon G7X because the larger (1") sensor and brighter (f2.8 at the long end) lens will really help. (Full disclosure: I own one, and have shot "pro" concerts (with pro light rigs) with it. However, for a bar band, which I also shoot a lot, I've found the bare minimum to be an Olympus E-PL7 camera ($500) and Voigtlander 25mm f0.95 lens ($900).)

Low light action is also really hard to do in Auto mode. So at the very least, I would recommend Tv (Shutter Priority) mode with a shutter speed of 1/125 (and be careful not to change it while you're shooting!) and ISO1600. (And White Balance set to an artificial light source. i.e. tungsten. Or somewhere around 4000k, if you set it numerically.)

If the pics are underexposed (which they likely will be) you can slow the shutter down (to 1/100 or slower) but this will result in more blur. Unfortunately, there really isn't much else you can do without spending more money.

HTH - Mark

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Since it's for Facebook, posters and such.
Jul 3, 2015 8:55AM PDT

Why isn't doing it in good light and during a photo session the answer? Only the newest folk might try to take such shots during performances.