What lens should I use at my first Fashion Show?

[Sampson]

Credit: 303 Magazine

Here is the venue/ runway

[PavelR]

It is pretty bad layout - audience close to the runway end, thus the best place to shoot is the same as the picture is taken from, but it looks like it is needed longer FL from this place (200-300mm) and it is too far to use flash...

[PeterJ]

Agreed layout looks crappy. At least on a positive note if they're taking video like the Vimeo clip you posted during the event at least the lighting should be better than this shot of the layout. I'd probably rent a 70-200mm F2.8 L IS II out of the affordable options, I think looking at that 24-70 would be too short.

[PavelR]

Video:
Good news: No shadows in the eyes, floor of light & single / unobtrusive color, single color lights
Bad news: At least 1EV difference on the runway end between top and bottom of the models.
I'm not able to figure out the absolute amount of the light, but looks like ISO 1250-1600, F 3.2, 1/320-1/500s [in my eyes] not good for prints, unless you use 1dx :-)

[Sampson]

I think the picture was taken from the second floor - where the technical people will be at, so I won't be there.
Yeah- all those white seats are for the vips, but where would you pick a good location.

[PavelR]

I think the picture was taken from the second floor - where the technical people will be at, so I won't be there.
Yeah- all those white seats are for the vips, but where would you pick a good location.

I would try to get to that technical zone - sometimes it is possible and use 200/2 or 300/2.8 depending on distance.
In general the best place is several meters in the front of the end of the runway and enough high to minimize impact of the first line of vip heads. Sometimes it is possible to get chair or table to stand on it.
But I think that in the front of the runway will be some reserved space for photographers and videographers. It is hard to tell if there is another good place...

Sometimes it is interesting to shoot the return path with strong back light, but not the whole show for sure and there is no chance to get posing photo, which I like the most, thus I always try to get to the front of the runway...

[Sampson]

I will see what I can do, but I rented a 24-70mm so I can take groups shots and I also rented the 70-200mm

[Sampson]

[Marsu42]

I will see what I can do, but I rented a 24-70mm so I can take groups shots and I also rented the 70-200mm

Unfortunately the jpegs you posted miss all exif data - but how do you think it turned out yourself (speaking of iso noise/banding and low shutter speeds)?

[Sampson]

All of the images were shot with a 70-200mm, I love the lens, but most of the shots were shot at 1/500 iso 400-800, no flash, lighting balance set at tungsten, and metering was between partial and evaluative. I personally think the images turned out great, but I will provide a link with all of the images after I go through them.

[Sampson]

All of the images of the fashion show that I shot are posted here www.facebook.com/sampsonleungphotography

[Bosman]

70-200LII for the runway would be my choice and if you can use an 85 but 70-200 will allow flex without compromise and you will def get the shot in focus with the 70-200 as it rarely misses a shot. 24-70 won't be enough focal length for that scenario.

[verysimplejason]

Just noticed now... Why is it your focus is better and a lot sharper when the model doesn't wear anything except paint?

[tron]

Just noticed now... Why is it your focus is better and a lot sharper when the model doesn't wear anything except paint?

The zoom lens got excited