Single lens, no flash in clubs?

You're not going to get much that can do that for under $800. To be able to get decent photos without a flash in a club, you need a camera that has high ISO capabilities, coupled with a lens with a low f-stop.

Unless you're willing to go with a non-DSLR 'all-in-one' type of camera, you're going to be spending closer to $1000 for a proper camera. I'd recommend something like the nikon d90, which you can find for about $900, and something like the 50mm 1.8 for about $100. This latest generation of dSLR's is really the first that offer good high ISO (1600+) capabilities with better noise characteristics.

Hi Steven,

You can do this for around $500 or less, by using a Canon EOS Rebel XS body, to which you add the "Nifty Fifty" 50mm f/1.8 lens. That will give you modest low-light capability for clubs. Nothing works like a fast lens, even with high-ISO, like ISO 1600. It might be possible to get the Rebel XS and an even faster 50mm f/1.4 for close to $800, by shopping around a little.

There's also a complete kit available, with two zooms, for about $630:
www.amazon.com/exec/obido...veda8765-20

Add to this the $80 "Nifty Fifty," you have a complete system with dollars to spend, for under $800.

The "Nifty Fifty" is tack sharp, in part because of the cropping factor (the Rebel XS uses less of the lens than would be allowed for a full-frame digital or film 35mm SLR camera); same for the 50 mm f/1.4 lens. You may find the view a little too tight from a smaller club though. For the smaller space, you can use add a 35mm f/2 prime lens, which is equivalent to a 56mm view. This lens is not so expensive, but more than the "Nifty Fifty."

As time goes on, for the larger spaces, you might want to add faster glass, for this setup. If you're working at a distance, and you or need more reach in a low-light environment like a warehouse, the 135mm f/2L will serve extremely well. On the Rebel XS, which has a 1.6X cropping factor, the 135mm lens will function as a 216mm prime lens, but without optical loss ... it'll still have wicked-fast f/2 aperture. The can be very nice for stage views, at a distance.

Hope this is useful information for you.

Blessings and Light,
Michael

Steve,

While not wanting to sound like any sort of commercial ad, while just doing some lunch-time window shopping for a film camera, I happened to notice this holiday special, in case you had not already ordered your camera:

www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...als.html

It's the Canon EOS Rebel XSi, plus two not-shabby lenses, for just under your budgeted amount ...

Blessings and Light,
M