You could check and se how if there will be spotlights or stage lights on the speakers. Then you mightt be okay with f/5.6 @ ISO 1600. It wouldn't be pretty, but some noise reduction would fix most of it.






I got this shot with a 20D at ISO 1600 on a 70-200 f/4 @ f/4. It was lit by stage lights at a church. A good amount of noise reduction applied in LR2 as well as the exposure tweaked too.


My point is this: if you could get away with f/5.6 on your 55-250 IS to shoot the speakers, you might rent a 24-70 2.8 instead of the 70-200 2.8. (In my opinion, 24-70 is more useable at an event like you described).





Or, if you've got the cash, both the 24-70 and the 70-200, but it'd be a shame to spend a bunch on rental gear and not be reimbursed..


Hope I helped some,


Rodger