HELP ME CHOOSE....PLEASE

[zack_zoll]

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<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=7271271">Wayne Decker</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/2rolls.gif" alt="" /></a>, Dec 22, 2012; 07:13 p.m.</p>

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<p>I keep forgetting -- what kind of typewriter did Hemingway write his stories on?</p>

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<p>The drunken kind. Also, as appropriate as your analogy is, next time you might want to pick someone with more 'commercial' appeal like Agatha Christie, as Hemingway was the sloppy, weirdo artist of that generation's writers. If you photographed like Hemingway wrote, you'd never get another job.</p>

<p>Then again, you'd probably get to sleep with at least one bridesmaid.</p>

<p>Ryan, business experience and your photographic eye notwithstanding, you're at a very low experience level, asking for advice entering a field that is primarily people with low levels of experience and cheap gear, and people with high levels of experience and nice gear. While we can rattle off exceptions for days, the fact is that there are comparatively few people in between those two main types.</p>

<p>So who do you expect to compete with? Do you think that buying a bunch of nice gear will put you in direct competition with the type that has a lot of experience? And do you really want to invest a whole bunch of money in new gear to compete with the type that has cheap gear, and thus a much lower overhead than your own?</p>

<p>As far as I can see, spending too much money on gear right now would be a no-win situation.</p>

<p>The best bet would be to buy a couple things that you absolutely will want no matter what. I'd recommend a flash, a 50mm f/1.4, and whatever 70-200 f/2.8 fits into the budget. Obviously the Canon is best, but if you need to save money then Sigma and Tamron make great versions too. I think the Tamron takes nicer pictures than the Sigma, but the Sigma definitely focuses faster, and is available with their version of IS.</p>

<p>These are things that you'll own, in some version or another, no matter what if you do weddings. I'd buy the best that fit into your budget now, and keep using the Rebel. Do a few cheap weddings, compete with the other novices, get paid diddly, and see how it goes. Get as many BS screw-ups as possible out of the way with the cut-rate clients, and use <em>them</em> to figure out what camera body to buy.</p>

<p>Some people have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. If that turns out to be you, then the fact that the 6D doesn't autofocus as well as the 5D3 won't matter. The better ISO performance of the 5D3 won't matter either, if it turns out that you're always in the right place at the right time. If that's the case, then you could shoot everything with primes.</p>

<p>Some people aren't in the right place at the right time, but are friendly enough, and willing to ask for help, that DJs, planners, and other people will tell them what's going on, and where they should go. If that's the case, then that's just as good as being in the right place at the right time.</p>

<p>Some people try to get as many pictures as possible, and to catch everything that's going on. If that's you, then you absolutely need the best AF, and the ISO boost will help you make better use of zoom lenses.</p>

<p>You should experiment a little, and take some time to find out what sort of photographer you are before investing too much money. Regardless of how good your photos may be, there's simply know way that you know enough about photography to understand your needs at this point.</p>

 

[dave_wilson1]

Regardless of which camera you buy, learn to use flash properly and get a good tripod and use it.

[rob_caswell1]

<p>Having been down this road before, instead of buying the latest prosumer DSLR, I recently spread my money around and picked up a used D200 for $280. Then I picked up a tattered and used 35-70 AF-d for $275, then spent $300 on three used pocket wizards, and picked up a couple of SB28's for about $150. I already own a nice tripod, some prime lens, and my next purchase will be heavier quality light stands.</p>

<p>My advice is along the same lines, which is to buy an older generation 5D for $600+/-, buy several pocket wizards, quality lightstands, two or three flashes. When your skill level increases buy a second and third used 5D.</p>

<p>I would spend the big bucks on glass. A 50mm f/1.8 is the best $100 you will spend, but there are faster and better (subjective opinion) in the Canon 50mm lineup. A professional wide-mid range zoom will be something you will always own. A 70-200 f/2.8 is the cadillac of long zooms and standard pro bling.</p>

<p>If all fails, the glass will retain its value the most and is easier to sell. Camera bodies are like cars, in that they lose value quickly.</p>

 

[ferdi_s]

<p>+1 Dave Wilson. Flash is extremely important and can be used creatively.</p>

[sravan]

<p>6D</p>

[fuccisphotos]

<p>Ryan, do you have a digital rebel or a film rebel? saying you want to move to a dslr makes me think you are currently working with film? If not, why are you looking to move up to a new body right now? Once you answer that question we can likely be more helpful. I can tell you the progression of my own biz with equipment.</p>

<p>Started out getting a rebel Xsi in 2007 as a present, had shot film most of my life before that. bunches of friends got married so I started taking some shots as a guest. They liked the shots a bunch. I got married and saw areas that I thought I could improve and places where I could learn. I had my 35-80 from my original film kit rebel from the 90s and a 70-300 variable aperture piece of crud and a 50 1.8. I assisted and second shot using only my 50 1.8. After my first 2nd shooting gig I got a 24-70 2.8 and a rebel t1i in 2010 and a 430exii. After my next 2nd shooting gig I got a 580exii. I shot with this set up as a 2nd shooter and a primary for VERY low budget weddings for the first 9 months. Then with what I saved up I got the 5dmkII. I made this jump for the full frame sensor and better ISO performance and slightly better AF. It was great for those low light churches, but for scenes that were not low light it really barely made a difference. At this point the 5dmkII was my primary and t1i was back up body, and xsi as third string.<br>

Then after getting some advice from people on pnet I got the 50 1.4 and the 135 2.0 L with the 1.4 tele-extender and a 12mm extension tube. I'm small so hand holding the 70-200 just plain wasn't a viable option. After that I got the 16-35 2.8 for dance floor shots and wider angles. After that after playing with my 2nd shooter's 7D and seeing that I didn't know when the 5dmkIII was going to come out, I got the 7D to replace my t1i as my back up as I no longer felt it was a suitable back up for the level of photography I was doing. This was back in early 2012. The 7D's autofocusing is FARRRRRRR better than the 5dmkII. I found myself using the 7D more and more and the 5d only when I had to for low light situations. I got another 430exii and a set of pocket wizards. I eventually sold the pocket wizards for cheaper radio triggers as I was mostly using them in manual mode anyway, so it was just a waste of money for me. Then I got another 580exii while my other one was in the shop, figuring since they were being discontinued to take advantage of the sale and have a good backup. Finally my 5dmkII was getting up there in shutter clicks and my 2nd shooter got the 5dmkIII allowing me to play with it a little and see the IQ on his files. The decrease in noise was astonishing. Having so many more cross type focus points was very appealing. It was on sale, I went for it in early December.<br>

Along the way I picked up a color checker passport, and just today for christmas got an expo disc for on the job color correction (I do a same day slide show and can't wait just for post for good color). I've also added an ND filter to the mix.</p>

<p>So which should you get? Well it all depends on why you want the camera. I've seen people who only know how to use their 5dmkii on green take miserable shots and I've seen people who have rebel xs who have skills get fab shots. So my advice is don't move up to a new body until you need one, and then buy what you need plus just a little more so you are fairly current. But before you do that, get a name brand flash and some good lenses. Learn to use those REALLY well. Then after that, I'd consider a new body if your work flow necessitates it.</p>

<p>If you are buying a body now with the anticipation to use it for shooting wedding photography professionally, and already have some good glass and flashes, then buy the best camera you can afford. If you are in a region where you will likely be shooting zillions of dark church weddings go with the 5dmkiii if you can afford it, if not then consider the 5dmkii or 6D. I haven't shot with the 6D but I hear it's high iso performance is amazing. But also hear it's autofocus is crummy and more like a rebel's. 7D is great for starting out 2nd shooting. As a 2nd shooter you often are shooting from further away so that crop factor is helpful. The autofocus is great. The high ISO performance is better than a rebel's but still nothing compared to the 5dmkii. </p>