Need sound advice - urgently...

[les]

Every excuse is good to buy a new lense.

 

This time it is not much of an excuse: my daughter is getting married.

I will have a photographer of course, but I see no reason to not take

some pictures myself.

 

Currently I have Canon 17-40/4, Canon 50/1.4, Canon 100/2.8 USM Macro,

Canon 28-135 IS, Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX HSM, Canon 550EX+Transistor

Pack, Elan 7E (and 10D coming soon).

 

I was thinking about getting a fast standard zoom - Tamron 28-75/2.8.

Does it make sense ? I was thinking that between the Tamron and Sigma

70-200 (and maybe Canon 17-40) I would have all bases pretty much

covered. Or should I stick to 28-135 and hope that it will do ?

 

What do you think ?

Most of the photos will be taken with a flash, but there is no

substitute for a fast lense.

 

OTOH the 28-135 focuses OK when the 550EX projects the focusing light

pattern, and I was thinking f5.6, 1/250sec (manual setting for the

camera) and let E-TTL work its magic (with high-speed sync, FE lock

and a bit of compensation).

 

So, maybe I do not need a fast standard zoom ?

[ronald_smith2]

If you use ISO 400 film, I see no reason for the fast zoom unless you intend to do a LOT of weddings and available-light imaging. I've been happily using the EF 28-105 for many people-oriented things, including the occasional wedding, and everything is fine with NPH. Of course, you have the speedster 50mm lens and by all means bring it with you for the wedding..........

[ronald_smith2]

I might also mention I used a FD 50mm f/1.4 for years when I was shooting professionally for my weddings, and it took about 90% of the images. You can do a lot with a standard lens, the one optic that tends to be totally ignored by today's new generation of photographers.

[jim_larson1]

You have a photographer => I say leave the camera at home. You won't be taking natural light photos from the pew, are you? If you are, then you will either need a monopod or the 28-135/IS.

 

But if you have to take photos: If you have a 1.6 crop digital, I think you are SET. If you are shooting film (or a 1Ds), then I would add an 80/1.8.

 

But instead of lenses, with what you have, I would consider flash as opposed to lens. A second 550EX may work wonders. (Flash one for background lighting, flash two for front exposure)

 

Of course, if you aren't careful, you may show up with more - and better - equipment than the photographer.

[madwand]

I've shown up to wedding with much better equipment than the professional, and come away with predicatable results (the pro's were better). The pro's job includes holding and focusing the attention and composing the people. You can't do that at the same time as him/her without some conflicts. You can however capture some candids that the pro would miss because of the formality.

[Ken Katz]

With 7+ pounds of glass and 4 lenses which cover parts of the 28-70 focal lenth, you really don't really need that lens. If you want to buy it anyway, thats OK (given how much you will spend on the wedding, the cost of the lens is just pocket change).

 

With a 10D, the 17-40 becomes your normal zoom.

 

Your job at the wedding is to make sure your daughter and wife are happy, greet the guests, and write lots of big checks. IMHO, give your rig to someone else to take photos.

[rtrace]

Flash or no flash, you want fast lenses with large apertures for isolation/DOF/background

blur when shooting a wedding and portraits, etc. People keep thinking about the light only

when talking about fast lenses, but you also need to think about DOF! And if you do, you

will very quickly realize that the 28-135mm won't really cut it for such things. It may work

fine as a walk around/all purpose lens however. So if you want to keep a standard zoom,

then get one that's f/2.8 and forgo the 28-135mm.

 

I've shot weddings on film and on a 10D. Here's what I used and continue to use:

 

Film (1V): 16-35mm f2.8/L & 85mm f/1.8

 

Digital (10D): 16-35mm f/2.8L & 50mm f/1.4

 

I also have the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS that I used at weddings before, but I mainly use it for

other things. And that's all I have for lenses, which is more than enough for me.

 

I shoot most everything with the 16-35mm f/2.8 and use the 50mm or 85mm (depending

if I'm using the 10D or the 1V) for the more formal poraits, etc. The other approach is to

just use one standard zoom and not swap lenses. In that case I would have to say ONLY

shoot with a f/2.8.

 

So in your case you can sort of do what I do with the 17-40mm and the 50mm on the 10D

and on the Elan use the 17-40mm and get an 85mm f/1.8 prime.

 

So the advice is to decide if you want to shoot with 2 lenses or a standard zoom. In the

first case I'd recommend the 85mm f/1.8 and for the latter a 24-70mm f/2.8 L or the 28

-75mm f/2.8 (although I'm not sure how good the latter is wide open).

 

Also, I would say to use ISO 400 and 1/60-1/45 in M mode on either camera. 1/250 is not

enough to get a good blend of the ambient light exposure with the flash exposure. You

will get a very dark background! Apertures of course vary, but I use f/2.8, f/4, & f/5. 6 the

most. I rarely use f/8 with flash and never more.

 

BTW, I always leave the 550EX in high-speed sync mode since it will work at that mode

only above your camera's x-sync speed and below that it will work normally. Why Canon

doesn't make this the default makes no sense.

 

Bogdan

[chrisjb]

Hi I agree with previous posting let someone else use your film camera with the 28~135 concentrate on you daughter you could still take a shot or two if you get time

I have done many weddings with the 28~135 lense with a fast prime for non flash shots, the 10d may be more difficult for a non experienced user especially learning FEL/C with the 550ex

and the elan may be easier to set up as P & S

 

Good luck

[catchlight]

Leszek, I agree with Jim Larson's post above: devote the day to sharing the joyous occasion with your daughter, your family, and the family of the groom. The pro's shots will do the occasion justice.

 

His or her difficult job would be made more so by having you, the client, hovering around with a camera. The optics of your shooting would seem like a vote of non-confidence in the pro's abilities.

 

If you cannot supress your desire to shoot, wait until the reception, and capture the special interactions and emotions that you perceive as a family insider, and that the pro might not recognize and has not been hired to shoot.

[eric merrill]

I'd go with the 50/1.4 and no flash. The less gear, the better.

 

<p>

As the father of the bride, you'll be playing an important role. If I were your daughter (gonna need a heavy-duty leg wax :), I'd rather have pictures of you than pictures by you at this important event. Sure, bring your camera. Take pictures that showcase your unique vantage point. But use your camera sparingly.

 

<p>

I don't have pictures that I took of the most important parts of my daughter's still young life. I've documented almost every other second, however. :) But the most important occasions? I've made a conscious decision to be a participant rather than an observer, and all-too-often the latter is what I've found happens when I'm behind the camera.

 

<p>

--<br>

Eric<br>

<a href="http://canid.com/">http://canid.com/</a><br>

[gary_ferguson1]

I'd second that.

 

Any wedding photographer has a difficult enough job coralling the guests, dodging the priest, and generally being in two places at the same time. The last thing he (and your daughter) needs is one of the most important people at the service disrupting the flow by hopping around with a blazing 550EX and ruining the formal shots by sporting a big ugly camera bag.

 

Even at the reception surely your job is socialising with the guests and supporting your wife and daughter, tricky if you're toting more equipment than a camera superstore.

[michael_villarmia]

I think the original poster knows everything we've been telling him. He just wants an excuse to buy a new lens. :)

[digitmstr]

>>Every excuse is good to buy a new lense.<<

 

true, except this one! Your daughter is getting married...it only happens once. If I were you, I'd be enjoying the day, dancing, being emotional and whatever else but, I would not be taking pictures...

 

Having said that, I think you have plenty of lenses to cover a wedding as it is.

[les]

Guys,

 

Thanks a lot for all your advice and concern !

 

No, I am not going to be getting in anyone's way with my rig. And I am going to enjoy the event too !

And certanly I am not going to do the hired photographer's job.

 

What I was thinking - a roll or two of very special pictures, the way I see them, not the way somebody else does. Candid pics rather than formal, posed arrangements.

 

That's why I asked a question: since I won't be shooting much, I want the best gear for the job.

 

Still, some of you were right: every excuse is good to buy a lense !

 

Thanks everyone !

[les]

And, after reading all posts more carefully: I am not going to tot all this stuff with me to the wedding, for God's sake! I am not even going to change lenses much: I am going to take ONE camera, ONE zoom and ONE prime.

Plus the flash, of course. ;)

[pbizarro]

My suggestion? Take your Elan and a fast midtele, like the 85 1.8, and fast B&W film (400, 3200?). This way, you can get some very nice and different pictures, candid style.

 

If you don't have the 85, take the 50 1.4. f/2.8 zooms ARE NOT fast lenses.

[catchlight]

Paulo, now you've given Leszek the excuse he needs to buy a couple of fast primes.

 

He'll own a Canon 50mm f/1.0L and a 200mm f/1.8L before we're through here.

 

(Imagine trying to shoot in stealth mode at a wedding with that 200mm beast).

[skelly63]

I don't need an excuse to buy a new lens (or any other gadget, for that matter). But of course, I'm not saving for any weddings. But here's an idea for something fun to do that won't involve your carrying a camera bag and a bunch of gear around, composing shots: get yourself a tc-80n3 timer control (about $130 at b&h). Set your tripod up (in an out-of the way corner) pointing in toward some central area of the reception. Maybe put the 28-135 on your new 10D, and have a clean 1gig CF card in it. Then, set the timer control to take one shot every 5 minutes. Auto focus, auto eval, no muss no fuss.

 

Every five (or 2, or 10) minutes, you'll get a "candid". Most of them will be awful; some will involve kids staring at the lens wondering when it's going to click (or flash) again. But some will be really interesting. YOU will even be in some of them, if you're working the reception the way you should!

 

And after all the cleanup is done, you'll load these shots onto your PC and run a slide show--and have a great laugh... especially if great-uncle Herman is drinking a bit too much and playing some slap-and-tickle with the bridesmaids...

[les]

Keep it coming, guys, I really do appreciate all the answers.

Not to worry about me getting 200/1.8 or 50/1.0 any time soon...

 

The fast (or just faster at 2.8) lens is just for better focusing: the usable DOF requires f5.6 at least.

 

Thanks again !

[yanglee]

I think it's probably okay to just go and enjoy the occasion without worrying too much about the camera. That way you will be in the picture with her more than taking pictures of her, which may be more meaningful to both of you. If you must bring something, the 50mm is light, while the 100mm will allow you to get come nice candid, but I would just pick one. If you are purely looking for an excuse to get another lens, get the 85mm f1.8 for candid and fast speed. Don't forget to take the camera off when you are walking her down the aisle.