Advice on what to sell and what to buy

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dlphotography

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Ok guys I'm looking to do a lot more weddings this year and could do with some advice. I have recently purchased a 6d with 24-105 l is and love this setup. However the 2.8 is needed more for weddings :( I also own a 50d with sigma 10-20 tam 17-55 2.8 and a broken (not focusing) 70-200 l f4 also the 50 1.8.

With me wanting to do more paid weddings this year I'm considering the following 70-200 2.8 is or non depending on price but non is is a lot cheaper and also the 24-70 2.8 I would also like a very wide angle either prime or zoom for my landscape work.

So the question is should I sell all my 50d comparable gear and stay with the 24-105 and buy the 70-200 2.8 non is or should I give it all up except the 6d and the 50 1.8 and buy a 70-200 is along with24-70 2.8

What would you do ?

I have about £700 of my own money to spend so will need to sell some gear
 
I will start by adding I am not a paid pro however this is what I have found through experience. Firstly for a wedding you need 2 of everything just in case something goes wrong (trust me it happens, as my sigma 17-70 can testify). So

Keep and use the 24-105 and bump up the ISO to compensate get a 70-200 f/2.8 don't forget Sigma and Tamron make good lenses now at this range, however the Canon works better with converters (prob not an issue for weddings though). I have the Tamron 70-200 VC and am very pleased with it. Then keep the 50d, 17-50 and 50mm as backups

Edit: the Tamron is £1100 UK and £698 from Panamoz (grey import). Another thought is if you're happy at f/4 what about the Canon 70-200 f/4 L IS
 
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dlphotography said:
With me wanting to do more paid weddings this year I'm considering the following 70-200 2.8 is or non depending on price
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Personally I htink you have totally the wrong approach to doing PAID WEDDINGS.. You should decide on the best equipment for the job your going to be paid to do.. then get that equipment then take the customers money... Not be looking for the cheap option then take peoples money...

just my opinion of course :)
 
Stick to your day job and enjoy your hobby because it seems you are under funded and ill equipped to undertake paid work
 
If you sell the 50d, get the 70-200 repaired, and sell both your apsc lenses, that gives you:
6d
24-105
50
70-200
(you can get away with the f4 on ful frame - just)
that will fund a 5d as backup and a 17-40, maybe even a 5dII
regarding backup, you don't need '2 of everything' however you do need 'cover'. So you already have 2 portrait lengths with the 105 and the 70-200, you also have 2 std lenses with the zoom and the nifty, and 24 is plenty wide enough if the 17-40 dies.

Have you spare flashguns? Yongnuo's will do, but you still need backup and most of us have at least 4 flashguns to play with (some will be into double figures).

When you have some more money to spend you can upgrade the lenses to 2.8's and supplement with some fast primes (this is where it becomes a money pit and why you can't afford to do it on the cheap)
 
tijuana taxi said:
Stick to your day job and enjoy your hobby because it seems you are under funded and ill equipped to undertake paid work
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Well i would say thank you for your response however this has to be one of the most pointless replies I have had the ill pleasure of reading. Ok to clarify underfunded yes as are majority of people starting out in the wedding business. However the question was how best to spend my hard earned money not let's build a big bank account and splash on top range gear as this clearly will ensure brilliant photos! I'll equipped well the whole point in the post was to ask how best to equip myself......

Anyway thank you for your thoughts it's clear that you are a believer in spend more get better results. What happened to the person behind the glass?
 
KIPAX said:
Personally I htink you have totally the wrong approach to doing PAID WEDDINGS.. You should decide on the best equipment for the job your going to be paid to do.. then get that equipment then take the customers money... Not be looking for the cheap option then take peoples money...

just my opinion of course :)
Click to expand...

I agree however in these times money is tight and it's a hard choice on which way to approach this
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
I will start by adding I am not a paid pro however this is what I have found through experience. Firstly for a wedding you need 2 of everything just in case something goes wrong (trust me it happens, as my sigma 17-70 can testify). So

Keep and use the 24-105 and bump up the ISO to compensate get a 70-200 f/2.8 don't forget Sigma and Tamron make good lenses now at this range, however the Canon works better with converters (prob not an issue for weddings though). I have the Tamron 70-200 VC and am very pleased with it. Then keep the 50d, 17-50 and 50mm as backups

Edit: the Tamron is £1100 UK and £698 from Panamoz (grey import). Another thought is if you're happy at f/4 what about the Canon 70-200 f/4 L IS
Click to expand...

Had looked at the sigma and tamron but read poor reviews on the optics vs canon hmmm
 
Phil V said:
If you sell the 50d, get the 70-200 repaired, and sell both your apsc lenses, that gives you:
6d
24-105
50
70-200
(you can get away with the f4 on ful frame - just)
that will fund a 5d as backup and a 17-40, maybe even a 5dII
regarding backup, you don't need '2 of everything' however you do need 'cover'. So you already have 2 portrait lengths with the 105 and the 70-200, you also have 2 std lenses with the zoom and the nifty, and 24 is plenty wide enough if the 17-40 dies.

Have you spare flashguns? Yongnuo's will do, but you still need backup and most of us have at least 4 flashguns to play with (some will be into double figures).

When you have some more money to spend you can upgrade the lenses to 2.8's and supplement with some fast primes (this is where it becomes a money pit and why you can't afford to do it on the cheap)
Click to expand...


Great advice I was on the path that the 2.8 would give me better odd and the 70-200 is the old non is version so was tempted to buy a new with is but prices scares me. I however see your point with regards to compensating with high ISO and the 6d is def capable of doing this.

I forgot to mention i also have a tamron 90mm macro which is lovely for portraits only a tad slow.

I have a lot of flash guns however they are all ez range so no ttl as I used to do a lot ow strobist style work. I also have the lencarter safari kit which is a lovely light source.

I'm thinking I may take the plunge with the non is 70-200 2.8 sell the 50d replace with 5d and sell both apsc lenses. This would make more sense only prob is would I miss the is?
 
dlphotography said:
Had looked at the sigma and tamron but read poor reviews on the optics vs canon hmmm
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The Sigma and the Non-VC Tamron I would agree with but the reviews I saw on the Tamron were very good. Matt Granger (aka The Nikon Guy) did a 3 way comparison on the Tamron, Nikon and Canon on YouTube which showed some interesting results. I will agree that with a converter the Canon is light years ahead, however I won't be using one myself.
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
The Sigma and the Non-VC Tamron I would agree with but the reviews I saw on the Tamron were very good. Matt Granger (aka The Nikon Guy) did a 3 way comparison on the Tamron, Nikon and Canon on YouTube which showed some interesting results. I will agree that with a converter the Canon is light years ahead, however I won't be using one myself.
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Don't happen to have a link do you?
 
Well i would say thank you for your response however this has to be one of the most pointless replies I have had the ill pleasure of reading
Click to expand...

My pleasure, I find it hard to believe you are considering undertaking what is a highly responsible task photographing a couples one off day in such an ill prepared way

Do you have the requisite insurances in place along with the necessary editing software and printing regime, not to mention accessories such as back up drives

Anyway thank you for your thoughts it's clear that you are a believer in spend more get better results. What happened to the person behind the glass?
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No I believe in having the correct tools for the job which by their nature cost more than you are budgeting for. No different to having a builder turn up with a few odds and sods of diy grade tools, bet that wouldn't inspire confidence if you were paying.

Do you really believe wedding photographers buy professional equipment because they have nothing else to spend their money on?
 
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tijuana taxi said:
My pleasure, I find it hard to believe you are considering undertaking what is a highly responsible task photographing a couples one off day in such an ill prepared way

Do you have the requisite insurances in place along with the necessary editing software and printing regime, not to mention accessories such as back up drives



No I believe in having the correct tools for the job which by their nature cost more than you are budgeting for. No different to having a builder turn up with a few odds and sods of diy grade tools, bet that wouldn't inspire confidence if you were paying.

Do you really believe wedding photographers buy professional equipment because they have nothing else to spend their money on?
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Insurance is top of my list and has been for many years of providing portraits and family sessions. As far as backup I believe my 4tb thunderbolt raid setup is more than suffice.

And in terms of setting up you learn to deliver a top quality finish with the tools you have available. This is a classic case of starting off with what you have and building up not a case of don't bother cos u ain't got the money to spend on equipment. I understand the best tools deliver a good result however my question was what would you spend your money on not should you even bother. And if you wish to discuss business practices I believe a positive approach will deliver a positive result and poor planning = poor results thus me asking the question.

One thing dose the average client know the difference between the 70-200 mkii is or the 70-200 mki non is?
 
One thought is to buy a second hand 70-200 2.8 mki for 800 then a new 17-40 for 500 sell the 50 and the two lenses for £700 put 800 towards it and then look for a second hand 5d as a backup work out total spend of 1100 however full setup for ff and 2.8 70-200 which is what I wanted
 
We obviously approach business and probably life in an entirely different way and hope it goes well both for you and your clients.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Stick to your day job and enjoy your hobby because it seems you are under funded and ill equipped to undertake paid work
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When I was 18 I told my dad I wanted to be a mobile DJ & karaoke host. I didn't have any money to start...but that was what I wanted to do.

He said it was pie in the sky and not to bother.

My brother gave me a loan of £500 and I bought the necessary (albeit rubbish) equipment. Secured my first booking and rapidly grew to working 3-4 days a week charging £160 for 3hrs a night.

I did that for 5 years...

My point is: everyone starts somewhere and you accumulate from there.

OP: if you can afford a stabilised 70-200mm, get it - I would sincerely hate working with that length and not have the ability to use slower shutter speeds.

Here's a few RAW's taken yesterday with my tamron in case you were wondering about the IQ & below is a 100% crop at f4

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4c8y0zbpjthud6r/hcRrbWSjti

1554548_10153688314995305_1928473172_n.jpg
 
Phil Young said:
When I was 18 I told my dad I wanted to be a mobile DJ & karaoke host. I didn't have any money to start...but that was what I wanted to do.

He said it was pie in the sky and not to bother.

My brother gave me a loan of £500 and I bought the necessary (albeit rubbish) equipment. Secured my first booking and rapidly grew to working 3-4 days a week charging £160 for 3hrs a night.

I did that for 5 years...

My point is: everyone starts somewhere and you accumulate from there.

OP: if you can afford a stabilised 70-200mm, get it - I would sincerely hate working with that length and not have the ability to use slower shutter speeds.

Here's a few RAW's taken yesterday with my tamron in case you were wondering about the IQ & below is a 100% crop at f4

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4c8y0zbpjthud6r/hcRrbWSjti

1554548_10153688314995305_1928473172_n.jpg
Click to expand...
Exactly my point.

Yea I'm going to work the finances out I think
 
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