Camera for weddings

Follow_journey

Follow_journey

Suspended / Banned
Messages
170
Name
M.S.
Edit My Images
No
Hi,

I bought a Canon 600D recently and think I might have made a mistake. I want to eventually assist as a second shooter, but think the body is not good enough now.

The above camera only has 9 focal points!!! I 'borrowed' a Nikon D7000 and it was flipping amazing.

Can anyone recommend any ideas, selling / exchanging or buying a new slr!!??? Desperate for advice....
 
Last edited:
600D and D700 are in different leagues....

And more focus points isn't always the answer, I've shot like 30 weddings with the 5Dii, it has 9 focus points too and to be honest, I only use like 2 mostly and either are the middle one !
 
Last edited:
Raymond Lin said:
600D and D700 are in different leagues....

And more focus points isn't always the answer, I've shot like 30 weddings with the 5Dii, it has 9 focus points too and to be honest, I only use like 2 mostly and either are the middle one !
Click to expand...

I think the op borrowed a D7000 ;)
 
Hello,

Don't panic!! I don't use Canon but the newest cameras seem to be getting better and better even the entry level ones, so give it a try and see how you get on. And if your just starting out invest in some good lenses worry about getting a more advanced body later. (I still use a Nikon D80 (4 years old now) and found that upgrading from the kit lens improved my photos loads).

Hope this helps.
 
You're probably right, it's all about the camera:cuckoo:

Seriously, concentrate on learning to use the gear, a genius with a £400 camera is much more use than an idiot with a £4000 one. Read practice ask read practice. Don't buy any other gear until you know your current camera inside out and you have really good reasons to upgrade.

And at the risk of sounding very old, when you come to asking for experience or trying to impress other photographers and clients, drop the gangsta slang, it might be cool in some circles, but you probably just stopped about 200 photographers from giving you really useful advice.
 
i think the 600D is fine as a second shooter. I mean it's no worse than the old 30D/40D in ISO, focusing apart from ergonomics.

Learn it, and when you have out grown it then upgrade.

Learn about light and composition, master these 2 dark arts will reap in more benefits than a better camera.
 
Think you're right, was just a rash thought. Considering a new lens...maybe the 50mm f1.4 lens
 
Edited and improved my spelling, you may want to do the same with yours. Anyway, thanks for the advice.
 
Also, the direction pad is not great, if you want to take a quick photo. Lots of fiddling about to do, may get annoying after a while!
 
That I agree, the Wheel part is a must for me.

Never had a SLR without one, not even my film camera.
 
Follow_journey said:
Edited and improved my spelling, you may want to do the same with yours. Anyway, thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing out where my iPad thought it knew better and doing it so graciously:thinking:
And thanks for ignoring the fact I also gave useful advice:thumbs:

So, cameras? Have you got it sorted?:)
 
Follow_journey said:
Also, the direction pad is not great, if you want to take a quick photo. Lots of fiddling about to do, may get annoying after a while!
Click to expand...

The lack of rear wheel is what would stop me buying a 600d or similar. But to be honest plenty of people manage perfectly well.
 
Raymond Lin said:
That I agree, the Wheel part is a must for me.

Never had a SLR without one, not even my film camera.
Click to expand...

I think this will be a big issue for me, further down the line. Anyone wanting to go into wedding photography, should aim for mid entry at least. I might upgrade now to save trouble later.
 
Last edited:
Phil V said:
The lack of rear wheel is what would stop me buying a 600d or similar. But to be honest plenty of people manage perfectly well.
Click to expand...

I'm still bit confused, to be honest with you. I know that £500.00 is not a lot of money, but it took me a long time to save that up. I just wished I had come onto this forum or had spoken with a wedding photographer, before going out and buying it.

I was fine with group shots, but struggled with it, when I needed a quick shot during the ceremony. :(

I think the rear wheel will be an issue with me...
 
Last edited:
Follow_journey said:
I'm considering changing the body, by part-exchange for a second hand camera. Also, I'm considering changing from Canon to Nikon...
Click to expand...

If you have Canon lenses why not upgrade to a Canon with a back wheel?
 
On the Huh said:
If you have Canon lenses why not upgrade to a Canon with a back wheel?
Click to expand...

They were just standard lens that I got free with it. I'm just doing research now on the next Canon model. Apparently, Nikon offer best value for money, but I will see I guess...
 
They're all much of a muchness tbh, it is you who take the pictures. ;)
 
On the Huh said:
They're all much of a muchness tbh, it is you who take the pictures. ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah true.

I bought Canon as it has always been my favourite make, but should have used the camera's before buying as well.

If I do upgrade, it will be between the Canon 60D, 7D or the Nikon D7000. Which one you reckon?
 
Last edited:
5D3;)
More importantly than the dear old lightbox though, good, fast glass may be a better choice.
 
Thanks to everyone for the advice, even the advice on my grammer! I have lots of thinking to do. Essentially, it comes down to whether or not the rear focus wheel, will be an issue for me at this early stage for me. Thanks everyone.
 
Follow_journey said:
I was fine with group shots, but struggled with it, when I needed a quick shot during the ceremony. :(
Click to expand...

What caused the struggle when you needed the quick shot?

The 600D would me more than capable of getting a quick shot, I use an 1100D and have never found it lacking for quick shots (well not quick in terms of wedding ceremony quick - I take it they weren't all running around?)
 
A good camera will give you confidence (that's good0, but will also slow your learning process down (that's bad)

My advice is. Save your money, forget about new kit, learn how to extract every drop of goodness out of the camera you have. when you can consistently (19 shots in 20) get a great shot.. and consistently instantly know why shot 20 failed, you are ready to upgrade

Photography is about mastering light, exposure and composition. Film shooters did not need auto ISO (that's an example). And 10 years ago, the best DSLR you could have for a wedding had lousy ISO performance, and a poor dynamic range by today's standards. However, wedding photographers produced stunning results.
 
Have you actually stopped and considered what is involved in a wedding shoot?

The following might make you want to reconsider

First advertising your services and having a portfolio to show prospective clients.
That may even mean doing a series of photos with a professional model as a bride ( wow thats really going to cost)
Drawing up a contract
Getting third party insurance
Keeping accounts for the tax man
Travel costs
Having a backup camera incase one fails and range of lenses
Attending wedding fares for getting work for starting out
Watching other photographers at work at weddings and learn (not even as second shooter)
Checking what other photographers charge ( no good pitching your price too high or to low)

You now have spent a considerable amount of money without a single contract.

Ok you now have prospective clients so whats next?

There is discussing well beforehand their requirements and the cost
Drawing up the contract stating clearly their requirements and cost of any add ons
Getting non returnable deposits and arrange final payment
Possibly a pre wedding shoot
Checking at the wedding venue if -where and what permissions are allowed


So we get onto the actual day
How are you going to manage any shots of the bride getting ready and at the same time the groom?

OOPS needed a second photographer, forgot that and too late now the day has come

Racing to the venue for when the bride arrives and the groom
actual wedding
arranging people for main photos
Being polite but firm with guests to get a good shot
Reception and all those photos
Back home

Wow that's the day over but not for you
There is editing
deciding which water marked photos to present for approval to the happy couple
Getting an album

I am sure others will point out what I have missed

It just goes on and on which is why I wouldn't do wedding shoots

So are you still sure you want to do weddings bearing in mind you are competing with well known and establish wedding photographers after the same business in your area????

All that after you have mastered the art of photography and editing in the first place.
Remember as well you can be sued for not providing a very high standard of workmanship.

Realspeed
 
Last edited:
Follow_journey said:
Thanks to everyone for the advice, even the advice on my grammer! I have lots of thinking to do. Essentially, it comes down to whether or not the rear focus wheel, will be an issue for me at this early stage for me. Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

forget multi exposure points, focus wheels.. in reality, the lens just focusses in one plane. For most wedding stuff (this is a personal preference) I shoot with a single focus point. I can focus, lock and recompose faster than my camera can track.

The issue with weddings is that often you are NOT focussing on what is in the middle of the frame (that is often behind the B&G), also a lot of the time you are not focussing on the closest object in the frame

This photography lark is easier when you strip the layers of crap out

- You have several major controls - Aperture, shutter speed, ISO. Assuming you want a clean shot, lets ignore ISO, that leaves aperture and shutter speed. forget all other modes on your camera. essentially this means you only need to learn to use M, A & S. the rest are distractions

- your camera has a meter. It might have 100's of them, however, forgetting all the marketing hype, all this electronic jigger pokery does just one thing - figures out what exposure is needed for the one shot... So you just need to figure out when to spot meter, and when to meter the whole scene, or something in-between

- Eventually, you will need to learn to add and control light. Now you can let your camera do it for you, or you can learn to be creative. Read the strobist website. Again all the electronic jigger pokery comes down to several things - how much light are we bunging out, and can we nail the exposure at the same time. What the camera doesn't know is "how you want the shot to look", which is why you MUST learn to control flash yourself, and then learn when to give your camera the task of making the decisions for you

- composition and producing a great pic is about seeing and having vision, and understanding what you can do
 
Follow_journey said:
Yeah true.

I bought Canon as it has always been my favourite make, but should have used the camera's before buying as well.

If I do upgrade, it will be between the Canon 60D, 7D or the Nikon D7000. Which one you reckon?
Click to expand...

You have not explained what you loved so much about the d7000, is it the focus points and wheel? To give you constructive advice, we need this information. If it's the iso performance for example then yes, maybe its worth you buying the d7000. If it was the more frames per second and af points the d7000 has maybe consider the 7d as it has more again, you see what i'm getting at.
 
Last edited:
Richard King said:
forget multi exposure points, focus wheels.. in reality, the lens just focusses in one plane. For most wedding stuff (this is a personal preference) I shoot with a single focus point. I can focus, lock and recompose faster than my camera can track.

The issue with weddings is that often you are NOT focussing on what is in the middle of the frame (that is often behind the B&G), also a lot of the time you are not focussing on the closest object in the frame

This photography lark is easier when you strip the layers of crap out

- You have several major controls - Aperture, shutter speed, ISO. Assuming you want a clean shot, lets ignore ISO, that leaves aperture and shutter speed. forget all other modes on your camera. essentially this means you only need to learn to use M, A & S. the rest are distractions

- your camera has a meter. It might have 100's of them, however, forgetting all the marketing hype, all this electronic jigger pokery does just one thing - figures out what exposure is needed for the one shot... So you just need to figure out when to spot meter, and when to meter the whole scene, or something in-between

- Eventually, you will need to learn to add and control light. Now you can let your camera do it for you, or you can learn to be creative. Read the strobist website. Again all the electronic jigger pokery comes down to several things - how much light are we bunging out, and can we nail the exposure at the same time. What the camera doesn't know is "how you want the shot to look", which is why you MUST learn to control flash yourself, and then learn when to give your camera the task of making the decisions for you

- composition and producing a great pic is about seeing and having vision, and understanding what you can do
Click to expand...
:plusone:

Richard is right on the money here, don't spend a penny on gear until you've wrung every last ounce of learning out of your current kit, and when you want to upgrade, 2nd hand or refurbed is better VFM. I'd rather have 2 40d's than 1 60d.

I'm confused at the description of the rear wheel as a focus wheel though, perhaps you could expand.

And take a deep breath before you look at the gear needed to shoot weddings confidently.
Even with 600d's you're looking at
2 bodies
2 flashguns
A 2.8 std zoom
A UWA
A fast telephoto
at least 1 prime within the std range as a backup.

Add to that (for fun)
Remote triggers
Reflectors brollies light stands
Tripod and monopod
Enough batteries and cards to cover a weekends work.
A macro lens for ring shots

Then if you want to get creative (my current wish list -although there's some upgrades to my current kit that'll come first)
A fisheye
A TSE lens
Portable studio flash set

That's without looking at the cost of a couple of training courses, DVDs, professional membership, insurance etc. Computer hardware and software.

About the grammar, I belong to a Rally forum that would have changed da to I use text speak because I'm lazy, which makes it difficult to read sometimes.;)

And bags! You'll spend a fortune on bags before you settle on something that's perfect for you.
 
Last edited:
We used to get sharp focus by turning a ring on the lens and looking through the viewfinder,1 focus point properly used is fine for weddings so don't get hung up on technology
 
Richard King said:
forget multi exposure points, focus wheels.. in reality, the lens just focusses in one plane. For most wedding stuff (this is a personal preference) I shoot with a single focus point. I can focus, lock and recompose faster than my camera can track.

The issue with weddings is that often you are NOT focussing on what is in the middle of the frame (that is often behind the B&G), also a lot of the time you are not focussing on the closest object in the frame

This photography lark is easier when you strip the layers of crap out

- You have several major controls - Aperture, shutter speed, ISO. Assuming you want a clean shot, lets ignore ISO, that leaves aperture and shutter speed. forget all other modes on your camera. essentially this means you only need to learn to use M, A & S. the rest are distractions

- your camera has a meter. It might have 100's of them, however, forgetting all the marketing hype, all this electronic jigger pokery does just one thing - figures out what exposure is needed for the one shot... So you just need to figure out when to spot meter, and when to meter the whole scene, or something in-between

- Eventually, you will need to learn to add and control light. Now you can let your camera do it for you, or you can learn to be creative. Read the strobist website. Again all the electronic jigger pokery comes down to several things - how much light are we bunging out, and can we nail the exposure at the same time. What the camera doesn't know is "how you want the shot to look", which is why you MUST learn to control flash yourself, and then learn when to give your camera the task of making the decisions for you

- composition and producing a great pic is about seeing and having vision, and understanding what you can do
Click to expand...

One of the most helpful posts I've read on here! Top work! :thumbs:
 
realspeed said:
So are you still sure you want to do weddings bearing in mind you are competing with well known and establish wedding photographers after the same business in your area????
Click to expand...

Not being funny or anything but he only asked for peoples opinion on the camera, not his choice on whether or not to photograph weddings. He said himself that eventually he wants to be a second shooter...there's nothing wrong with a bit of ambition and to aspire to be a wedding photographer.
 
~*~ElmoHolz~*~ said:
Not being funny or anything but he only asked for peoples opinion on the camera, not his choice on whether or not to photograph weddings. He said himself that eventually he wants to be a second shooter...there's nothing wrong with a bit of ambition and to aspire to be a wedding photographer.
Click to expand...

You've got a point (slightly stretched from the edit), but can we wind this element of the conversation down, the OP has had some good advice from actual wedding photographers and no-one's helped by turning it into one of those threads.:love:
 
~*~ElmoHolz~*~ said:
Not being funny or anything but he only asked for peoples opinion on the camera, not his choice on whether or not to photograph weddings. He said himself that eventually he wants to be a second shooter...there's nothing wrong with a bit of ambition and to aspire to be a wedding photographer.
Click to expand...

Good point.

Simple answer - the camera is fine and more than up to the job.
 
Follow_journey said:
I'm still bit confused, to be honest with you. I know that £500.00 is not a lot of money, but it took me a long time to save that up. I just wished I had come onto this forum or had spoken with a wedding photographer, before going out and buying it.

I was fine with group shots, but struggled with it, when I needed a quick shot during the ceremony. :(

I think the rear wheel will be an issue with me...
Click to expand...

I shot weddings with a 350D & 400D with no rear wheel and managed perfectly well
 
Phil V said:
You've got a point (slightly stretched from the edit), but can we wind this element of the conversation down, the OP has had some good advice from actual wedding photographers and no-one's helped by turning it into one of those threads.:love:
Click to expand...

True, yeah seen a lot of those threads..nasty business :gag: :)
 
dod said:
Sorry, I'm confused.
Click to expand...

Hey, on my canon 600D, the direction pad (not sure if correct term) is very fidgety to use. You have to push a button to get the red dot on and then use the direction pad. The Nikon d7000 was easier to focus on moving targets with its pad and had more focus points. The canon had 9 and thenikon had at least 31 focal points. Hope that helps...
 
the number of focus points ain't going to make any difference - I'd be more concered with the poor high ISO ability of the current canon APS-c cameras.

Follow_journey said:
Hi,

I bought a Canon 600D recently and think I might have made a mistake. I want to eventually assist as a second shooter, but think the body is not good enough now.

The above camera only has 9 focal points!!! I 'borrowed' a Nikon D7000 and it was flipping amazing.

Can anyone recommend any ideas, selling / exchanging or buying a new slr!!??? Desperate for advice....
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top