Guest at a wedding - choice of lenses?

Orange Peel

Orange Peel

Suspended / Banned
Messages
210
Name
Neil
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm attending a wedding on Easter Sunday and have the chance to borrow a few lenses from a friend. I really only want a couple to take with me, so from the following list what would you take?

All going on a 40D

'Nifty 50'
Tamron 17-50 f2.8
Canon 24-105 f4 L IS
Canon 135L f2
Canon 70-200 f4

I won't be shooting in the church but have been asked to get some shots of the bride getting ready while the ProTog covers the Groom. Most of the photography will be leaving the church and at the reception.

Thanks for any tips/advice :)
 
I have the 17-50 and the thing I find with it is that it doesn't really get properly sharp till f3.5 and above so don't shoot wide open with it. So I'd probably take the 50mm and the 70-200 as long as you aren't looking at taking any wide shots
 
If it's shots of the bride getting ready, then indoor.... I'd go for the nifty fifty
 
50 and 135... dead small and light and just...nicer :P

.... and enjoy the day :)
 
For the detaile shots 50mm or 135mm. Outside the Church the main tog will probably be doing his thing sp 17-50 might not be suitable so I'd go for 24-105 L for groups and 135mm for individuals or pairs. :)
 
17-50 and 135 imho... though I find myself increasingly just taking my P&S to weddings rather than being "that guy" :)
 
If you weren't doing the prep I'd say 24-105 and 70-200 but you are, so travel light with Nifty 50 and 24-105 IS L - in fact, if you've got flash and big windows I might not even bother with the nifty 50.

Will you be taking flash and/or tri-grip reflector? Useful in controlling shadows.

Interesting that the pro does the groom whilst you get the bride.

Have a great time

Steve
 
stevedunster said:
If you weren't doing the prep I'd say 24-105 and 70-200 but you are, so travel light with Nifty 50 and 24-105 IS L - in fact, if you've got flash and big windows I might not even bother with the nifty 50.

Will you be taking flash and/or tri-grip reflector? Useful in controlling shadows.

Interesting that the pro does the groom whilst you get the bride.

Have a great time

Steve
Click to expand...

I don't mind taking more lenses to the prep as I can leave any I don't want to use later there. I'll be using my EX430II flash throughout the day. I've got a small reflector which I'll also carry with me.

As above the only reason I'm 'doing' the bride is because she want's to feel comfortable with someone she knows taking the photo's. Having know her years she won't worry, I hope!
 
Excellent Neil, it sounds as though you've got more than you need.

For portraits, take them to a window or a doorway for lovely soft light and shoot in Av with f/5.6 to get a blurred background but get enough of the face in focus. If you find the shadows are too deep, have your 430 on your camera, switch to "P" (unless you are drilled at shooting flash in Av and/or are happy to shoot with high-sync speed and all that means for battery life and range) and use natural light as your main light (EC=0) and flash as your fill (FEC=-1 or -2)...or you could use your reflector (no flash), but I wouldn't unless you've practiced it.

If ever the available light is too dark then you'll need to use flash as your main light. "P" will take care of this for you but switch to (EC=-1 and FEC=0). If you can avoid direct flash then do. Bounce is an option but only if you have low white ceilings, or maybe a white wall but don't bounce into a colour. Ideally you'd get the flash off camera when using flash as main light, but this can be a fiddle if you've not got a remote trigger and is easier if you've got an assistant who can hold the flash high and to one side of the camera for you - especially if they can fire it through a tr-grip.

Try and keep alert as to whether you are using available light or flash light as your main light and adjust EC/FEC accordingly to preserve some modelling on the faces etc.

Good luck Neil

Steve
 
Take the bare minimum, enjoy the day and get larrapped at the night do......:thumbs:
 
135mm and/or 70-200 for me, I prefer to capture close ups/single person shots. 17-50 may be too limited as chances are you wont be close enough to the action - good for the odd group shots- but I'll leave those to the main photographer. I tend to go to weddings with longer primes- 50mm and 85mm
 
I've had a play with the 24-105 tonight and really like it. My friend has also given me two lens hoods. An EW-83H and a EW-83F.

I understand one shields the lens more but which one should I use at the wedding? Is on much better than the other?
 
The 24-105 is my preferred lens for weddings (except for portraits, the 70-200).

I always use the EW83H lens hood for the 24-105. It works for me.
 
It's a bit late now but I'd go with 17-50 2.8 and 24-105L which won't be wide enough for group shots on a crop sensor. also the nifty fifty is great for close-up shots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top