Last-minute "which option as 2nd wedding reception camera" dilemma!

thecornflake

thecornflake

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I'm having a serious indecision problem at the moment (well several as you can see from my various threads but this one is the most urgent).

Basically, shooting a wedding reception tomorrow -around 25 family at a regular family house with a reasonable garden. This will be pretty informal - pretty much just like a large family bbq. I'm doing some shoots of the bride, groom etc when they arrive for which I have my DSLR, I also always have my little Olympus XA with me for some close candid shots.
But I have space for a film camera, and would like to take the opportunity to try and get some nice candid shots in bw film. Based on the location I won't need to go any longer than around 130mm. Here are my options -

Canon AE-1 Prog with 28mm, 50mm, 135mm.

Fujica AZ-1 or Pentax Spotmatic with Super Takumar 55mm, 28mm lenses, plus I have 135mm and 85mm Jupiter lenses with M42 adaptor.

Yashica MAT EM

All loaded or about to be with Tri-X 400.

Now the meter in the Spotmatic doesn't work and I'm not sure if I want to guess or keep checking with a meter, so I'm thinking the Fujica with the Jupiters, or the Canon with 50 and 135 (probably also the lightest option). I may put the yashica in the car as well anyway, it has something like 4 shots left on the current roll so I'd like to use them up.
 
As your main camera is going to be a DSLR it seems pointless duplicating with a film SLR, so my suggestion would be some quality shots in B/W with your Yashica mat. h'mm but depending where you live the weather is not too good tomorrow till the afternoon, so if your DSLR has a mickey mouse flash maybe a film SLR might be handy after all with a powerful flash gun. Decisions, decisions :rolleyes:
 
Weather forecast is "ok". I haven't actually yet shot with a flashgun on a film SLR and the maths involved terrifies me even though I know my 5 year old could probably figure it out.
 
thecornflake said:
Weather forecast is "ok". I haven't actually yet shot with a flashgun on a film SLR and the maths involved terrifies me even though I know my 5 year old could probably figure it out.
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Oh dear bit late now getting an old powerful flash gun going for peanuts, but the flashgun sensor works out the correct flash exposure for normal shots.... it is a must have on sunny days as you can face person\people away from the sun so they are not squinting and use a flash boost, mind you, until you get some experience it is a bit of guesswork unless you buy a camera and flash combo e.g. Canon T90 that works it out for you.......but even guessing the lens aperture, the film's latitude will usually cover problems.

I took this snap about a week ago with Canon A1 and 25 year old flash gun, and guessed that the face in shadow would roughly give the right exposure using added flash so the background looked reasonable. Mind you over do it and the background can go very dark...but can look good at times.

 
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I do own a couple of basic hotshoe flashguns that work, just haven't tried shooting with them yet. I have a Cobra 160 sitting next to me right now.

Assume I need to shoot at 1\60 or lower, then let the camera meter and then knock a couple of stops off, or is it not that simple?
 
thecornflake said:
I do own a couple of basic hotshoe flashguns that work, just haven't tried shooting with them yet. I have a Cobra 160 sitting next to me right now.

Assume I need to shoot at 1\60 or lower, then let the camera meter and then knock a couple of stops off, or is it not that simple?
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Your DSLR might have a setting for "fill in flash"...but don't worry if using film as the main thing is:- when you scan you can adjust that the people's\person face will came out correct and the background would just be dark.... if a cock-up.
 
Sorry, I meant for the film cameras, I don't have a separate flash unit for the DSLR.
 
thecornflake said:
Sorry, I meant for the film cameras, I don't have a separate flash unit for the DSLR.
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But doesn't the DSLR have built in flash? The mickey mouse in built flash might be just all you need for "fill in flash" for a very small group of people not facing the sun...although being closer to the lens there is more chance of "red eye" (h'mm not sure you can get that in daylight ;))....although digital is not as forgiving as film if things go wrong.
 
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I'd just take the most unusually looking camera you've got, the RB and the folder always get people to stop and ask questions and engage. The OM sometimes do because they're more classically styled compared to a modern Nikon or Cannon which look superficially like a modern DSLR.

Take the TLR, engage with people, take a punt at the exposure and you'll get different pictures. I'd not worry too much about metering with tri-X you only need to be in the ball park any way and if you get a few readings or note what the DSLR is giving you in various conditions that'll be close enough.
 
The DSLR does have a built-in flash, yes, although I've never managed to get decent shots using it.

As I'm going to have the car anyway I've decided on the TLR and the Canon (partly because I want to try out the 135 lens as it hasn't been used yet). The TLR actually has HP5 Plus in it, but I'm fairly sure that's as forgiving as tri-x.
 
thecornflake said:
The DSLR does have a built-in flash, yes, although I've never managed to get decent shots using it.

As I'm going to have the car anyway I've decided on the TLR and the Canon (partly because I want to try out the 135 lens as it hasn't been used yet). The TLR actually has HP5 Plus in it, but I'm fairly sure that's as forgiving as tri-x.
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You can use old flash guns on a DSLR BUT you have to make sure the trigger voltage is suitable for your camera..something for the future..........anyway enjoy your photography and let us know what you used etc and how you got on.
 
Aware of the trigger voltage issue. Both my flashguns are way higher voltage than I'd risk on my DSLR :)
 
thecornflake said:
Aware of the trigger voltage issue. Both my flashguns are way higher voltage than I'd risk on my DSLR :)
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Probably a wise decision, although old Canon flashguns (about 1980) are about 4.5-6v......but my son's indoor party shots, at night, using the inbuilt mickey mouse flash on his 400D are plagued with red eye, I've never had this problem on a film camera with separate flashgun.
 
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