Wedding Fuji gear advice needed

redmonkee

redmonkee

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PHILIP
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Hi guys

I've the possibility of photographing a wedding next year and wanted some advice on gear. I currently have a Fuji XT-2 along with 23mm 1.4, 35mm f2 and 90mm f2.

I'm contemplating adding to my gear and I'm torn between adding the 50-140mm to my lens lineup to give me more versatility and coverage, or adding a second body which would probably be the Fuji XH-1.

The lens would give me more focal lengths, but I'd still be needing to with lenses when I need a wider shot. Having two bodies would mean I could have the 23mm 1.4 mounted on the XT2 for wider, environmental shots and the 90mm f2 mounted on an XH-1 for closer portraits and also give me the benefit of it being stabilised on the XH-1.

I've shot a wedding before back in my Canon days and I did that one with 2 bodies and a 70-200 and a 24mm prime but now I'm on Fuji I haven't quite got the kit built up yet.

Any thoughts on what you guys would go for given my scenario :)

Thanks
Phil
 
Whenever I have shot weddings (only one in the last 12 months...) I've had 2 bodies (both T2's), with the 50-140 on one, and then switched the other between the 16 f1.4 & 35 f1.4. I now have the 90mm so I would probably use that rather than the zoom now. I haven't shot a wedding on a single body for a long time.
 
You really need a 2nd body for weddings, what if your XT2 develops a problem? Plus you can have 2 lenses in play at all times!
 
redmonkee said:
Hi guys

I've the possibility of photographing a wedding next year and wanted some advice on gear. I currently have a Fuji XT-2 along with 23mm 1.4, 35mm f2 and 90mm f2.

I'm contemplating adding to my gear and I'm torn between adding the 50-140mm to my lens lineup to give me more versatility and coverage, or adding a second body which would probably be the Fuji XH-1.

The lens would give me more focal lengths, but I'd still be needing to with lenses when I need a wider shot. Having two bodies would mean I could have the 23mm 1.4 mounted on the XT2 for wider, environmental shots and the 90mm f2 mounted on an XH-1 for closer portraits and also give me the benefit of it being stabilised on the XH-1.

I've shot a wedding before back in my Canon days and I did that one with 2 bodies and a 70-200 and a 24mm prime but now I'm on Fuji I haven't quite got the kit built up yet.

Any thoughts on what you guys would go for given my scenario :)

Thanks
Phil
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I have photographed quite a few weddings using just a 23/55 or 35/85 combo on full frame.

The 23mm 1.4, 35mm f2 and 90mm f2. you have will give you the equivalent of 34.5, 52.5 & 135 so should be grand. Quite a lot of wedding photographers use a 35/85 combo on full frame.

Second body is a must really, for two reasons for a lot of the key moments you won't have the opportunity to change lenses and you don't have a suitable zoom lens like a 24-70 that would do most things okay and also there is always the chance that one body could fail, so even if you did have a suitable mid range zoom a second body would still be needed.

I wouldn't be going out and buying anything at all for a one off wedding. Maybe you could borrow another body from a friend or it wouldn't be too expensive just to rent one for the day. Over the years I have seen a few posts from people on here asking the same question as yourself and it has always seemed nuts to me that they would go out and buy additional equipment just to photograph a one off wedding. Have even seen people on here just going to a wedding as a quest and asking if they should buy x,y or z, which is completely nuts.

It is different of course if this is not a one off and you plan on doing more. For a working professional it is important to have the right equipment for the job. I feel quite strongly about this as there are way to many chancers out there taking huge risks at weddings and using equipment not really suitable for the job to lower their costs. In this day and age it is totally irresponsible for example to be putting clients images at risk using camera bodies with one card slot when their are options to use cameras with two.

The same goes for storage as well, it is shocking how much risk some wedding photographers will take will clients images. It would surprise just how many just back up to an external hard drive and forget about them which is fine until the external hard drive fails. I seen a post on Facebook just this morning from someone who shot a wedding a few weeks ago and didn't even back up the cards. She imported to lightroom without even backing up the raws, edited a few photos directly from the card to send to the client and decided to do nothing for a couple of weeks with them. She went back yesterday to back up the cards and they are gone, she can't remember where she put them and thinks they may have been binned a week or so ago. There really is no excuse for that level of incompetence.

Someone shooting weddings even part time on a regularly basis and even just charging average rates should be able to afford the appropriate level of equipment. The problem is that are a huge amount of people out there shooting weddings just to stick a few extra quid in their pockets and charging ridiculously low prices. They don't have the budget to purchase the correct equipment for the job or all the other stuff needed at the backend. I use to feel sorry for these people due to the amount of stress they then find themselves under when something goes wrong, but I don't any more as it is simply their own fault.
 
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f/2.8 said:
I have photographed quite a few weddings using just a 23/55 or 35/85 combo on full frame.

The 23mm 1.4, 35mm f2 and 90mm f2. you have will give you the equivalent of 34.5, 52.5 & 135 so should be grand. Quite a lot of wedding photographers use a 35/85 combo on full frame.

Second body is a must really, for a lot of the key moments you won't have the opportunity to change lenses and there is always the chance that one body could fail.

I wouldn't be going out and buying anything at all for a one off wedding. Maybe you could borrow another body from a friend or it wouldn't be too expensive just to rent one for the day. Over the years I have seen a few posts from people on here asking the same question as yourself and it has always seemed nuts to me that they would go out and buy additional equipment just to photograph a one off wedding. Have even seen people on here just going to a wedding as a quest and asking if they should buy x,y or z, which is completely nuts.
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Exactly this ^^^ :)

I'm a 35/85 combo FX shooter looking to switch to Fuji in the New year, where my prime (sounds like a pun but isn't) lens choices are the 23/56, with backup as the 16 and 35, all the fastest versions there is. I won't bother with the 90 other than maybe for portraits too rather than Weddings, and certainly don't think the 50-140 would be of any use to me

So yes, save your money & borrow/hire a 2nd body, and at a push the 16mm, and you're sorted :)

Dave
 
In my prime wedding days I only used fixed lensed Rolleiflexes. (I took hundreds that way.)
If I were to shoot one today I would use what ever I were used to using, which in my case is an X T30 backed up with an XE2 I would use the standard 18-55 lens most of the time. I personally see no reason to use a longer lens at a wedding and have never done so, though I have carted them along with me from time to time.

In your case I think you will find that you change between the 23 and 35mm lenses quite a lot so two bodies would be more use than more lenses. you could switch to the 90mm on one camera when doing close up head and shoulders. though I personally would find a 50mm more useful for shooting couples close up. hence a medium Zoom.

I could happily shoot an entire wedding with the 16-50 on an XH1 and never touch a second camera or lens.
shorter than 16mm is not exactly flattering for people shots. and there is often not sufficient room for shooting much longer than 50mm.

Never the less many Phototgraphers do have other preferences, and other ways of working, and can produce outstanding work.

Pretty much any recent Fuji X Camera or lens can easily produce the necessary quality... But weddings are not the time for an inexperienced wedding shooter to spend too much time experimenting. You need to be certain about what you are doing to Guarantee the required results. And With Weddings a re-shoot is out of the question.

I would be happy using any fixed F2.8 lens or better, especially with the latest sensor of the XT 3 and XT30, which are pretty much ISO invariant, and can be pushed to astonishingly high ISO and keep fully acceptable quality. The light levels at weddings can be from brilliant to abysmal. So often a wide aperture can be pretty much essential. so it is good to have at least one such lens in the bag.
 
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It should be remembered that today almost all of the Guests have very high quality smartphone cameras, and will swarm in on any interesting situation. There is almost no opportunity to use a long lens with out that swarm getting between you and the subject. They are no respecters of anyone let alone a professional. To a large extent the function a pro photographer at a wedding is to establish themselves at the top of the pecking order,.. and "Take Charge" Old hands find this comes naturally, but for a first timer it can be very daunting.
Though I have been retired many years, I am often asked who I am working for, when taking snaps at events. even though many people around me, have far "Bigger and better" cameras than mine. It seems that professionals develop a body language and assurance that is easily recognised and respected.
 
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Thanks for all your advice guys. Just to give a bit more background. Like I say I have photographed a wedding before and I am looking at getting back into doing them that's why I am looking to add to my gear to make sure I have the adequate equipment.

I used to shoot sports and had 2 canon IDs mk 2 bodies with a zoom and a prime so was used to switching between bodies. Now that situations have changed. Mortgage, child etc I am looking at rebuilding my photography gear back up when funds allow.

I was recently asked by a friend if I do weddings and I said yes as I know I want to get back into shooting them and feel I have to start somewhere.
I have flash and know how to use it. I make sure all my images are backed up at the time of shooting and once at home and use capture one for all my editing.

Going by the advice on here 2 bodies seems to be the better option. The long lens (90mm) will probably be used when shooting the couple on their own away from the crowds.
 
@redmonkee .....

I’m about to put my X-H1 in the classifieds, PM me if interested?
 
Definitely two bodies. I’ve done a few weddings now with an XT2 and XH1 and recently an XT3 and XH1 (XH1 rented from the ever excellent lenses for hire) I use the following lenses: 16mm f1.4, 23mm f1.4, 56mm f1.2 and a rented 50-140. Covers everything for my style of photography. Plus a Godox flash.
 
@NickTB ..... Have you used and owned an X-Pro2? If so what were your impressions?
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
It should be remembered that today almost all of the Guests have very high quality smartphone cameras, and will swarm in on any interesting situation. There is almost no opportunity to use a long lens with out that swarm getting between you and the subject. They are no respecters of anyone let alone a professional. To a large extent the function a pro photographer at a wedding is to establish themselves at the top of the pecking order,.. and "Take Charge" Old hands find this comes naturally, but for a first timer it can be very daunting.
Though I have been retired many years, I am often asked who I am working for, when taking snaps at events. even though many people around me, have far "Bigger and better" cameras than mine. It seems that professionals develop a body language and assurance that is easily recognised and respected.
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Very well said.

I have started doing weddings this year, I'd say 80% of my shots are taken at less than 60mm (FF equivalent). You do often need to be very close to the action.
 
Gandalf said:
@NickTB ..... Have you used and owned an X-Pro2? If so what were your impressions?
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I have been using one (since I bought it on here) and it's good but I wouldn't use it at a wedding (for me personally) because it seems to take me longer to operate than my Sony stuff.

Also the hybrid viewfinder is great, takes some getting used to.
 
@TGphoto .... I just want to use it for some Street... I’m looking for a Fuji that I can use for solely B&W...
 
Gandalf said:
@TGphoto .... I just want to use it for some Street... I’m looking for a Fuji that I can use for solely B&W...
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I'd say that for street stuff it is in the same realm as the X100F, but with the option to interchange lenses. I really like the XP2 and use it as my walkabout camera now, I will be using one of the following in most cases:

16mm 1.4
23mm 1.4
35mm 1.4

I don't really like the OVF, especially for getting in close as the parallax error makes farming difficult for me, but I may try it more when I get out and about again. I think it is a camera you use because you want the experience of it, rather than a clinical photograph taking machine. I enjoy all of the bodies I have (X-H1 and X-T3 as well) for different reasons.

I think the only way you Weill ever know if it is for you, is to try one out. I much prefer it to the X100 range, it just feels nice to me, and also more flexible for obvious reasons.
 
redmonkee said:
Can I ask why you are considering the XH1 over the newer XT3?
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I have this on off love for the H1. It feels right in my hand. I miss IBIS. Looking at Lightroom, my most used body ever is H1. It's responsible for 2 out 3 of the images on my living room wall (The other being the T2) My only concern is trading the T3 for an H1 and the H2 or T4 comes out early next year!
 
Just a quick update to this thread.

I've now preordered an X-t4
so my kit will include 2 bodies X-t2 and X-t4 plus 23 1.4, 35 f2 and 90 f2.

Problem is now I'm debating whether the 56mm 1.2 would be better than the 90 f2.

I've had the 56 1.2 before but sold it to get the faster focussing 90f2 on my x-t2.

With the x-t4 I'm wondering whether the 56mm 1.2 will focus better and also whether or not the 90mm will be too long for most circumstances during a wedding shoot.
 
redmonkee said:
Just a quick update to this thread.

I've now preordered an X-t4
so my kit will include 2 bodies X-t2 and X-t4 plus 23 1.4, 35 f2 and 90 f2.

Problem is now I'm debating whether the 56mm 1.2 would be better than the 90 f2.

I've had the 56 1.2 before but sold it to get the faster focussing 90f2 on my x-t2.

With the x-t4 I'm wondering whether the 56mm 1.2 will focus better and also whether or not the 90mm will be too long for most circumstances during a wedding shoot.
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Well, you've had the pleasure of owning and using both, which were you more comfortable shooting with? Which gave you more pleasing results? With the 90 you just need to make sure you have sufficient space to shoot your candid images - sure the 56 opens to 1.2, but ask yourself how often you actually shoot it wide open. If you're stopping it down to F2 or beyond, then he only advantage it's got over the 90 is wider FL
 
redmonkee said:
Just a quick update to this thread.

I've now preordered an X-t4
so my kit will include 2 bodies X-t2 and X-t4 plus 23 1.4, 35 f2 and 90 f2.

Problem is now I'm debating whether the 56mm 1.2 would be better than the 90 f2.

I've had the 56 1.2 before but sold it to get the faster focussing 90f2 on my x-t2.

With the x-t4 I'm wondering whether the 56mm 1.2 will focus better and also whether or not the 90mm will be too long for most circumstances during a wedding shoot.
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The T3 focuses much quicker with all lenses than the T2, especially after the software upgrade. I would suggest that the T4 will probably be even better.

That said, the 90mm is a cracking lens, but can be a bit long on a crop body unless you have the room. I've never owned either of the 56mm lenses, so can't actually compare the two.
 
Cagey75 said:
Well, you've had the pleasure of owning and using both, which were you more comfortable shooting with? Which gave you more pleasing results? With the 90 you just need to make sure you have sufficient space to shoot your candid images - sure the 56 opens to 1.2, but ask yourself how often you actually shoot it wide open. If you're stopping it down to F2 or beyond, then he only advantage it's got over the 90 is wider FL
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To be honest they are both fantastic lenses and I do miss the 56 1.2 But I know I'd miss the 90mm too if I were to get rid of that. Just concerned that 90mm won't be of much use at a weeding as the 56mm.
 
Grab the 50/2 it focuses very quickly and f2 is wide enough for most wedding stuff. + can be had sub £300
 
Unless you intend to shoot more weddings buying a second body is a big outlay. I would think about hiring one or borrow one if you can. Just make sure it's one you are familiar with and test it fully before the day.
 
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