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Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

10/31/2008 01:09:54 AM · #1

It's official: I am the photographer on the wedding of a very close family member, 2 weeks away. Don't ask how I got into this...:-)
The whole event is supposed to be very simple and small - but I'm afraid it might not be that simple or small...

Size: around 70 people altogether (including children and DJ).
When: in the eveing, just at sundown - it will be dark after the cerimoy.
Where: a very decent 3* hotel: the cerimony in a room, reception in the adjacent room. All photoshooting will be in the hotel's premises.

My original plan was renting a Canon XTi, with a EF-S 17-85/4-5.6 IS USM, plus a 580EX II flash (the ceiling is not that high, so I think I can use it bounce the flash up, or should use a diffuser?)
Anyway, I want to keep it simple: no lenses switch, use low ISO (100-400), set on aperture priority, focus on what matters...

Now I am having second thoughts about the lens: is it too slow, even though it has IS? Would I be better with the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS USM, despite the less reach on tele? What about the EF24-105/4 L IS USM?
Believe me, I read all these wedding equipment and related threads, here at DPC and out - and I'm not so sure the best way to go - I guess I'm having second thoughts about everything!

Will the images be compromised, with my simplistic approach?

No, I'm not scared, only aprehensive - it's a big event, considering my experience (or lack of thereof), and I don't want to mess things up - just get decent images that I can be proud of and the couple will remember with fondness.

So, if you guys have any suggestions, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Pedro

Nikon D200

10/31/2008 02:25:44 AM · #2

if you're going to rent a body, why not rent something like the 5D with its bigger sensor that handles low light/higher ISO better? And again since you're renting, why not rent a Canon 24-70 F2.8 which will give you way more flexibility and consistency for those ridiculously annoying ceremony shots that you know you need to take to keep mom happy?

IS is great if your subjects aren't moving...but i'm 100% certain they will be. I'll take a faster lens over IS/VR any day. A faster lens with a bigger sensor will compensate for the lack of reach (vs the 105mm) tenfold. The last thing you want to do after the fact is deal with 500 blurry/noisy photos, hoping to goodness there's something in there that can be salvaged with neat image and creative editing.

go to the location a day or two before the event (take a model/guinea pig if you can find one) and test the hell out of the rental cam/lens. Do it at the same time the shindig is to take place of course so you'll know what you're up against. You can't control whether or not THEY'LL be happy with it, so make sure YOU'RE happy with it and then your job is done.

10/31/2008 03:10:51 AM · #3

Thank you very much for the feedback!

Would you say that the combo 40D/17-55IS is equivalent to 5D/24-70L? Or how different are they?
The reason of my question is that I would be more familiar with the 40D body, which I have played before, than the 5D, which I never used.

Message edited by author 2008-10-31 09:29:00.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/31/2008 09:29:43 AM · #4

Bump.

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

10/31/2008 09:38:41 AM · #5

The 40D has a different menu system than the XT and XTi, so either way you'll have to learn where everything's at. I know it took me quite a while to get used to the menu and how to change things without spending 5 minutes searching for me.

Whatever you get, I would practice, practice, practice. You don't want to me fumbling trying to figure out how to change the ISO or something and miss a shot.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/31/2008 09:54:26 AM · #6

George,

I shot my last two weddings almost exclusively with the 17-55 / 40d combo. If you want to take a look at the photos they are HERE Look at the weddings for Jon and Adrienne and Christina and Josh. For Jon and Adrienne, I also rented the 70-200 2.8 IS and found it helpful for the longer shots (larger traditional church wedding.) Oh..also the only flash I have is the 550ex with the Omnibounce on it. I generally shoot it pointing straight up.

Now, mind you, I'm not the best at the wedding photography. I'm learning. It will, however, give you an idea. The Josh and Christina wedding sounds like about the same size as what you are dealing with. As long as you can move around a bit in the room, I think the reach would be okay.

Hope this is helpful.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/31/2008 10:05:20 AM · #7

Originally posted by gg3rd:

I would say that you should rent the camera and other gear for at least a week, if not 2 before the wedding so that you're not bumbling around trying to figure out how to do what you want while the moment passes with no pics.

I'd second the recommendation for the 5D and the 24-70 f2.8.

Also get the flash, some bits of Rosco CTO gels of different strengths (See here for why) for it and learn to drag the shutter and you'll be miles ahead of "Uncle Bob".

Pedro

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

10/31/2008 12:44:23 PM · #8

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by gg3rd:
Thank you very much for the feedback!

Would you say that the combo 40D/17-55IS is equivalent to 5D/24-70L? Or how different are they?
The reason of my question is that I would be more familiar with the 40D body, which I have played before, than the 5D, which I never used.

I would say that you should rent the camera and other gear for at least a week, if not 2 before the wedding so that you're not bumbling around trying to figure out how to do what you want while the moment passes with no pics.

I'd second the recommendation for the 5D and the 24-70 f2.8.

Also get the flash, some bits of Rosco CTO gels of different strengths (See here for why) for it and learn to drag the shutter and you'll be miles ahead of "Uncle Bob".

I'm sure one of these fine Canon people will know more about it than I do, but from what I've heard the 5D does a significantly better job handling noise at higher ISO than the xti/40d. Flash is a nice safety net to have, but your life will be a whole lot easier if you don't have to use it. No refresh time, no batteries to die at the wrong moment, no red eye, and most importantly (to me, anyway) you're way less conspicuous and will be able to get much better photos if people aren't always watching/waiting for the flash to blind them. ninja photographers hate flashes :)