which lens to use
taemerson
Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
Have a large wedding party this week end and need advise on which lens for the 14 plus people in one shot that I need . The lens I own already are:
canon 24mm 1:2.8
50mm 1:1.8II
28-135MM 1:3.5-5.6 IS
Sigma DC 17-70MM 1:2.8-4.5
worried about getting that many in focus, only second wedding.
Thanks for any help,
Tracy
canon 24mm 1:2.8
50mm 1:1.8II
28-135MM 1:3.5-5.6 IS
Sigma DC 17-70MM 1:2.8-4.5
worried about getting that many in focus, only second wedding.
Thanks for any help,
Tracy
0
Comments
If you can't figure out how to do a wide group shot, does the bride know this? Are you charging them for the shoot? Do you know how to use flash for fill on a group this size?
If you use the wide angles you may distort the people in the image. and your 28-135 isn't bright enough. What body are you using - that affects the focal length.
Do you know what lighting conditions will be and will you be indoors or outside and at what time of day?
Are you the only photographer there?
Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
http://flashfrozenphotography.com
I am using a 20d and yes I have flash and was looking for friendly help, not a hateful response, like i shouldn't ask this........thought thats what the forum was for.
My response isn't hateful at all. I am asking questions to help you. But you don't give me enough answers to help and being defensive doesn't give me answers.
This is a pretty big day and you need to understand most every button on the camera, how each lens works with light and just because you have flash doesn't mean you have the skills to use it for a big group. If it's the built in on camera pop up flash, then it won't work for a group. And if you don't know the guide numbers and distances required for such a big group you will end up with very bright people and people in shadow. Your lenses used tie in with the flash focal length to determine the distance covered.
So we can't give you an answer without questions.
And you do have a responsiblity to the bride and groom to deliver a professional product if you are charging them for your services.
Scott Quier posted a great thread about being a wedding photographer. It's great reading. I will find it and post a link to it. - Here it is:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=83750
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=83750
Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
http://flashfrozenphotography.com
Since I don't know the size of the venue, I would take both the 17-70 and the 50 1.8
The 50 is a good dark light lens. Slow to focus though. You may not be able to use flash. The 430 does not have TTL as far as I remember, so if you can rent the 580ex you can put the camera on P, set the flash to ETTL and your camera will set up some shots for you. You might not be allowed to use the flash during the ceremony and depending how close you can get the 50 might save the day. The 70-200 is more likely to be a better choice from further back.
Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
http://flashfrozenphotography.com
If you have the opportunity to go to the wedding rehearsal, that's a great opportunity to check which lens is going to be best to use for which situation.
If the church has a fairly light ceiling do try to use bounce flash with a bounce card of some sort for the formals. An umbrella would be better with an off-camera capability, but you take what you can get.
If you can only use direct flash then do use it as fill, like Kathy suggested.
Take many more images than you think you need, especially of the formals if you detect people blinking.
Shoot only RAW for the formals because that gives you the best opportunity for correction later. Do try to get the exposure right because you don't want to "fix" anything in post if you can avoid it.
Do use the histogram and the "blinkies" to verify your exposure. Avoid overexposure of anything white like the bridal gown or the groom's shirt.
Since this is only your second wedding do try to recruit someone to help look for "details" in the formals, like helping to make sure the bridal gown drapes and flows properly.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Also a thought....
Most weddings are conducted in rather dismal lighting. That doesn't neccessarily mean that there isn't enough light to be used for formals though. At that rehearsal ask to see the area where you will do this group shot fully lit.
Also, be careful using Program mode (p)....it will adjust to give you no less than a 1/60 shutter speed, but will attain that by automatically adjusting your aperture. This will result in a decently exposed photograph, but it may have a rather thin depth of focus.
Jeff
-Need help with Dgrin?; Wedding Photography Resources
-My Website - Blog - Tips for Senior Portraiture
She's got he 17-70 2.8 Sigma. For a newbie to have too much gear will overhwelm. Program mode is always a good fall back when there's so much going on and you aren't sure what to do. At least it helps make decisions and you can adjust from there by switching to Manual or Av mode as your used to doing.
Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
http://flashfrozenphotography.com
Below is a lot of information but I tend to try to be an over-achiever:D
- Please read my thoughts on wedding photography (see link below) - there's lots of answers to questions you may not yet have thought about.
- It appears you are doing many of the "right" things to prepare. Going to the rehearsal is very important. However, the weddings never go off as planned and the rehearsal is just a "it would be nice if it went this way" sort of thing.
- Taking the camera with you to the rehearsal is a good idea. Test out the lighting. See if you can shoot the wedding without flash (that would be best).
- At the rehearsal, talk to the officiant and find out what his/her rules of engagement are. Then, make sure you don't break his/her rules. If one of the rules is "No Flash" then don't use the flash during the ceremony. But, find out what he/she defines to be the ceremony. Many times, they say you can use the flash for the processional and the recessional. If so, use it.
- Contrary to what Kathy has suggested - I would take with you all the equipment you can lay your hands on. You may not needed it, but if you need it, you need it there - not somewhere else on a shelf.
- Having the backup camera is
. I carry and shoot with two cameras (many don't, but I do). On has the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS on it and the other the EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS. There are times when you need the longer reach, especially if the officient has relegated you to the back of the church. You have lens of similar focal lengths. I might suggest you consider being a "two-fisted shooter" for this gig - it will save all sorts of time trying to swap lens at "that critical moment".
- As for the group shot - try staging it at the rehearsal. Get just a couple of people up there where the group shot is going to be taken. Have them stand about where the "outside" people will be for the real shot. Now, mount your 17-70, zoom it to get the group (plus some extra for mounting) - what's your focal length? If it's 50mm or a touch more, I think you will get better results with your 50mm prime.
- Oh, and for the group shots, try to get an aperture of no larger than about f/4.0 - you need the DOF to get all the rows of people in focus - even if you only have 2 or three rows you need a bit more DOF than a larger aperture will provide.
- If you know how, I would suggest you shoot in manual mode. But, if you don't know or are not comfortable with manual mode ... well a wedding is NO PLACE TO EXPERIMENT. Shoot in whatever mode you are comfortable with.
- As was suggested above, shoot in RAW mode. Even if you don't know what to do with the resulting files, shoot in RAW mode. RAW will give you all kinds of additional lattitude to correct small (and sometimes large) exposure issues. If you don't know what to do with RAW files, there are people on DGrin that are more than willing to help you with that. It's not hard. But shoot RAW mode 'cause after the fact is too late to wish you had done so.
- Like Ziggy says, getting the exposure right, while not critical, is very, very helpful. Especially if you end up shooting at iso 800 or even 1600. BTW - don't be afraid of the faster ISO settings. If that's what it takes to get a good exposure, then use them. Correctly exposed images taken at higher ISO settings are much less noisy than under-exposed images that where pushed in post processing. And, it's less stressful to get the exposure right in camera than to post process a bunch of under-exposed images.:D
- Don't be concerned about your 430EX being E-TTL complient. On the 20D and the ET series, it is - end of story and no worries.
- If you miss a shot, don't walk away. Wait for it to happen again - it usually will.
- Finally - Try to have FUN. If you aren't having fun, at least walk around with a smile on your face. Your attitude will have a huge impact on the photos you get. If you're down or concerned, well that will show up in the photos even more so. For the formals, you MUST project confidence - even if you are shaking in your boots.
I hope the above helps some. If you have additional questions (after reading my thoughts - see link below), please post them here (in this thread) and I'm sure someone will be more than happy to help you out.My Photos
Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
Equipment List - Check my profile
No problem just trying to help. I read the 17-70 as a varable aperture lens...something I would avoid personally.
Carry on!:D
Jeff
-Need help with Dgrin?; Wedding Photography Resources
-My Website - Blog - Tips for Senior Portraiture
TRACY