when shoot ing wedding do you typically shoot with 1 or 2 cameras?

Qarik

what I mean is do you physically carry 2 cameras with different lens attached and switch up as needed?

Or do you just shoot with one and changes lens on the fly?

I guess a 3rd option is to have your assistant follow you around with another cameras well.

I am curious as to what people actually do.

I am inclined to go with the 1st option myself...one camera has standard 24-70 2.8 zoom and the other has 85 1.4. I would keep one holstered in one of those fast/smaller/sling bags and switch out flashes real quick if needed. The sling bag has room for one more lens (14-24mm) and another spare flash as well.

Blurmore

I carry 2 cameras. 1 with a standard lens and flash, 1 with either an 85 f1.8/70-200/or fish, but no flash. I'm even considering carrying a 3rd small body like an Rebel T1i to dedicate to the zoom fish for wack fishy video action. The only 2 thing that dissuades me from this is the fact that one of the companies I sub for does not allow you to shoot with anything lower than a D series and the menus on the Rebels without top LCD controls are like pig latin to me compared to the familiarity of the D series cameras.

swintonphoto

It depends on the part of the wedding. During ceremonies I keep one camera on a tripod with a zoom lens and the other equipped with my standard zoom and flash. For most of the other parts I keep the body with the zoom lens either close by or on my shoulder.

ChatKat

Events
I've done events and weddings with
1. one camera/one lens,
2. two cameras and one fixed and one changing lenses - the cameras were a 5d and 20 d
3. two cameras, changing leses and a 2nd shooter with a 2nd body
4. 4 cameras - two for me and 2 for 2nd shooter

If the event is small enough, One lens/one body is my favorite - you don't worry about gear - you just have a bag with an extra lens or two if you might need them.

Two cameras and two bodies work well - but - I did not like switching from a 20d to a 5d - they are just enough different that it made me fiddle too much with settings; the LCT on the 20 is just too small for my aged eyes and so it adds reading glasses to the mix

All that said, I am now shooting both weddings and portraits with the 5d and 5dmk2 at the same time and I really like having my standard lens (24-105 or 50 1.2) on one camera and a 2nd lens on the other (16-35 or 70-200 or fisheye or 135. 2.0)

Two cameras and one w/ fixed zoom or fixed focal length and one set to swap lenses out - worked best for me with the fd and 5dmk2 as the bodies.

The 2nd shooter with 2 bodies was way way too much editing for my taste and while there were good captures, too much of a good thing. I would only do this again if the wedding/ party were big enough to have that much spread out.

Art Scott

I would never enter into the arena without 2 bodies with lenses attached......I hate changing lenses during a wedding.....did it long ago and vowed not to do it again......if possible.

I have my flash bracket fixed with a manfrotto/bogen QR for quick change of cameras.........

ChatKat

2nd Camera
Art,

Yes, I would never do an event without a 2nd camera as a backup - that is the number one rule. But to carry one body and one versatile lens is a nice luxury for a small event.

Art Scott

ChatKat wrote:

Art,

Yes, I would never do an event without a 2nd camera as a backup - that is the number one rule. But to carry one body and one versatile lens is a nice luxury for a small event.

Kathy....my comment had nothing to do with you.....there are a lot of times I read the 1st post and hit reply, especially if the OP is asking "what would YOU do" and just like here...I hit reply and gave my opinon.....I still have not read the whole thread......Sorry if you thought I was pointing a finger at you or something......

I did not go into the fact as a beginner I made the mistake of showing up with only one camera and lense and was 40 miles from my house and it crapped out on me....it did not matter I have 4 other lenses with me.....

Now if It is an out of town gig I will rent extras if I feel it necessary......but no I do not go do a simple 3 shot head shot appointment with out 2 bodies and lenses attached.......I just won't........Been doingthis too many years and been bit once.....as the saying goes ...."ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY"...................

Again sorry if i offended you some how.

beetle8

I recently heard an interview of a photographer who claims to work weddings with three bodies on board, all primes, wide, mid, and long.

Art Scott

beetle8 wrote:

I recently heard an interview of a photographer who claims to work weddings with three bodies on board, all primes, wide, mid, and long.

That is not uncommon........along with my 2 digital slr's I also have in bag in car my KM A2 and med. format film cam just in case.........

Shima

2 camera's 2 lenses. One of my favorite things during the reception is that I can swap them back and forth... I like the 35L and the 135L during the reception... and since I have one crop body and one full frame camera, swapping between the two gives me 4 focal lengths instead of just 2

Scott_Quier

Two cameras, typically

• Canon 50D, 17-55 f/2.8 IS
• Canon 50D, 70-200 f/2.8L IS

zoomer

I have been shooting weddings with almost exclusively the d700 with 24-70mm lens with flash on a bracket.
I would bring lenses along thinking I would switch them out from time to time, hardly ever did.

My next wedding will be my first with two cameras:
d3 with 24-70 and flash on bracket (available light and flash shots)
d700 with 70-200 in a holster on my belt (available light shots)
150mm Sigma macro on my belt also for ring shots with the d3.

As it sounds like most of you already know the two camera setup is the way to go. There just is no opportunity to be changing lenses back and forth.

Still..I shot a lot of weddings with one camera and one lens and everything came out fine.

mmmatt

I carry one body on me and leave one in the case. I have a 5d and a 40D and like Shima, I utilize the crop sensor to multiply my focal lengths. I switch lenses quite a bit and use a ThinkTank "Wideload" holster on a ThinkTank belt. That is a very convienient and comfortable way to carry 2 extra lenses without a lot of bulk and makes switching easy. I pick my body based on lighting (5d kicks the crap out of the 40d in low-light) and based on if I will need that extra reach of the crop sensor.

90% of the time I have my 5d with 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 2.8L IS (was a 4L until recently), and either the 135 f2L or my 15mm diag fisheye. If I'm sniping candids in good light I like the 40d. The Wideload allows me to carry 2 lenses, including the 70-200 with front caps off and lens hoods on so I can switch quickly.

In a modest reception hall, I will often leave the 2nd body set up in my case and just switch out when I feel the need. I never have 2 around my neck though... too much clanking for my tastes.


Matt

geospatial_junkie

I carry one camera with a holster system for my main three lenses. My backup is either on a tripod or in my bag.

I find a second camera body extremely limiting with respect to movement, especially when its banging on the church aisles.:D

FedererPhoto

Cruicial, 100%-can't-miss and can't-reproduce times:
2 bodies on me (D3/D700)
4 lenses on me: 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 50 or 85 f/1.4 (2 on the cameras, 1 on belt, 1 in pocket) and a flash (either on camera or on belt)
Second shooter has
2 bodies on them (D300/D80)
with 4 lenses on them: 12-24, 18-200, 100-300, 50 f/1.4 or 85 f/1.4 (2 on the cameras, 1 on belt, 1 in pocket) and a flash (either on camera or on belt)

Less crucial time-sensitive times, say during the late-night dancing or dinner or formals, I might give the D700 to my assistant and just roll the D3 myself. Depends on the lighting, the tightness of the area, etc. When I only have one body on me (formals, party dance), it's the D3 which has immediate card backup.

This obviously ignores what's in the various bags and such, like more flashes, another backup body and set of lenses, batteries, filters, etc.

I couldn't imagine shooting any other way. It gives me redundancy and lets me be able to both 'shoot from the hip' by always having a decent lens ready for any situation, but it also lets me work primes and 100% natural light as well.

PeterGar

i shoot with two bodies 90% of the time. one with a long lens and one with a wide lens. this is crucial to my documentary style coverage. i also recommend a strap that's conducive to this. I use an UPStrap on each body, but other systems are avilable, like the Black Rapid and Camera Slingers.

Qarik

PeterGar wrote:

i shoot with two bodies 90% of the time. one with a long lens and one with a wide lens. this is crucial to my documentary style coverage. i also recommend a strap that's conducive to this. I use an UPStrap on each body, but other systems are avilable, like the Black Rapid and Camera Slingers.

hmm..I just ordered the black rapids..2 of them with extra strap for dual wielding. I must I hate hoe a normal camera strap dangles in front of the body anyway. will let you know.

JohnBiggs

During the wedding I have two, before and at the reception I switch to 1.

Matthew Saville

1.) ALLLLLWAYS bring two (or more) cameras to a wedding, even if you don't shoot with two at once. You're downright disrespecting the bride and her photos if you don't come prepared for equipment failure on the biggest day of her life...

2.) I shoot with one camera for the getting ready / details / bridal portraits, basically whenever I have the time to switch lenses. But during the ceremony and sometime the reception, I put both my zooms on both my bodies, and rock it out with one camera over each shoulder. (Or if it's super low light, I put an 85 1.4 on my D300, as a mild telephoto, and rock that out with my wider 2.8 zoom on my other body...)


=Matt=

Mishka

I also shoot with 2 bodies and 2 lenses (and change the lenses out depending on what part of the wedding day I'm shooting) the majority of the time. However, by the time the reception is mostly just dancing, I switch to just one 5D with my wide zoom.

Tim Kamppinen

Well, keeping in mind that I've only shot one wedding so far...

I have two bodies, but I only shoot with one. That's mainly because my backup is a D40. My main camera is a D90, and I just switch lenses as needed. If I had a better backup (higher resolution/quicker controls) I would definitely shoot with two bodies on me. I considered doing it with my current gear but I figured I'd just end up being disgruntled about the D40 and not wanting to shoot with that body anyway. I use zooms mostly, though, so it's not as much of an issue. If I have some extra time and space to move around I'll break out my 50mm and have some fun with it, but I stick to the zooms when things are moving quickly (i.e. the ceremony).

Matthew Saville

Tim Kamppinen wrote:

Well, keeping in mind that I've only shot one wedding so far...

I have two bodies, but I only shoot with one. That's mainly because my backup is a D40. My main camera is a D90, and I just switch lenses as needed. If I had a better backup (higher resolution/quicker controls) I would definitely shoot with two bodies on me. I considered doing it with my current gear but I figured I'd just end up being disgruntled about the D40 and not wanting to shoot with that body anyway. I use zooms mostly, though, so it's not as much of an issue. If I have some extra time and space to move around I'll break out my 50mm and have some fun with it, but I stick to the zooms when things are moving quickly (i.e. the ceremony).

Tim, you get a gold star for taking two cameras to your first wedding, even if the backup camera is a D40. I've posted images elsewhere around here, but for like two or three years I photographed weddings with a pair of D70's, and still today some of the images on the front page of my website were made with that camera.

Again, many kudos to you for coming prepared. Had something on your D90 gone wrong, the bride would have been eternally grateful to you for packing the meager D40...


=Matt=

rpcrowe

Back up camera...
Murphy's Law of Wedding Photography states, "The chance of a camera going down is in a direct relationship to the importance of the shoot and in an inverse relationship to the availability of a back-up camera."

IMO, a back-up camera is not "available" if it is in the trunk of your car or in a bag at the back of the church. It is only "available" if you have it on your person.

By the way, it is a bad idea to leave your gear unattended - even in a church. Not necessarily that the camera might be stolen (yes, it happens even in church) but, your gear can be messed with. I once had a kid open my second film camera to look inside it. The shots on that roll were lost!

Since I would want to have both cameras on my person, it makes sense to be able to use both of them. A 24-70mm f/2.8L and 70-200mm f/2.8L IS on two full frame cameras would be a great way to go. A 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS would be a good way to go with two 1.6x cameras.

When shooting Canon DSLR cameras (especially 1.6x format) there is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE for not having a second camera at a wedding shoot! You can purchase a refurbished 40D camera for less than $700 or get a used 20D or 30D for peanuts. If push comes to shove, you can adequately use one of the 350D or later Rebels as your second camera. You can occasionally pick up a 350D for $200 or less and always should get one for less than $300. Now, I am not advocating using a 350D for weddings but, it is certainly a better option than using only one camera.

If I were still shooting weddings, I would use a COTTON (maker's name - not material from which it is constructed) dual camera holder. I saw one in action at a photo shoot today and it is really neat.

Unfortunately, it is quite expensive ($140) and I am not interested in purchasing it since I no longer shoot weddings. It would be worth it if I were still shooting weddings.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=726545&highlight=cotton

However, I do like to carry two cameras when I shoot (30D with 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 40D with 70-200mm f/4L IS) and I have just ordered the New OPTECH Dual Camera Harness which looks like a nice way to support a pair of cameras. It is a LOT CHEAPER ($34.95) than the COTTON. The dual harness will spread the weight of the two cameras across my shoulders yet, keep them ready for shooting. There are two sizes. Since I am a big guy, I ordered the large size. Here is the OPTECH website with a description and a video on the harness.

http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=87&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4

Here is the Amazon.com (Adorama) listing for the regular size harness.

http://www.amazon.com/Op-Tech-Harness-Binoculars-Regular/dp/B002IUQ180/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251063289&sr=8-3

keithinmelbourne

Qarik wrote:

what I mean is do you physically carry 2 cameras with different lens attached and switch up as needed?

Or do you just shoot with one and changes lens on the fly?

I guess a 3rd option is to have your assistant follow you around with another cameras well.

I am curious as to what people actually do.

I am inclined to go with the 1st option myself...one camera has standard 24-70 2.8 zoom and the other has 85 1.4. I would keep one holstered in one of those fast/smaller/sling bags and switch out flashes real quick if needed. The sling bag has room for one more lens (14-24mm) and another spare flash as well.

I shot a wedding two days ago using the double Black Rapid straps for the first time. I had a 5D2 and 1D3 hanging off me for 6 hours and came through pretty well. I also wore a Tamrac vest to carry a couple of lenses. THAT was really uncomfortable, as it chaffed my neck a fair bit. Using the two cameras, with a 30D body in the bag meant that I had enough redundancy for the shoot. My near miss was only having 38G in cards, and by the end of the day I found myself deleting shots in order to get the B&G leaving. PHEW!

WingsOfLovePhoto

What kind of holster is everyone using for the backups to keep them on your person? I was at B and H and didn't see any. Are there places you can buy them? As for me...my second shooter is using my backup but I would like to be able to have it on me for other times!

zoomer

Check out Think Tank products. I use their holster and belt, works great.

WingsOfLovePhoto wrote:

What kind of holster is everyone using for the backups to keep them on your person? I was at B and H and didn't see any. Are there places you can buy them? As for me...my second shooter is using my backup but I would like to be able to have it on me for other times!

MA-FOTO

zoomer wrote:

Check out Think Tank products. I use their holster and belt, works great.

+1