help me get some new toys!

Arvan

hey guys.. I need some help desciding what to get next.

My uncle is going to the states again now in june. Notice that the price on cameragear is allmost half price in the US compared to sweden = :clap:clap:barb

I have a weding to shoot in late august and ive bin looking at the canon 85mm 1.8 for a while since it´s good on portraits.

And i need a flash since i switched system to canon. The 430EX sure is a nice flash and i know it works fine. But is there others? metz maby?. Maby it´s worth the extra bucks to get a 580EX ?

Can you guys plz give me recomendations to lenses that are similair to the 85 canon and even toss me some feedback in what to get.

Does this look like a smart way of thinking?.

//Arvan

Scott_Quier

What's your budget (expressed in USD for widest understanding) and some of the uses to which you would like to put your gear. You've already mentioned a wedding in the fall. Do you want to buy for that or for something else?

As for the flash, the 430 is nice, the 580 is another stop more powerful. When you need the extra stop, it nice to have it. And, I think the 580 recycles faster than the 430 and I know the 580 is quiet during the recycling (no horrible whine no mo').

Tommyboy

I have both flashes, and IMHO, the 580EXII is worth the extra money. Having both is even nicer. The 580EXII has a metal foot, a superior locking mechanism, and small built-in bounce card, and a host of other features.

The 85mm f/1.8 is a great lens. If you are shooting portraits and have a crop sensor camera (20D, 30D, 300D, etc.) you might take a look at a 50mm 1.4 also. Both are great lenses. I like the 85 for indoor sports. It's a bit long in a room such as you might find for a wedding.

Good luck and happy shopping. Let us know what you decide.

Shima

I've never had a 430, but I loveeeeeeeeee my 580 EX II. It gets me amazing results in lighting situations that shouldn't have worked

Arvan

ohh i missed the budget part..Kind of important if you want good answers

Anyways i don´t need the 85 mm.. Maby i would use it on the weding but after that it will just spend time in my bag, since i shoot urban landscapes and abstracts most of the time.

the weding is taking place outside and the taking place during the afternoon..It will be bright ( yes even here in sweden ). So my 28-72 f/2.8 tamron will do that trick without a flaw. I will borow my firends 70-200 F/4 IS just in case i will need it. And ofc my new baby the sigma 10-20 EX ( just in case )

Im not going to get the 430 EX..I mean it works fine. But the 580 is superior in buildquality..Saying that it´s twice as sturdy is not enough. It would be stupid to get the 430 when the price is not that much of a difference.

Allthough i will get the 50mm 1.8...I mean it´s so darn cheap and it´s amazing what a heap of plastic could do.

Thanx for the answers.. Now i feel safe in what to get clap

rpcrowe

Hi Arvan...
I don't know what equipment you own but, I would advise anyone who is the primary photographer at a wedding to have a back-up camera and a back-up primary lens if at all possible.

It is nice if the backup camera is the same type as the primary camera but, economically that is not always possible. At the least, however, I would recommend that the back-up camera use the same batteries as the primary camera. My primary camera is a Canon 30D and my secondary camera is a 350D. These two cameras use different batteries and while this is not a great problem; I always need to have two different sets of batteries charged and ready.

By the way, the second camera is not only useful as a back-up; shooting with two cameras frees the photographer from having to switch lenses in the middle of a shoot. Switching lenses is not only annoying to me, it can cause problems from just missing an important shot to dirt on sensor or damaging a lens by dropping it.

The OPTECH Reporter Strap allows the use of dual cameras without tangling the straps. I like to have the camera with the shorter lens on top and the camera with the longer lens below it.

http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=24&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4

Here is a listing of some of the standard shots I used for weddings here in the USA. Early in my wedding photography career, I actually carried a list in order not to forget the impostant shots. Of course, there are many-many variations and other shots to be taken at a wedding and I am sure that in Sweden, there are some required shots of events that don't take place here in my country.

Wedding Photography Part I – Pre-Ceremony and Ceremony

These are just some of the necessary shots. There are sure to be others. However if you get all of these shots, you should not be lacking coverage. I am most familiar with traditional American Christian weddings and receptions; although I have shot two Jewish weddings and receptions. Other ethnic weddings or receptions have their own particular ambiance and required shots.

Pre Wedding Day Photos:

Informal portraits of the bride and groom.

Location is often outdoors in a scenic location

Formal portraits of bride in wedding dress. Specific shots dependant on type of dress.

Full length showing wedding dress
Front
Rear with Bride looking back – showing train
Each side
Three quarter length
Head and shoulders
Bride sitting on floor with dress swirled around her

Wedding Day – Pre-Ceremony

Bride:
General shot of bride’s maids helping bride dress
Shot of each bridesmaid helping
Bride interacting with Maid / Matron of Honor
Bride in dress looking in mirror alone
Bride in dress before mirror with bride’s maids
Mother adjusting veil
Putting garter on
Humorous cut-up shots
Bride’s maids and bride making one last toast
Bride and father interacting
Bride interacting with anyone else – especially kids
Bride in environmental portraits if there are photogenic areas available
Bride’s maids applying their own make up or adjusting their hairdo’s
Bride with multigenerational group (mother, grandmother, g-grandmother if applicable.

Groom:
Groom’s father pinning boutonnière on groom
Groom with each attendant
Interaction between groom and his mother
Interaction between groom and best man

Attendants:

Shots of attendants escorting ladies to their seats
Shots of soloist and organist if applicable
Groom, Best man and ushers waiting at altar

Ceremony shots – depending if flash photography is allowed during ceremony

Processional:

At least one shot of each member of the wedding party
Especially rig-bearer and flower-girl
More than one shot of bride and father (or person escorting Bride)
(I like to ask Bride and father to pause momentarily at a predesignated point and look at me – don’t be surprised if they forget to do it)

Actual Ceremony: (If flash is allowed)

Father lifting veil and kissing Bride at altar
Groom and Bride’s father acknowledging each other – hugging or shaking hands
Official from behind couple framed with couples backs
Overall view of ceremony
Use assistant or remote camera
Choir loft is great otherwise low angle from back of church
Available light is often best
Couple facing each other holding hands
Placing rings on fingers
Lighting of candles
If possible – a shot from the choir loft. (assistant or remote camera on tripod)
Official blessing couple if applicable
The first kiss
Any special event in ceremony – drinking sip of wine, receiving communion, breaking of glass in Jewish ceremony
Couple and official sanding at altar and facing guests

Recessional

Bride and Groom leaving altar
Others coming down aisle (Bride and Groom are the most important – if you get them and no one else leaving, you should be O.K.)

Ceremony Reenactment

Whether or not flash has been allowed – this is the time to shoot mock ups of the ceremony. You can get any or all of the above shots as a repeat or as initial shots if shooting during ceremony was not allowed. You can also get reverse angle shots from the altar side of the bride and groom.

Stained glass windows – get a shot of one or two of these if they are photogenic.

Signing of Ketubah

This is a significant event in a Jewish wedding and should be fully covered with shots of everyone signing.

Breaking of Glass

Another significant event in a Jewish ceremony

Lighting of Candles

All weddings do not incorporate the lighting of candles but, if there is a candle lighting, it is a very romantic and photogenic occasion.

There are often variations in wedding ceremonies between different religions and even between different individual places of worship. The following advice was given to me by a Rabbi regarding variations in Jewish ceremonies but, holds true for all weddings despite the religion or denomination, “Certainly, for the most
part, the Orthodox and Conservative clergy stick to fairly straight-forward scripts, with which you're no doubt familiar; but the Reform, Reconstructionist, and Renewal Jews tend to do a lot of ritual innovation. So my only advice, belaboring the obvious, would be to carefully review the program in detail beforehand--which, of course, any professional would do as a matter of course.” Reviewing the program of any wedding ceremony is absolutely necessary in order to avoid missing portions of the ceremony that are important to the participants. Surprises during ceremonies are no fun and can be easily avoided.

rpcrowe

Wedding shots continued Part II
Wedding Photography II – Post Ceremony Coverage

Altar or Church Step Portraits (These can be shot in another place like a garden if desired)

Bride (You cannot have too many shots of he bride ever)
Bride and Groom
Bride and mother
Bride and father
Bride and other family members – siblings, grandparents, etc.
Groom (as above)
Bride and Groom with their parents
Bride and bride’s maids
Bride and maid / matron of honor
Groom and attendants
Groom and best man
Entire wedding party
Bride and Groom with any other significant person such as priest or minister

Leaving Church

Bride and Groom exiting
There may be some ceremony involved with this such as throwing rice or exiting under crossed swords for military weddings – be sure you know about and get shots of this. If rice is thrown – often using a slower shutter speed will show it better.

Romantic shots

Shots of the Bride and Groom interacting. Often outdoors in scenic settings.
The above are often difficult to arrange what with the stress of trying to get to the reception. It is great for the photographer if there is sufficient time between end of ceremony and start of reception to allow this.

rpcrowe

Wedding shots continued, part III
Best of luck on your wedding coverage...

Wedding Photography III – The Reception:

Overall shot of empty hall decorated and set up with tables, flowers etc.
(IMO this is really a low priority shot)
Several shots of wedding cake
Shots of any specific decorations
Guests signing book as they enter
Shot of presents on table
Bride and Groom arriving at hall
Close up of the Couple’s hands with rings with flowers and perhaps invitation/program
Arrangement of flowers, invitation etc.
Reception line if there is one
Note;
I shot one wedding wherein the Bride’s mother wanted a separate shot of each couple or small group of guests as they arrived. She arranged a location for these shots decorated with flowers and a banner with Bride and Groom’s names. She then had me print individual thank you cards using the best image from the ceremony as the cover and inside, each guest group’s picture on left with the words on the right side of card. It was expensive for her but, it really seemed classy to me and would have been a lasting memento to the guests.
Shot of food or buffet line if it is photogenic
Best man toasting couple
Shots of guest individuals/couples – standing, sitting at tables and interacting.
(Always ask specifically whom the Bride and the mother of the bride want photographed; Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Gus, etc.)
The food line with people filling plates (IMO low priority)
I don’t usually shoot people eating. Half emptied plates and food in mouths are not photogenic to me – I use this time to get my breath and make sure my equipment is in order. I do not eat at receptions but will drink a soft drink or water)
Cutting cake – several shots from close ups of hands to overalls of couple
Bride and groom feeding cake to each other
Note: I hate cake smashing but, get a shot of that if it happens
Band or entertainers if any
Anyone toasting couple
Couple with arms entwined giving each other a sip from their glasses
Bride and groom first dance
Note: at some weddings guests pin money on bride’s dress - get shots of that
Bride dancing with her father
Bride dancing with father in law
Groom dancing with mother
Groom dancing with mother in law
Other shots of Bride dancing – especially with little kids
Other shots of Groom dancing
Members of bridal party dancing
Various couples dancing – kids are great
Groom removing Bride’s garter prior to garter toss
Garter toss and catch
Flower toss and catch
Sometimes the man who caught the garter places it on the lady who caught the flowers.
Any other significant thing that is happening
Any romantic shots of couple
General shots of opportunity – kids are especially photogenic

Leaving reception

Couple getting in vehicle
Couple kissing in vehicle
Couple waving from vehicle
Vehicle leaving from behind (if there is a “Just Married” sign or other wedding related decorations)