- This topic is empty.
What lens would u use at the wedding?
-
Hi Guys,
Im hoping to get into wedding photography business slowly and am wandering what lens would u use shooting such occasion.
I want to buy something that will be good enough but will not break the bank, and I am so so confused after reading all details, descripyions, specifications and opinions.I have canon 500D, lens: 50mm 1.8 and 70-200 3.5
My kit lens got broken and it makes no sens to buy the same one so I was looking at Tamron or Sigma 24-70 or 17-50 (Canon is out of reach because of the price).So – What do you think would be the best lens for the wedding? Which one would you recomend or simply use yourselves?
MAny thanx for your opinions, Im looking forward to reading them.
Alexandra
You ideally need an f2.8 wide lens as most churches are pretty dark so you will need the wide aperture.
To be honest you probably also need to get rid of the 500D and get a proper professional camera as the focusing/low light performance of entry level cameras is very very poor and not up to the job. There is a reason an entry level camera costs €500 and a proper professional camera is multiples of this.
You actually need two of them as you can’t really turn up to a wedding with one camera especialy if you have charged for it as what are you going to do if the camera fails?? And they do fail, trust me, as I found out myself!! You really need a backup of everything as well including flashes as things fail. I know you might think that this is all too expensive, but you can pick up a lot of stuff second hand. Maybe get a 5D and a 24-70 2.8 and keep the 500D as a backup until you can afford to get rid of it but I would recommend getting as good gear as you can get. Gear isn’t everything but it does help you enormously. It’s made for a reason and thats for professional use.
The ideal wedding setup is 2 x 5D/1D cameras with a 24-70 2.8 on one and a 70-200 2.8 on the other and a 580 flash. That should cover most eventualities. You can use various primes also if you have them for specialist shots.
If you have to use only one lens, then the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 is the lens to go for. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s a high quality. Your 500D should be fine as long as you know how to get the best out of it.
Yeah, doing a wedding, you’ll need to cover all your bases, so double up on what you can – cameras, batteries, flash, batteries, memory cards, batteries. Beg, borrow or rent gear as needed until you can afford to buy.
The most important thing is to relax and make sure the couple are relaxed and comfortable with you.
Hi Guys :)
Thanks a lot for your answers :)I know that my 500D is not great, but I have to start somewhere :)
I am definately going to buy 24-70mm probably after christmass (ill get paid for my overtime) and maybe – maybe i will be able to afford 5D mark II within next few months.
The questions I have now are:
– is the Canon 24-70 going to fit my 500D and 5D mark II or if ill get second camera – i have to buy new lens?
– saw 5D mark II body on pixmania.ie for 1.800 eur. Is it not a bit to cheap? Im terryfying of a scam when buying on line and paying such a money!Again – thanx for your feedback!
AlexandraThe 24-70 (or any other canon L lens) will fit any canon camera. However due to the crop factor on a 500D it’s no longer a wide angle lens and isn’t ideal for use in a church. If you are going to be upgrading to a 5D/1D then it’s ideal but not so much for the 1.6 cropped cameras. The 16-35 would be much more suitable for a 1.6 cropped camera as i’t s the 1.6 equivalent of the 24-70 on a full frame. Sometimes in a small church you can be very close to the bride & groom and you need a wide angle lens.
You should have no problems buying from Pixmania – they are an established company.
Thx for your answer Ballyman :)
Canon 1D – i wish :) i hope ill manade for 5D and my husband wont kill me when ill tell him the price.
Anyway – i will definately go for 24-70 to have it with 5D, but i might bys something (Tamron or Sigma) close to 16-35 for my 500D, so i should have ok coverage for the wedding…at least few first ones (if ill find clients).I was reading ysterday about difference between 7D and 5D and I know about full and cropped frame, but…would any of u consider doing wedding with 7D and a good lens? For the price of 5D body only?
Just wandering. Calculating :)Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem using any camera with a good lens.
I’ve shot friend’s weddings with a 24-70mm f/2.8, on a crop body. I wouldn’t get too caught up though.
Get what you can afford. I’ve seen excellent work without 1D/5D series bodies. Yes, you do need a quality body for low light conditions, but knowing how well to use your camera with the lens is all you need.
If you have a wide lens, step forward. If you’ve a longer lens, step back. Work with whatever you have, but work with the client. It’s more about the couple than about your gear.
Also, if you’re doing this professionally (getting paid), make sure you have your insurance (including PL and PI) up to date, and make sure you have a contract which makes everything clear.
Make sure you get insurance there is a lot of hotels asking to see insurance and the last thing you want is to arrive at a reception and not get in because you have no insurance. Make sure you have a second camera with you. I have heard of so many stories where a camera has just stopped working.
I know a few people who have ordered from pixmania and they have never had any problems.
If you want to get into weddings try contact a few photographers and see if they would let you act as a second shooter or if you have friends getting married see can you act a second photographer. I would advise getting experience doing weddings before looking for clients because weddings can be quiet stressful and there is a lot to remember and know.
trueblue wrote:
Make sure you get insurance there is a lot of hotels asking to see insurance and the last thing you want is to arrive at a reception and not get in because you have no insurance.
Can You explain, what type of insurace should i have if i want to shoot on the weddings?
Yeah, doing a wedding, you’ll need to cover all your bases, so double up on what you can – cameras, batteries, flash, batteries, memory cards, batteries. Beg, borrow or rent gear as needed until you can afford to buy.
tsergairl wrote:
trueblue wrote:
Make sure you get insurance there is a lot of hotels asking to see insurance and the last thing you want is to arrive at a reception and not get in because you have no insurance.
Can You explain, what type of insurace should i have if i want to shoot on the weddings?
At the very least you should have Public Liability which covers you if someone was to trip over your bag etc. You should also consider Professional Indemnity which would cover you if you made a balls of the wedding or your gear failed and you couldn’t deliver what you were contracted to and the couple sued you.
You should be able to get both for about €5-600 per annum.
Thank You very much
Do You know any company where can I buy this insurance ?
+1 for http://www.camerainsurance.ie” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false; Highly recommended
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
