So this is going to sound stupid... Q's about wedding lenses

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Go find another photographer who wants to add a wedding to his/her portfolio.

Are you saying as a second shooter or that I shouldn't even be doing this??

As a second shooter.

I'll look into this. Thanks.

 

[Derrel]

SNIP>what is your opinion on hawking my kit 18-55mm & 50mm to put towards a better 50mm? (like the EF 50mm f/1.4) I eventually want to own the 70-200 2.8 IS but I doubt I'll find $2000 in my couch cushions.

GOOD idea to get the Canon 50mm f/1.4. It is light, small, and it's a MUCH better performer than the 1.8. I had a Canon 50/1.8m and hated it...LOUD focusing whine, prone to focus hunting in dimmer lighting conditions, poor when shot toward the light, no manual focus override. ALl in all **the poorest** 50mm lens I have ever owned, out of something like eight of them over 30+ years, from multiple makers (Nikon,Canon,Yashica). The Canon 50/1.4 is on the other hand a really solid lens optically, and it has very good bokeh for a 50mm lens..prettier than what Nikon has.

 

[Designer]

Go find another photographer who wants to add a wedding to his/her portfolio.

Are you saying as a second shooter or that I shouldn't even be doing this??

Robin's comment was that you should attempt to find a photographer with more experience who will shoot the wedding for free, considering it to be a portfolio builder for him or her.

His second comment was that you then could act as second shooter behind the other photographer.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Go find another photographer who wants to add a wedding to his/her portfolio.

Are you saying as a second shooter or that I shouldn't even be doing this??

Robin's comment was that you should attempt to find a photographer with more experience who will shoot the wedding for free, considering it to be a portfolio builder for him or her.

His second comment was that you then could act as second shooter behind the other photographer.

Well.. I do not know of any photographers personally so I doubt I would convince someone to shoot my friend's wedding for free simply so I can be a second shooter. Also, I really do not want to be a second shooter. I am confidant with myself, I was just not so sure about the lens I should be leaning towards.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

SNIP>what is your opinion on hawking my kit 18-55mm & 50mm to put towards a better 50mm? (like the EF 50mm f/1.4) I eventually want to own the 70-200 2.8 IS but I doubt I'll find $2000 in my couch cushions.

GOOD idea to get the Canon 50mm f/1.4. It is light, small, and it's a MUCH better performer than the 1.8. I had a Canon 50/1.8m and hated it...LOUD focusing whine, prone to focus hunting in dimmer lighting conditions, poor when shot toward the light, no manual focus override. ALl in all **the poorest** 50mm lens I have ever owned, out of something like eight of them over 30+ years, from multiple makers (Nikon,Canon,Yashica). The Canon 50/1.4 is on the other hand a really solid lens optically, and it has very good bokeh for a 50mm lens..prettier than what Nikon has.

OH MY GOD YES! It is so damn noisy and whines... honestly thought I had a bad one until I saw that everyone else online reported the same noises. I have one telling me not to upgrade the 50 and you telling me it's a good idea so I guess I'll head over to a lens place and try it out to see if I see a significant difference.

 

[pixmedic]

If you can only rent one lens, I would either get a 70-200 2.8 or an 85 1.4

The 50 1.4 is a good idea if you are buying it in addition to renting another lens

 

[Robin Usagani]

No.. I really mean to find another shooter to shoot with. The op is shooting with one camera. Just in case her camera breaks, someone else can still shoot.

Go find another photographer who wants to add a wedding to his/her portfolio.

Are you saying as a second shooter or that I shouldn't even be doing this??

Robin's comment was that you should attempt to find a photographer with more experience who will shoot the wedding for free, considering it to be a portfolio builder for him or her.

His second comment was that you then could act as second shooter behind the other photographer.

 

[Designer]

Oh.

 

[lambertpix]

Thanks for all of the advice, I shoot 99% of the time in manual sometimes in shutter priority mode since I photograph a lot of children and they like to move THE WHOLE TIME.
That was another qualm for me with the 50, how much work can a $100 lens put out for me?? I received it in my kit when I got my camera last year (I was a fool and bought into the whole "savings bundle" that gave me 3 crap lenses and about 50 misc. pieces from china I did not need) what is your opinion on hawking my kit 18-55mm & 50mm to put towards a better 50mm? (like the EF 50mm f/1.4) I eventually want to own the 70-200 2.8 IS but I doubt I'll find $2000 in my couch cushions.

I love the 50 f/1.8 for kits & for learning -- it's a great tool to introduce someone to primes and for lots of beginners, it's the only fast glass in their bag. I'm really a big fan, and I've gotten some great results with that lens in settings where I could set up a shot, make sure I was focused right, and maybe most importantly, shoot again if I didn't like the first shot. Not a luxury you'll have at a wedding.

So, anyway, I certainly don't want to sound like I'm trashing the 1.8, but yes, now that I've cleared *that* up, I think it would make a lot of sense to trade up those other two lenses for the 1.4. I'm still a little skeptical that you'd get a ton of mileage out of it at the wedding, though -- probably some shots before / after / etc., but during the ceremony & reception, I'd expect the flexibility of a zoom to be really helpful.

 

[JacaRanda]

I seriously wish you the best in this endeavor and hope to see and read about the results.

Here are some things you may want to consider Wedding Photography - 21 Tips for Amateur Wedding Photographers.

You may want to reconsider your hate for 'artificial light' which probably will be most of the light inside the church.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

I seriously wish you the best in this endeavor and hope to see and read about the results.

Here are some things you may want to consider Wedding Photography - 21 Tips for Amateur Wedding Photographers.

You may want to reconsider your hate for 'artificial light' which probably will be most of the light inside the church.

Thanks, I'll be sure to read up!

 

[gsgary]

Renting another lens is not going to make you shoot it better you have all you need except the knowledge so get 2 friends to pose for you in as many different lighting conditions as possible, having too much gear will confuse you more, another body would be more use 1 for your 24-105 and 1 for your 50 but unless you are used to carrying and using 2 cameras you would be wasting your money

 

[pixmedic]

Renting another lens is not going to make you shoot it better you have all you need except the knowledge so get 2 friends to pose for you in as many different lighting conditions as possible, having too much gear will confuse you more, another body would be more use 1 for your 24-105 and 1 for your 50 but unless you are used to carrying and using 2 cameras you would be wasting your money

I'm sure she shoots just fine.
What renting another lens will do is give her a faster zoom lens for a possibly low lit church. There won't be a dramatic learning curve going from a 24-105 to a 70-200.

I say rent the 70-200 2.8 and rock that wedding hard!
Use your 50mm (either the 1.8 or the 1.4 if you buy one) for the formals.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Renting another lens is not going to make you shoot it better

Ya... I'm aware. However, renting a better lens WILL give me more versatility, allowing me to shoot it better.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Renting another lens is not going to make you shoot it better you have all you need except the knowledge so get 2 friends to pose for you in as many different lighting conditions as possible, having too much gear will confuse you more, another body would be more use 1 for your 24-105 and 1 for your 50 but unless you are used to carrying and using 2 cameras you would be wasting your money

I'm sure she shoots just fine.
What renting another lens will do is give her a faster zoom lens for a possibly low lit church. There won't be a dramatic learning curve going from a 24-105 to a 70-200.

I say rent the 70-200 2.8 and rock that wedding hard!
Use your 50mm (either the 1.8 or the 1.4 if you buy one) for the formals.

Will do! Thanks for the vote of confidence!