This is going to get technical, so skip this post if you don’t know fart about cameras.
I have a Canon Rebel XT. I love it, but it’s outliving it usefulness as a pro camera. I’ve been saving up for the Canon 5D for a while now. The main difference between these two cameras is that the 5D is full-frame. The XT has a 1.6 crop, which means that my 35mm lens acts like a 50mm, and my 50mm lens acts like a 75mm. I love the 50/75 look, so when I buy the 5D, I’ll have to buy new lenses. I’ll sell the 35mm and my beloved 50mm and buy a 100mm macro for outside, and buy a 50mm 1.4 for inside.
Got that all worked out. All set. saving up slowly, not an issue.
My mother is getting married in September. I’ll be there, of course, but she wants me to take pictures. No problem, since she’s hired a real wedding photographer to e there as well. No worried. I can use her wedding as portfolio practice and not have to worry about being the only photographer there. I had planned to use my current gear and just get what I could for her.
Not anymore. A very dear friend is now also getting married in September, and wants me to be his photographer. Note: the ONLY photographer. The wedding party may be as large as 14 people. Candids, I’m good at. Outside, no problem. I haven’t the slightest clue how to pose 14 people and have it look good. I recommended hiring a real photographer and having me there to shoot, but the time line is too late. All photographers are booked already. So, it’s me. I love him to pieces, so I’m glad to do it, but I’m wigging out over here. There are now some pretty crucial pieces of gear that I need to buy, before September:
Tamron 28-75 2.8: At 2.8 all the way through, I should be doing well in low light. I’d rather it was something closer, like a 50-125mm, but those go for $1400, so.. no. I like Sigma brand better, but the Sigma 24-75mm is twice as heavy.
A lightsphere: Yes, it looks like Tupperware, but it’s magic Tupperware. Check out the pictures. If I’ll be using a flash (which I hope to avoid), this is a must.
I have a Sigma flash, but I haven’t needed to use it much, so I need to practice. A lot.
The Canon 5D If I can wrangle this before the weddings, I’ll be very lucky, and very grateful. The low noise in high ISO’s will mean that I might be able to avoid the flash.
I’ll have the stuff I wanted, but whew. Goodbye, profit.
I know how it is! I’ve been asked to shoot a wedding this summer, too, by a good friend who wants decent pictures at a bargain price (free). Like you, I’ve been fretting over it. The one thing I got was a Manfrotto tripod for the posed shots. I also have a sigma flash, but I’m looking at getting a diffuser also – probably the lightsphere II.
I have a 50mm f/1.8 Nikon lense and a sigma 18-50mm f/2.8. Plus the 28-80 f/3.5-5.6 Nikon that I got with the D50. I think it can work.
I totally recommend Scott Kelby’s book The Digital Photography Book that I just reviewed on my site yesterday. I think that whole chapter is online, too. Check it out.
That chapter rocks. Thanks for the link!