Lens reasurance

[Charlie Chalk]

Hello all

I have been volantered by my wife to photograph my sister in laws wedding this september.

The kit I have available to me is:

D70
50mm f1.8 Nikon
14mm f3.5 Sigma
28-80 f?? to f?? Nikon (cheap lens)
Manfrotto tripod
SB600
2gb CF cards (2 x 512mb & 1 x 1gb)

The wedding will be family and very close friends - around 30 people in total.

My sister in law wasn't bothered about having photo's taken and was intending to use their own digicam (P&S).

It will be a church wedding then reception back at their house.

They have said they don't want any formal shots (yeah right!) and would just like a few memories taking of the day if I can. My wife has metioned giving hem a album as a wedding present (no pressure then!).

What I'd like to ask is do you think I can get a half decent album with the kit I have?

I can invest a little in 'extras', but I think a diffuser for the SB600, an extra CF card and batteries for the D70/SB600 will see off any chance of a longer lens. If I don't get any of those bits and pieces I can prob run to a 70-300 or something around that price (maybe a slightly better second hand lens from ebay?).

I'm going to be doing it anyway, but I would like to know what limitations you think my current kit will place on me and if you can give me any suggestions as to get the best out of what I have.

Thanks!

CC

[xerubus]

Firstly.. have a search of the forums... similar questions by members have been raised such as this numerous times before.

I'd strongly suggest that you grovel to other members in your area and check if you could borrow a nice zoom such as a 24-70 2.8, 17-55 2.8, etc etc... as well as a second d70 body. You can be guaranteed that you'll miss 'that' shot if you are changing lenses. Plus.. if your d70 (knock wood) packs it in, you'll have some angry family feuds to deal with.

Even thought they have just suggested they want just candids, I'd take that with a grain of salt. Family members will want shots with bride and groom etc.

You will need to check with the church that it is okay to use a flash in the church.. some churches don't allow flash.

I wouldn't be too worried about a diffuser... bounce will give you great results.

Depending on how confident you are about getting the right exposure, and metering correctly, I'd suggest you shoot in raw... so grab a couple of more cf cards if you can afford it.

[Mj]

Ok.... assuming you can't borrow some kit as per Xerubus sugggestion.
You've got a 50/1.8 for some portraits and the 14mm for group shots and a flash for indoors which will be essential unless not allowed.

Don't bother with a 70-300, that lens (in any version) simply won't cut it.

Without the flash you'll struggle... so make sure you have two fresh sets of batteries and you're allow to use it. Leave the tripod at home if the flash is ok cause I reckon you'll be too busy moving around to use it.

Two further suggestions... buy some more CF cause you're best taking as many shots as possible to ensure the few classic keepers you're looking for. Also if you can, go to the church and their home and take some practice shots so you know what light you'll be dealing with.... that way you can hopefully concentrate on the composition etc and not so much on the metering on the day... should also help you identify some nice angles etc to look for.

Good luck and enjoy !!!

P.S. One final thought... have a look at pics here to get some ideas... padey has a few good ones that might get you thinking... but there are plenty of other as well.

[losfp]

To be honest, unless the 28-80 is COMPLETE rubbish, for one camera body I'd be inclined to stick that on the camera most of the day, and only break out the 50/1.8 for more formal portraits and the 14mm for wider "special effect" shots.

IMO the 50/1.8 is too long to do group shots, and the 14mm is just a little bit TOO wide for good flattering group shots. With multiple camera bodies, or with more experience, you can probably get away with a couple of nice primes, but I find that in the heat of battle, it's easier to stick a zoom lens on there and be done with.

If you can organise one, the Lightsphere II Photojournalist is a great diffuser that will give you nice soft lighting, however it IS quite bulky.

[ABG]

As has already been said, the search button is your friend. This is a topic that has been brought up countless times. The best information I've ever read regarding wedding photography on the internet can be found right here.

Good luck on the day and make sure you enjoy yourself

[Charlie Chalk]

Hello all and thanks for your replies.

xerubus, as much as I would like to borrow extra equipment I think most of the forum members are an expensive pane flight from me - enough to get that 24-70! - so I'm stuck with what I have.

Also the church is in Mansfield and I'm in Newcastle, which is a good 3 hr car ride apart. So going and having a mooch round for some practice before the big day is unlikely.

The Diffuser was something I thought I might need if the church has high ceilings (which I assume it has as it's a traditional 18th century building) and I won't be able to bounce - would you suggest a diffuser in these circumstances? I was intending on getting the stofoi (or something like that!). Flash is allowed in the church. Although I realise it should be used sparingly.

As far as the 70-300 G goes, instead of getting one of those would it be worth my while (and ££) if I was to get a cheapish non-nikon zoom, i.e. a Sigma like this Sigma 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 DL Hyperzoom or maybe an older Nikon like this Nikkor 70-210mm F4-5.6.

Raw - without a doubt! Don't want to make life even harder for myself by shooting jpg.

We have another wedding to attend in Aug. I assume they have a pro photog to shoot their wedding. Do you think it would be a good idea to ask if they (and the pro they've hired) would mind if I took my camera for some candids practice? I realise there will be many camera's there, but someone with a D70 + SB600 on top is a bit different to someone with the latest Sony 'smaller than a fag packet' P&S.

I also have a very good friend who is a full time photog. I shall ask him if I can assist/join him at a couple of weddings between now and sept.

I know he would lend me any gear I needed, but he shoots C@nn0n so...

Finally, thanks for the link to the wedding thread ABG, I now remember seeing this when it first apeared - it's all very good information that I will sit a digest.

CC

[Yi-P]

Where is your 18-70 when you need it most??

[Charlie Chalk]

Ah if only!

When I bought my D70 I couldn't afford the kit with the 18-70. Over here in the UK (don't know if you guys had the same deal) there was a cheaper kit being sold with the 28-80 zoom+D70 for about £100 cheaper.

I now realise that £100 was well worth spending to get the 18-70, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

CC

[Ivanerrol]

Newcastle should be large enough to have a hire outfit. Try to find one on the net.
Extreme wide angles tend to make the bride more rotund then she would care to remember. Careful here.
If you can't get another DSLR as a backup at the least take a film camera - preferably a Nikon that will share the same lenses that you have.
Go Geordies!

[Marvin]

Hi Charlie,
I haven't got anything useful to add, but just wanted to say good luck. Haven't seen you around here for a while!
Cheers,
Marvin

[Charlie Chalk]

Hello Marvin! I have been lurking a little every now and then, but my D70 hasn't been out much recently as I've been tied up with a lot of developement work + family stuff, wife and two kids to keep happy!

I bought a SB600 a couple of weeks ago so its given me a good excuse to get back into things again.

Ivan - you'd be suprised! Newcastle is a big-ish city, but the best camera shop in town (in most peoples opinion) doesn't even stock Nikon due to a falling out they had with them some years ago. I've not found anywhere else that hires stuff out.

I have found this place that hire out lenses, they are all sigma - any one know if they are worth the ££?

Not sure about a back-up camera, I have a Pentax MTL5 acting as loft insulation upstairs not sure if that counts!

CC

[Ivanerrol]

The 28 - 80 derivation was supplied here as kit to the F60 or F70. There are better lenses. You need to keep it up to F8 to get best results. Bad luck about not getting the 18 - 70 for the extra 100 quid. It would have well worth it.
The MTL5 was a Practika. Very old now - 70s stuff. If you have it in the attic gathering dust it will need to be tested. The Practikas had some good lenses on them.
Edinburgh Cameras hires out some gear. It may be a bit far - 100 plus miles. (Around the corner in Australia).
For some reason I found that camera equipment in the UK was expensive - even compared to Australia. In the seventies a Spotmatic II with a F1.4 Lens was around 200 quid in the U.K. at the same time we bought a 4 year old 420G Jag off Bruce Forsythe for 100 quid. This Pentax price was about 50% more than we were paying in Australia.

[Charlie Chalk]

Morning Ivan

Yes I do regret getting the 28-80 kit, but never mind - it could have been worse my wife could have insisted on that dish washer she was after!

Praktika, yes I remember now. I have a 50mm and 300mm lenses for it. It's been that little used for the past 10 years I wouldn't like to think what state it's in now.

I assume Edinburgh cameras is in Edinburgh, which means it'll be a 100mile trip in the wrong direction from the wedding. I'll enquire if there is anything in the Nottingham/Derby area, that's going to be more convenient for a Mansfield gig.

Do you have any opinions of the Sigma lenses the hire company I posted the link for in my previous post?

Cheers

CC

[Ivanerrol]

No experience with Sigma here, so no opinion, but others in the forum have them. Anyone?

I see from your first post that the members of your party could have been happy with the results from a P&S. Any shots from your D70 regardless of which lens should be generally superior to what's produced by your average P&S. Its all in the technique after all. Also depends on how large you want to blow your prints up.

Calumet in Nottingham rent camera equipment - see their website.

[Charlie Chalk]

I'll give them a look, thanks for taking the time to investigate for me.

I agree about the P&S/D70. I understand the need for redundancy in 'pro' wedding set-ups, but this gig is really low key. the couple weren't bothered about having a photographer originally, and I know things soon change and they'll probably change their mind and ask for some specific shots on the day. But ultimatley they are sooo laid back that they will be happy with anything I can do.

I would like a longer lens for candids, church stuff - I'll keep my eye on ebay and check out calumet.

Where in the UK are you from?

[Ivanerrol]

Cheltenham 1871 - great Grandfather
I spent many years overseas.