how would you setup these two cameras for a wedding

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joescrivens

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Early next month I'll be photographing my Sisters wedding. I am going to be doing it with primes pretty much exclusively. The only problem is that my second camera is not full frame.

I'll have:

5d mark 2
450d

35mm 1.4 L
85mm 1.4
135mm f/2 L
17-40 f/4 L

now ideally I'd have 2 full frame cameras and for the most part be using the 35 and the 85 - but unless I hire another 5d (which I still might do) i'm looking at a crop factor of 1.6 on one of them

so what would you do, would you put the 35 on the 5d 135 on the 450d with an effective focal length of 216 then be swapping the 85 onto the 5d when needed?

I feel like the 85 is going to be my most used length so I want that on the 5d really but sticking the 35 on the 450d means I don't get much of a wide angle.

I can't see how putting the 17-40 on the 450d is going to be a good choice because it's f/4 and the ISO is going to be carp on the 450d past 800

Thoughts?
 
Why not just get a 50mm for the 450d? This will give you near 85 on the FF and a wide aperture, and the 35 can go on the 5d
 
it's more about the sensor, i want the 85 to be used on the 5d because of the IQ and the dof. I don't want the 450d to be the camera I use most. I can use a 50mm 1.8 but I don't want to use that when i have a 35 1.4 L and a sigma 85 1.4 which are much better lenses
 
How do you think you'll be shooting?
Usually it's group shots, then take the bride and groom shots separately. I'd shoot just using the 5D and keep the 450D as a backup. Group shots will vary, but probably the 85mm or 17-40, bridge and groom would mostly be the 85mm?

That'll leave you the 135 for candid's later?
 
I'm going to be shooting reportage only, i'm not going to be doing traditional group shots, they want one group shot of everyone at the wedding so 17-40 for that then bride and groom shots will be a little more setup and posed- 85 and 35 for them i am planning - but all of these times i have plenty of time to plan and swap lenses all on the 5d as needed.

I'm thinking more for the rest of the time when i just want to capture the story as it is unfolding and so it's here where i want 2 cameras with different focal lengths if you see what i mean -during, before and after the ceremony.
 
well for the rest of the time I'd stick the 85mm on the 5d and the 17-40 on the crop body.
 
Hire a 24-105 and stick it on the 5D and have the 85 on the 450D to give you the best of everything? I cant see you needing wider than 24 on a full frame and this option would give you a huge scope?
Cheaper and easier to rent than a 5d mk2? Shouldn't be an issue with f4 on the 5D as it's noise/iso is excellent.
 
Or do old fashioned reportage and just shoot everything with the 85mm or 35mm. It'll mean moving your feet but you'll be close enough to interact rather than candids?
 
The images from the 5D will blow away the images from the 40D. I carried both for a while, and sometimes still do. I'd normally have my 24-70 on the 5D and an 85 on the 40D with the 80-200 for anything requiring more length. I almost always end up discounting most images from the 40D as they just aren't up to the IQ of the 5D.
 
Byker28i said:
Hire a 24-105 and stick it on the 5D and have the 85 on the 450D to give you the best of everything? I cant see you needing wider than 24 on a full frame and this option would give you a huge scope?
Cheaper and easier to rent than a 5d mk2? Shouldn't be an issue with f4 on the 5D as it's noise/iso is excellent.
Click to expand...

i definitely don't want to do that. The whole reason i sold my 24-70 and 70-200 and bought primes was because i don't enjoy shooting with zooms and want to do it with primes.

Byker28i said:
Or do old fashioned reportage and just shoot everything with the 85mm or 35mm. It'll mean moving your feet but you'll be close enough to interact rather than candids?
Click to expand...

This is my vision, but i really wanted 35mm on one camera and 85mm on a second to do this, but instead i'll be looking at either 85 and 56 or 35 and 136

neither of which are ideal.
 
Andy_S_T said:
The images from the 5D will blow away the images from the 40D. I carried both for a while, and sometimes still do. I'd normally have my 24-70 on the 5D and an 85 on the 40D with the 80-200 for anything requiring more length. I almost always end up discounting most images from the 40D as they just aren't up to the IQ of the 5D.
Click to expand...

they'll blow it away even more because it's not a 40d its a 450d :)
 
Oops, I'd stick with just the 5D and just change lenses when it suits. Buy the time you've grabbed the other camera you'd have almost changed the lens on the 5D and you know you'll never truely be happy with the images in comparison.
 
I'd keep the 17-40 on the 5d, except in low light situations where I'd swap it for whatever else I needed at the time.
Then just use the 450d as a 2nd body, mostly with the 85mm for candids.
 
Phil V said:
I'd keep the 17-40 on the 5d, except in low light situations where I'd swap it for whatever else I needed at the time.
Then just use the 450d as a 2nd body, mostly with the 85mm for candids.
Click to expand...

you would?

I was thinking of using the 17-40 least as i want lots of shallow dof reportage shots was just going to get that out for the large group shot
 
Andy_S_T said:
Oops, I'd stick with just the 5D and just change lenses when it suits. Buy the time you've grabbed the other camera you'd have almost changed the lens on the 5D and you know you'll never truely be happy with the images in comparison.
Click to expand...

i think i might end up doing this, i'll leave the 450d hanging round the neck and swap the lenses back and fourth from the 450d to the 5d, then if i really need a quick shot i have the 450d with a lens on it, but more importantly it means i wont need to faff about with lens caps on the back of the lens
 
joescrivens said:
i think i might end up doing this, i'll leave the 450d hanging round the neck and swap the lenses back and fourth from the 450d to the 5d, then if i really need a quick shot i have the 450d with a lens on it, but more importantly it means i wont need to faff about with lens caps on the back of the lens
Click to expand...

I've shot like that with rugby and it's a pain. I always find the second camera gets in the way, and having it on the ground near me means I still have the chance of missing the shot, and I end up being paranoid abot the camera getting trodden on.

So putting your threads together, you've considered renting another 5dmk2, getting dual straps or lens combinations.

I think the best thing that suits is to put the 85mm on the 5D and shoot with just that, with maybe another lens (the 35?) in your pocket. Switch between lenses occasionally and shoot appropriately? Go for that reportage look you were on about.
 
Just hire another 5d. Stick the 85 on one and the 35 on the other. Otherwise you'll spend ages fiddling about and getting annoyed that you have the wrong lens on the 5d...

If you are only going to shoot with primes then make sure your hair shirt is out of the wash too ;)
 
Byker28i said:
I've shot like that with rugby and it's a pain. I always find the second camera gets in the way, and having it on the ground near me means I still have the chance of missing the shot, and I end up being paranoid abot the camera getting trodden on.

So putting your threads together, you've considered renting another 5dmk2, getting dual straps or lens combinations.

I think the best thing that suits is to put the 85mm on the 5D and shoot with just that, with maybe another lens (the 35?) in your pocket. Switch between lenses occasionally and shoot appropriately? Go for that reportage look you were on about.
Click to expand...

hmmm, ok i'll consider this
 
srichards said:
Just hire another 5d. Stick the 85 on one and the 35 on the other. Otherwise you'll spend ages fiddling about and getting annoyed that you have the wrong lens on the 5d...

If you are only going to shoot with primes then make sure your hair shirt is out of the wash too ;)
Click to expand...

my hair shirt? what's that?
 
use the 5d with what ever lens is the most suitable for the moment, and put the alternative end of the scale lens on the lesser camera.

Do you shoot with both cameras on a double strap?

(or trade the lot in for Nikon)
 
brad_wakefield said:
To be honest whatever you plan, it will change on the day, if I were you, I would sell the 450d and look for a 2nd hand 5d
Click to expand...

the 450d is my sisters actually, i'll just be using it as a backup for the day.

next year i plan to buy the 5d mark 3 (if it's out) or another 5d mark 2
 
Richard King said:
use the 5d with what ever lens is the most suitable for the moment, and put the alternative end of the scale lens on the lesser camera.

Do you shoot with both cameras on a double strap?

(or trade the lot in for Nikon)
Click to expand...

i was looking into getting a double strap, either the black rapid or optech strap

but i watched some youtube reviews and now i'm not sure how worthwhile they are

see this thread:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=350970
 
I think from what you are saying you will never be happy shooting with the 450D, you will go all day with the IQ thing in the back of your mind the whole time and you will never want to use it no matter what lens you stick on the front.

You did mention hiring another 5d, this would seem the logical thing to do, that way, you will be happy with every shot IQ wise, you will not have it in the back of your mind that you will never want to use it. and you can have what ever lens combo you wish for.

spike
 
joescrivens said:
i was looking into getting a double strap, either the black rapid or optech strap

but i watched some youtube reviews and now i'm not sure how worthwhile they are

see this thread:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=350970
Click to expand...

I use the camera slingers one, it doesn't fasten across the front of your chest, and thus is very suit / shirt / tie friendly

I asked, because it changes your way of using 2 cameras. If you have both cameras on a dual strap, all of a sudden, they are both immediately available to you, and you only really need a few oddments in the camera bag. If you are "shuffling cameras, you always have the wrong camera in the bag, and you invariably don't use the prime lens as much because the regular zoom is more useful

http://vimeo.com/5280047
 
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Richard King said:
I use the camera slingers one, it doesn't fasten across the front of your chest, and thus is very suit / shirt / tie friendly

I asked, because it changes your way of using 2 cameras. If you have both cameras on a dual strap, all of a sudden, they are both immediately available to you, and you only really need a few oddments in the camera bag. If you are "shuffling cameras, you always have the wrong camera in the bag, and you invariably don't use the prime lens as much because the regular zoom is more useful

http://vimeo.com/5280047
Click to expand...

your theory is exactly why i was considering a double strap in the first place
 
Personally I swap lenses continuously at weddings. It depends on the situation and what you are going to photograph. Until you see the situatiuon you'll not know what you need anyway because it depends on where you are going to stand, and even then I'll shoot some wide angles at 17mm and then swap to a 300 for some headshots.

You just need a camera bag with a whole bunch of kit that you are going to need.

Paul.
www.photographybyriddell.co.uk
 
I just shot a triple 30th wedding anniversary (3 sisters married on the same day); I know one of the sisters well, so decided to try the reportage approach mentioned earlier.
5DII + 50mmm f1.4 used wide open for the whole long weekend.
The shallow DoF makes the images look so special. Results are stunning!
Also - I didn't bother with a pouch/bag and just kept the camera in my hand (strapless). It was so nice not to have straps over my shoulder or around my waist; it made me feel more relaxed and people seemed less bothered by the camera when I approached them.

I normally use shoots concerts / festivals with two bodies. 5DII with a wide lens and a 60D with a long lens. It's a good combination, but I don't think I missed many shots because I only had the 50mm and the results were a revelation.
 
I think what I am going to do is put the 135 on the 450d so effectively have a great candid 216mm f/2 lens and then swap the 85 and the 35 on the 5d for all my main shots during the ceremony.

Then probably after any staged shots of B&G put the 135 on the 5d for most of the rest of the day candids.
 
I shoot 95% of my coverage with a 35mm and an 85mm on my D700's, a lot depends on your personal style though. Most of my coverage is done with the 35mm lens but a lot of that is to do with the way I see things, I am sure there are other photographers out there who use the same 2 lenses but shoot mostly the 85mm.

If it were me I would most likely grab a 50mm f/1.8 for the 450d to get a similar focal length to the 85mm and leave the 35mm on the 5d.
 
Foggy said:
If it were me I would most likely grab a 50mm f/1.8 for the 450d to get a similar focal length to the 85mm and leave the 35mm on the 5d.
Click to expand...

it would make sense to do this focal length wise I agree and I have access to a 50mm 1.8

but when i look into my camera bag and i have a 35mm 1.4 L a sigma 85 1.4 and a 135mm f/2 L that can all go on the 5d taking a photo with the 450d on a nifty feels like such a waste don't you think?
 
got hold of the 450d yesterday and had a mess around with it with my lenses on and holding both cameras.

result 1 - if i use 2 cameras i will definitely want a harness like the black rapid.

result 2 - I can't use that 450d.

The size of it just shocked me, i used to have one but i don't remember it being that small and plasticky. Going from my 5d it felt like a toy and when i stuck my 135 on it the weight was all wrong, it just felt ridiculous. Then I remembered the ISO only went to 1600 and in a fairly dimish room likely what i'll be getting in the ceremony room at f/2 I was getting shutter speeds of 1/4.

It's a non starter so I'm gong to just use the 5d and swap lenses. I'll keep the 450d as a backup and pray i don't have to use it.
 
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