Lens Hire for family wedding? Decisions.

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shuttermog

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Chelsea
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Pondering hiring a nifty fifty or some fast glass for my mother's wedding, she wants informal candids throughout the day, hence me being asked to do the photography.
We do also have another relative contributing with his dslr, though I haven't seen any candids from him yet! His family/posed shots are very good and he was heavily involved with that HSBC ad about the fishing birds in china.

Having seen the inside of the reception venue, I'm second guessing my kit, though I'm confident I can get good shots with it outside, I don't think my Fs will cope with the darkness inside the castle.

current kit:
canon 1000D
kit lens 18-55
canon 75-300 usm
an old manual lens for the posed shots. its a 35mm prime and produces this lovely warm effect.

thinking about hiring:
50mm 1.4 http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-ef-50mm-f14-usm-54-p.asp

Fishing for opinions or reviews on said lens at weddings, or other suggestions to add to the kit list for the big day?

NB: I've read a hell of a lot of wedding threads on here o____o. Very nervous.
 
For candids I would say a 70-200 2.8 sort of thing. If you only went for 1 general lens then a 24-70 2.8 would be my pick. You already have a 35mm so not sure that a 50mm would add much.
 
24-105mm L would be my choice extra length for candids over the 24-70mm and IS for darkened castle
 
Lenses for hire, every time.

I personally would go for a longer bit of glass, a 70-200 f/2.8 would be my choice - only say this as if you want to do candids etc, it's very hard to shoot candids with a shorter zoom as your on top of the moment and it's unlikely to keep it's natural and un-posed feel.
 
+1 for lenses for hire.

Personally I am not sure about the 70-200, as I would personally find this majorly too long given that it is a crop camera.
But that is just my own preference though. Recently I used one for a walking holiday, and found it very difficult to get far enough away for good shots.

You have the 75-300 lens, try playing with this now and see whether you can get far enough away at 75mm for a comfortable candid.

The 70-200 2.8 IS L is a very nice lens though, apart from it's length, would do you well.

For me, candids would usually be on my 28-135 (and on a crop camera), I am not advising this (although a semi-decent lens), as it is slow at 5.6 at the long end, I don't think you would be able to keep the shutter speed up.
Lenses for hire have started adding flashes now, you might want to consider one for the reception etc. depending on what that will be like. In my opinion, the reach of a 430 or 580 is in-comparable to an onboard flash.
 
get the 24-70.

wide, fast, and long enough to zoom in a bit. leave the rest of your lenses in the bag, you won't need them.
 
If I was shooting just candids the 70-200, but the 24-70 is perfect as an allrounder.
 
stumeech said:
Lenses for hire, every time.

I personally would go for a longer bit of glass, a 70-200 f/2.8 would be my choice - only say this as if you want to do candids etc, it's very hard to shoot candids with a shorter zoom as your on top of the moment and it's unlikely to keep it's natural and un-posed feel.
Click to expand...

I've got my long glass, and as the wedding guests all know me/are used to me just taking pics etc etc, they'll be relaxed enough for me not to have to be far off. (: Thanks though!

coldpenguin said:
+1 for lenses for hire.

Personally I am not sure about the 70-200, as I would personally find this majorly too long given that it is a crop camera.
But that is just my own preference though. Recently I used one for a walking holiday, and found it very difficult to get far enough away for good shots.

You have the 75-300 lens, try playing with this now and see whether you can get far enough away at 75mm for a comfortable candid.

The 70-200 2.8 IS L is a very nice lens though, apart from it's length, would do you well.

For me, candids would usually be on my 28-135 (and on a crop camera), I am not advising this (although a semi-decent lens), as it is slow at 5.6 at the long end, I don't think you would be able to keep the shutter speed up.
Lenses for hire have started adding flashes now, you might want to consider one for the reception etc. depending on what that will be like. In my opinion, the reach of a 430 or 580 is in-comparable to an onboard flash.
Click to expand...

I'll have a look around that range then, the 20s to 100s - I'm not confident in my use of flash yet, really, and mum wants a softer feel to the photos. The reception is being held in a castle - we'll have the banquet hall for the party and the courtyard if the weather is good - if thats good then we'll all be outside anyways.. Just not wanting to miss anything if we have to go inside, or anything over dinner.

itsdavedotnet said:
get the 24-70.

wide, fast, and long enough to zoom in a bit. leave the rest of your lenses in the bag, you won't need them.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll take them anyway, can't have too many backups/the situation may change..

cambsno said:
If I was shooting just candids the 70-200, but the 24-70 is perfect as an allrounder.
Click to expand...

Ah good (: Its a fast all rounder I'm looking for, browsing about lensesforhire now~
 
Ah, good thread! I've recently hired a lens for a wedding, that im covering in the evening, i have the 24-70 2.8 already, but am not going to use flash at all and want to do kinda documentary style wedding stuff, so i've hired the 24mm 1.4 L, super wide angle, but i want to get amoungst the guests and shoot that way and kinda blend into the crowd instead of standing there with a big huge lens and everyone then acting unnaturally as someone is pointing a huge white lens at them lol Just a thought really :)
 
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