Lens questions for our 2nd bridal shoot

[pas]

Hello, I currently have a d80, 85mm, 18-135 and 55-200. Our 1st session a few weeks ago, we shot almost all with the 85. My question is, was this the best lens? Rather, when would be the best scenerios for the lenses I currently have? We are new, of course, and I find my self moving in and out alot with the 85 but seems to better with the close ups. Also, turning the camera to portrait seems to end up with really "narrow" images. I take advice well, thanks pro's!

[bondarnes]

For the first 35 years of my photography career I only used prime (single focal length) lenses so I learned to use the "foot zoom" quite well. In this situation you probably used the best lens.

As far as your comment about the "narrow" image in the vertical position; it is the same in horizontal, but you just don't notice it as much. If you made a full frame 8 inch print the other dimension would be 12 inches. Not too many 8X12 frames around. I have 8X10 crop lines in all of my cameras so that I can see what will crop out when printed to 8X10.

[pas]

Thanks a lot. "foot zoom"

[ngoduyviet]

To add more to Don's post. The 85 is the best for portraits also because it compresses the background, and with its wide open aperture, your subject(s) will pop a lot more. In this case, it was the best lens for you.

I started out much later, and was spoiled with auto focus & zoom but now I'm moving back to primes more. One of my main wedding lenses is the 85.

[SevenAndMe]

A 28-70/f2.8 would be a good complement to the 85mm for weddings.
Good luck.

IMHO

[khanhfat]

Originally Posted by ngoduyviet

To add more to Don's post. The 85 is the best for portraits also because it compresses the background, and with its wide open aperture, your subject(s) will pop a lot more. In this case, it was the best lens for you.

I started out much later, and was spoiled with auto focus & zoom but now I'm moving back to primes more. One of my main wedding lenses is the 85.

baller with 85 1.2? :D

I'm moving to Prime lenses as well I got the 70 200 then it ended up too bulky to shoot- carry with , and got a lot of attention if you do a small photoshoot in public places.

To me prime lenses is really the heart of photography hahaha :). Bokeh and quality of sharpness + wide open aperture beyond 2.8 is awesome.

[ngoduyviet]

Originally Posted by khanhfat

baller with 85 1.2? :D

I'm moving to Prime lenses as well I got the 70 200 then it ended up too bulky to shoot- carry with , and got a lot of attention if you do a small photoshoot in public places.

To me prime lenses is really the heart of photography hahaha :). Bokeh and quality of sharpness + wide open aperture beyond 2.8 is awesome.

baller? no idea whatcha talking about, but ya I love my 85L mk2. Sold the 85 1.8, and the 85L mk1 was too slow for wedding work so I bought the mk2.

I haven't seen better bokeh from any of the Canon line of lenses against the mk2. I've seen really good bokeh from other brands that can rival the Canon / Nikon 85 though.

[khanhfat]

Originally Posted by ngoduyviet

I haven't seen better bokeh from any of the Canon line of lenses against the mk2. I've seen really good bokeh from other brands that can rival the Canon / Nikon 85 though.

Nice to hear i'll buy a 85 1.2 someday. I heard alot of ppl complain that the 85 focus kinda slow .. .how slow is it though can you give some comparison with other lens like tamron, kit lens ...etc? we should meet up and shoot sometime hehehe

[toverman]

I love my 85 f/1.8 for portraits, but it's a little long for a group portrait. I like my 70-200 f/2.8 for its versatility (being able to do a full-length shot and then zooming in for a facial closeup).

[pas]

I am getting familiar practicing my off camera flash and can't get the SS to go faster than 200 in manual. Any one knows why this is? d80 with sb600, It's shooting nice pics but trouble with SS.

Also, shoud I be increasing my ISO in Low light, such as the churches?

[toverman]

Originally Posted by pas

I am getting familiar practicing my off camera flash and can't get the SS to go faster than 200 in manual. Any one knows why this is? d80 with sb600, It's shooting nice pics but trouble with SS.

Also, shoud I be increasing my ISO in Low light, such as the churches?

Most cameras have a "sync speed," which is the fastest shutter speed you can normally use with a flash for it to work properly. There is the possibility that you can set both your flash and camera for "high-speed sync," which will allow you faster shutter speeds ... just realize the flash output is reduced because it will be quick bursts of light that are captured. Another technique is called "dragging the shutter," where you use a slower speed with a flash to collect more of the ambient light, too.

One of the great things about digital is being able to change your ISO at any time. In the film days, it meant loading and unloading different films to achieve the same effect. A lower ISO number is used when there is plenty of light; a higher number when it's dark ... the caveat is that high-ISO exposures can collect digital "noise" and not look so good.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by pas

I am getting familiar practicing my off camera flash and can't get the SS to go faster than 200 in manual. Any one knows why this is? d80 with sb600, It's shooting nice pics but trouble with SS.

Also, should I be increasing my ISO in Low light, such as the churches?

On your camera 1/200th sec. is the fastest shutter speed available where the leading shutter curtain is fully open and the trailing curtain has not started to close. Above this speed a portion of the sensor would already be covered by the trailing curtain at the instant the leading curtain reached maximum open and the flash fires. I'm not sure why you would want a higher shutter speed. When using flash it doesn't matter much unless you have a lot of ambient light. The flash itself fires in less than 1/500th sec. so in essence that becomes your shutter speed. Only ambient light records to the sensor once the flash shuts off.

Please tell me that with questions like these you are not attempting to do weddings!!

[pas]

Thanks for the explanation. We shot like that all day with the remote flash for the bridal and the images came out great.
And oh yeah, we will primarily be weddings. You have to start some where and these days, time is money, you have to go get it!!

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by pas

And oh yeah, we will primarily be weddings. You have to start some where and these days, time is money, you have to go get it!!

I hope you have great insurance because I can see a disaster in your future. You want to tackle the most difficult area of photography and you don't even know how your equipment works.

[CaptainTom]

What's to know ?
You just plunk down a credit card, pick up the camera and open a business.
That's how it's done nowadays.

I'm just glad that this thinking doesn't transfer to being a pilot, a surgeon, or even a chef.

Some level of basic training is required for every other occupation, but not photography. I guess that's what the P on the camera is for-- professional.

These guys will be selling all their fancy expensive equipment soon anyways, as soon as they find out there is more to it than collecting the money.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

These guys will be selling all their fancy expensive equipment soon anyways, as soon as they find out there is more to it than collecting the money.

I wouldn't call a D80 and a couple of kit lenses "fancy".

[pas]

Well, for now, we are only doing weddings for a couple friends. I have a college professor that teaches the photography and photohsop at our local college, with wedding experience, who has plenty of equiptment and is going to assist us on our first two weddings. We are beginning twice a week private instruction and are going to be training with the best photographers in the world in a couple of months, I believe in accelerated learning and we are passionate about photography. All the business' we own rely on return customers and we deal with the public everyday, I've learned in order to be good at something it takes a lifetime of training and photography is no exception and I don't take it lightly, just rest assure we are ready to take on anything within our means. You'd think a man of your position and status here at the forums would be more encouraging and helpful of people new in the art. If an intelligent, helpful reply followed by a smart comment to put me down and raise yourself up, is the best your character can provide then don't bother replying to my posts.

[SecretAgent]

all he's saying is, you should be extremely familiar with both your equipment and techniques before you start charging people for your services. and he's 100% correct.

[pas]

I believe charging people is absolutely necessary, at any level, even a small amount, always charge what you believe is fair. It teaches beginners to understand bookeeping and cashflow through the business, skills he will need to reach any goal. Not to mention that when no money is involved nobody takes eachother serious and usually has a negative outcome, you can always return it. Money motivates a beginner to do a better job and not cut corners. Just my opinion.

[dtscds]

It sounds as though you have not done an actual wedding yet. It might behoove you to do one and then come back and re-read Don's comments. Most area's of photography there is a bit of "wiggle room"--if everything doesn't work out just right you can re-set the situation and do it again. If you blow it at a wedding there is no do-over.

From posts I have read from Don he speaks from experience. For someone starting out in ANY business, one of the best courses of action is to learn from those who have been there before and have the scars to prove it.

I have done second-shooting at a few weddings and know how little room for error there is. Don's comment stands. BEFORE you even second shoot a wedding you MUST know your equipment! There is no time to be trying to remember how to set some control as the action is unfolding. The scene just keeps playing out without regard for your ability to catch it--or not.

Blow Don off at your own peril. If you are going to put yourself on the line as the primary on these weddings, no matter what level of money, be sure you are insured. (That is the main reason I am not trying to do weddings on my own yet!) Blow it at a wedding and see if the bride--or her mother--don't come after you.

Everyone has to start somewhere. But, you are choosing to start out at a high level. You are skipping the balance beam and going right to the high-wire. Just be very sure you have your ducks in a row! Don, and others on here, are a great source of instruction. Kinda like E.F. Hutton. It's up to you to listen... Or not

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by pas

Well, for now, we are only doing weddings for a couple friends.............You'd think a man of your position and status here at the forums would be more encouraging and helpful of people new in the art. If an intelligent, helpful reply followed by a smart comment to put me down and raise yourself up, is the best your character can provide then don't bother replying to my posts.

My Apologies, I didn't intend to offend you, and while that information does shed new light on your intentions, the fact remains that you seem to know little about how your camera works. For someone so passionate about his art, I would think that you would have almost memorized your owner's manual. In the future I will keep my information and observations to myself.

[Thomas Campbell]

Don, great posts on here.

This thread reminds me of someone that asked my advice on equipment, works at Ritz and decided to get a used 1Dmark2 because he wanted to be a "Professional Photographer."

[CaptainTom]

I have a lot of experience in both photography and photography web sites and discussion groups.

The one thing that I can absolutely state is that this forum is the BEST of any of the photography forums for giving beginners sound advice. If you don't take the advice you get here that is your business. If you don't agree with the advice here that is your business. If you berate the advice you get here, don't ask for more advice.

[ngoduyviet]

Amen,

On top of that, Don is one of the most helpful professionals here if you do a search for his posts and Tom, well, I don't know how to categorize Tom on this forum, except he makes my days with his posts sometime

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I have a lot of experience in both photography and photography web sites and discussion groups.

The one thing that I can absolutely state is that this forum is the BEST of any of the photography forums for giving beginners sound advice. If you don't take the advice you get here that is your business. If you don't agree with the advice here that is your business. If you berate the advice you get here, don't ask for more advice.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by ngoduyviet

.........well, I don't know how to categorize Tom on this forum........

Absolutely and unequivocally.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Absolutely and unequivocally.

Tom is a true Renaissance Man. He is a student, a teacher, a friend and an enemy. He is sadly funny. He is the biggest photographer in the area. He's a joker, a drinker, likes women, and loves to joke around. He is an expert at sarcasm. He's a mediocre musician, a good piano technician, and a really lucky guy to have friends on this forum.

He can blow his own horn, because he is in the Musicians Union !!!

[kenmyers70]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Tom is a true Renaissance Man. He is a student, a teacher, a friend and an enemy. He is sadly funny. He is the biggest photographer in the area. He's a joker, a drinker, likes women, and loves to joke around. He is an expert at sarcasm. He's a mediocre musician, a good piano technician, and a really lucky guy to have friends on this forum.

He can blow his own horn, because he is in the Musicians Union !!!

I think you forgot a couple of other side and past careers. You remind me of the "Most Interesting Man in the world" beer ads.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by kenmyers70

I think you forgot a couple of other side and past careers. You remind me of the "Most Interesting Man in the world" beer ads.

Hijacking this thread is against the law. I turn myself in.

[trahanw]

Weddings are like professional sports, without the proper coach and experience you will always be a waterboy. When you're asking about increasing ISO and covering wedding photography-this truley displays your level of experience. Sit back on the sidelines for a while and watch and practive how the game is played. Suggest working an environment that you can recreate the scene while learning. Weddings are considered superbowl events that are once in a lifetime events, without the ability to recreate or replay if there is a mistake. What you're hearing through this forum is called tough love, sit back and take it in and learn. Mr Don is by far one of the most compassionate professionals in the game. I've had the privilage of shadowing a wedding with him that gave me a whole new prospective of what it takes to be a professional.

" Professionals are proven experts in thier field---Tiger Woods isn't where he is today without Practice and Instruction"

Have fun- take this all in and learn from it. There is no doubt one day that you too will be helping an upcoming photographer from making the same mistakes.

[MicWayWal]

Who would you want splash land your plane in the Hudson river? The 'passionate' pilot with 12 hours flying experience and lots of suggestions from others or would want one with 10,000 hours of flight time, and 3,000 takeoffs and landings to his credit.

Granted most photography is not life and death. But you will think it is after they tell the judge and lawyers how you ruined their lives. It is also the very best way to lose some friends.

Heed their advise. It is said it takes about 10,000 hours of doing something that you love, before you are considered a expert.

You can't shortcut learning; Experience is the true teacher.