Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

Coelus · 07-20-2011, 08:38 AM

Keep in mind if the weddings are paying gigs you can rent a lens to try out and work that cost into your weddings. You can rent a 70-200 f/4 and try it out to see if you want to save up for it, or if you're getting enough work coming in to justify buying it. If it doesn't do what you need try out a f/2.8. I have one gig I shoot every year for two weeks where I need a fast 400mm lens. Instead of spending many thousands for a once a year gig I spend a couple hundred. Same goes for camera bodies too. You can find 5dMKII and 7d's for rent. Try a different body out for a couple weeks for a test drive instead of getting buyers remorse and an empty bank account.

Daniel W. · 07-21-2011, 08:31 AM

Carrying a 35 and 85, along with a full frame body + a crop body is one of my favorite kits.

On the FF, you have a decent WA, and a pretty good medium tele.
On the crop, you have a "close to 50" and "close to 135." Two lenses, four covered ranges.

In relation to the question "is it a good next step" - I'm not sure. It's probably the next "greatest" step in terms of jumping to a better body (as opposed to adding another crop body such as a newer Rebel, 50D, etc.) if you're focus is weddings and portraits. The interface between the two has few things alike and can get confusing when working with both.

However, I would rent the 70-200/2.8 and see how it does, stop it down to f/4 and keep it there. If most of the situations you find yourself in, it does alright at f/4, you have your answer. If it were me, I'd be adding the 70-200/2.8 first as you have only one other FF lens (18-55 = no go on a 5D), so adding the body now would be less effective, than if you were to purchase a body down the road when you have more lenses. However, if you are doing paid work, you should have both a fast tele, and a backup body.

As far as flash softening, the bracket moves the flash off the axis of the lens, cutting down on the chance of red eye, and "tucking" the shadow behind the subject by having the light cast downwards and behind. Honestly, I find brackets cumbersome. I personally use an off camera flash in the room as a fill light, an on camera flash inside a Sto-Fen or Lightsphere to main light. The setup works for me, but I don't think you can trigger a 2nd flash while using the hot shoe on a Rebel without using an optical slave or multiple receivers.

Tom · 07-21-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

Carrying a 35 and 85, along with a full frame body + a crop body is one of my favorite kits.

On the FF, you have a decent WA, and a pretty good medium tele.
On the crop, you have a "close to 50" and "close to 135." Two lenses, four covered ranges.

In relation to the question "is it a good next step" - I'm not sure. It's probably the next "greatest" step in terms of jumping to a better body (as opposed to adding another crop body such as a newer Rebel, 50D, etc.) if you're focus is weddings and portraits. The interface between the two has few things alike and can get confusing when working with both.

However, I would rent the 70-200/2.8 and see how it does, stop it down to f/4 and keep it there. If most of the situations you find yourself in, it does alright at f/4, you have your answer. If it were me, I'd be adding the 70-200/2.8 first as you have only one other FF lens (18-55 = no go on a 5D), so adding the body now would be less effective, than if you were to purchase a body down the road when you have more lenses. However, if you are doing paid work, you should have both a fast tele, and a backup body.

As far as flash softening, the bracket moves the flash off the axis of the lens, cutting down on the chance of red eye, and "tucking" the shadow behind the subject by having the light cast downwards and behind. Honestly, I find brackets cumbersome. I personally use an off camera flash in the room as a fill light, an on camera flash inside a Sto-Fen or Lightsphere to main light. The setup works for me, but I don't think you can trigger a 2nd flash while using the hot shoe on a Rebel without using an optical slave or multiple receivers.

You can do it with pocket wizards. Get a FlexTT5 and you can have it on the shoe and the flash on the FlexTT5.