first gig, what lense do i use?

[Andel]

a friend of mine has asked me to do her wedding in two weekends. i am her only option asides from family point and shoots and a high priced last minute professional service.

i am using an EOS 300 D with the basic 18 - 55 lens that the camera kit came with. i also have a 580ex with diffuser.

is this enough to cover her wedding of about 100 people in a small-medium size hall? if i should get another lens, what lense would that be?

any other advice regarding equipment is welcomed.

[ricohcam01]

a friend of mine has asked me to do her wedding in two weekends. i am her only option asides from family point and shoots and a high priced last minute professional service.

i am using an EOS 300 D with the basic 18 - 55 lens that the camera kit came with. i also have a 580ex with diffuser.

is this enough to cover her wedding of about 100 people in a small-medium size hall? if i should get another lens, what lense would that be?

any other advice regarding equipment is welcomed.

First Gig Congrats!

I would deffently get the 50 mm 1.8 lens. It will be the best tool you will ever own. Best of luck on the shoot.

[sageone]

i agree with the above...you're going to need good light or a lense that can compensate. You don't want to F up the shots...especially for a wedding.

[Andel]

First Gig Congrats!

I would deffently get the 50 mm 1.8 lens. It will be the best tool you will ever own. Best of luck on the shoot.

thank you for the congratulatory salution!
i'll take up your advice about the 50mm. i did find a sigma 28-70 f2.8 for under $300. do you thing that is worth purchasing?

[tim]

Run... run away now. Fake your own death if you have.

I don't like the 50mm F1.8, it's focus motor isn't accurate, i've had wedding pictures spoiled by it (my assistant was using one). I'd highly recommend the Tamron 28-75 F2.8, or even better (beacuse it's wider) but slightly more expensive the Sigma 24-70 F2.8. You lose almost two stops but it's worth it to have your photos in focus.

Have a look at my "first wedding, lessons learned" thread, it's near the top of the list in this forum.

[clengster_77]

congratulations! i agree with tim. get a mid range telezoom. you'll need it for some candid shots. i personally use the tamron 28 - 75 2.8. very good investment. :) good luck!

cleng

[Yella Fella]

I'd highly recommend the Tamron 28-75 F2.8, or even better (beacuse it's wider) but slightly more expensive the Sigma 24-70 F2.8. You lose almost two stops but it's worth it to have your photos in focus.

Tim,

How does the Tamron compare to the Canon 17-85mm IS USM lens that I have? Or would the Tamron generally be better?

Still dont understand the whole stops business... i got many books reading about it and still dont get it :confused:

How do you lose two stops over the sigma lens that you mentioned?

Sorry to hijack, thanks

[tim]

One stop slower is half the light coming into the lens. Two stop slower is four times less. Three is eight times less. More light is better, but results in a shallower depth of feld. Go do a class locally, that's the easiest way to learn, it's how I did.

The Tamron gathers more light than the Canon, which gives you faster shutter speeds, which is important when you're taking photos of people. IS helps, but not so enough to compensate. It's easy once it's explained well and you understand it.

For weddings, get the Tamron, not the 17-85, at least if you shoot the same way I do.

[Yella Fella]

You lose almost two stops but it's worth it to have your photos in focus.

thanks time, to clarify from the quote above, i assume your referring the tamron f2.8 loosing two stops compared to the 50 f1.8 that was mentioned? i think that was what was confusing me :)