Gear ?

[H2Ohta]

I will be helping one of my best friends out and shooting their wedding in Sayulita, MX this January. It seems as though they are expecting me to be the primary photographer although there will be other friends taking photos. I will most likely be doing their formals, wedding, and reception. These are very close friends and I will not be charging them (my gift to them). I have an XTi w/ grip, 18-55mm (caca kit lens), 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 70-200mm f/4, 430ex II, 20GB memory and plenty of extra bateries. I have been looking and will buy a 40D at some point soon. I was wondering if you would buy a 40D, grip, and 2 batteries or a 580ex II and a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 before the trip to Mexico? This is all gear that I will be buying in the next couple months so I am just wondering what order you would buy it in. I am leaning toward the 40D, grip and batteries since I will be in Mexico and would like a back up just in case but I could definitely use the better wide zoom.

I have done one wedding before and I have studied a ton since then. I feel that my photography has seen great improvements since the last wedding. I am just in limbo right now and looking for direction.

[tim]

I would buy a 17-55 F2.8 IS first, then a 2nd body, then a 580EX II and a Canon CP-E4 battery pack (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/498738-REG/Canon_1947B001_Compact_Battery_Pack_CP_E4.html/BI/2312/KBID/3114) - it doesn't work with a 430EX. If you can't buy then you'll want to rent or borrow a 2nd body/flash for the trip, and the 2.8 IS lens.

[H2Ohta]

Thanks Tim. I was hoping you would respond as I value your opinion.

[form]

For the 580EX II a good alternative to the CP-E4 is the Black Box. That particular flash unit has supposedly had some updates that allow it to be more tolerant of fast recycling abuse than the original 580EX and some other flashes. The black box claims about 700 full power flash shots before discharge.

You need to have more than one body if you're a primary wedding photographer. When you get the 40D keep the XTi as a backup. I don't recommend a grip because to me it's a waste of money, but if you have the money and want the grip, get it.

Definitely get a standard zoom, 17-55 or 24-70 or similar f/2.8 variant - there are many, and I'm partial to Canon and Tamron. I like Tamron for the price, and in fact have gone back to Tamron over Canon for my standard zoom because the massive cost difference is not justified for me (Canon 24-70L vs. Tamron 28-75).

For full weddings 8 hours + I have 32gb of flash memory, which leaves plenty of buffer. By the way, shoot in RAW; it will save some of your photos and make many more of them usable.

[SuzyView]

You need a good lens to do indoor work, with or with flash. The 17-55 is a good one. Practice is the key, even if it is for a friend. Go to the places where the events will happen and work out exposure, etc. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event. Good gear helps, but experience and practice are even more important.

[tim]

I use a CP-E4 over a black box due to size and weight. I've never managed to get close to draining one.

[H2Ohta]

Practice is the key, even if it is for a friend. Go to the places where the events will happen and work out exposure, etc. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event. Good gear helps, but experience and practice are even more important.

Thank you for taking the time to care! I should mention that the wedding will begin around 4:00 pm on a neighboring beach so there should be plenty of natural light and I think the flash will be used more at the reception (evening) and the bar. I will definitely take your advice and will spend quite a bit of time on the days leading up working on exposure, angles, and composition at that particular beach around the same time the wedding will be.

[H2Ohta]

You need to have more than one body if you're a primary wedding photographer. When you get the 40D keep the XTi as a backup. I don't recommend a grip because to me it's a waste of money, but if you have the money and want the grip, get it.

Definitely get a standard zoom, 17-55 or 24-70 or similar f/2.8 variant - there are many, and I'm partial to Canon and Tamron. I like Tamron for the price, and in fact have gone back to Tamron over Canon for my standard zoom because the massive cost difference is not justified for me (Canon 24-70L vs. Tamron 28-75).

For full weddings 8 hours + I have 32gb of flash memory, which leaves plenty of buffer. By the way, shoot in RAW; it will save some of your photos and make many more of them usable.

Thanks Form, I was thinking something similar. The XTi will be the back-up and I am leaning toward the Tamron 17-50mm. I know myself though and I will most likely get it and then upgrade to the 17-55mm at some point in the future. I am just figuring out what I can get with the $ in my pocket right now. I will also get at least another 8GB which will give me, a minimum of 3 8GB Ext III and 1 4GB Kingston Ultimate.