NEED HELP NEW TO DIGITAL!!!

[NJames73]

Hey everyone.....I just found this site by the grace of God. So let me say hi and get to the point.

My wife and I are wedding photographers. We also shoot families/portraits and such. We are making the rather large jump for us from shooting 35mm Minolta's to the Canon digital world and we could use some advice.

I am having a hard time deciding on the 20D or the 1DMii. Obviously the $$$$ look alot nicer on the 20D, but I dont want tomake the decission based on that alone.

Here is what I may have boiled it down to.....

Getting the 20D and buying some nice glass such as the 24-70mm and 70-200mm IS L series lenses and maybe throwing in the 28-135mm IS lens?

Does this make any sense...because this whole Canon thing is new to us.

Please help us out before we go down any wrong roads.

Nate

[ddelallata]

That sounds like a good list. I'd get the 20D and a Rebel XT as a backup instead of the 1D mark II. And get a battery grip for whatever body you decide on. You are going to need a flash too.

[Longwatcher]

Digital cameras still have room to grow, so buying good glass is more important (up to a point) then the camera. The 1DM2 is definately 'more' professional looking and handling, but I suspect that your results from the 20D will be at least as good and will definately be better with 'L' glass then a 1DM2 with mid-range or consumer glass.

Later you can get the 1DM3 (or whatever it is called), which best guess is expected to be announced in early Fall time frame based on multiple semi-reliable rumors and analysis.

On the other hand if you can afford the good glass AND the 1DM2 then go for that instead.

Just my opinion and some stuff I heard.

Me I have a 1dsMkII and a bunch of L glass, which beats either of those choices, but I am still paying for it.

[AjP]

if you do just portraits, wedding... no need in Mark II, 20D do great job

[Rob612]

Agree in full with what others said. 20D and a bunch of good glass (possibly with a XT as a backup or, if the budget allows, another 20D) is the best option. And right... do not forget the flash :D

PS - Welcome aboard to both of you.

[NJames73]

Keep the help coming.............

EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
EF 28-135mm f/3.5/5.6 IS USM

Are these the lenses that I want to start out with for my wedding shoots? Or should I go a different direction. Thanks for the advice on the flash I just failed to mention the 580EX as the flash I am getting.

Thanks

[Maxima]

Just thought I'd throw in my cheap thought as well ...
#1 lens - Great choice
#2 lens - Sweet!!!
#3 lens - no comparison to the first two - why this lens when you already have the focal lengths covered w/ the first two? This is a relatively slow lens.

cheers!

[NJames73]

I don't know why that lens........let me tell you why I came up with that idea. My wife usually cruises up around the the front row and such while the cremony is in action......I thought maybe a lighter lens would work well for her as I thought the weight of the other 2 would get to be unbearable.....but maybe I am way off......maybe someone could suggest another lens....for this situation........I was using the other 2 for the formal/portrait shots......would they be as easily lugged around during the ceremony....if not what other lens should I get?

[Maxima]

True, the first two lenses are heavy and cruising around w/ it during the entire ceremony can be quite uncomfortable. The EF 28-135 is a fine lens, I have one myself, however for indoor wedding ceremonies where a flash may not be allowed, this lens may not be appropriate. My suggestion would be the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. It's slightly cheaper than the canon, better for low light conditions, and in my opinion give you better pics. In terms of weight, I believe it's a few ounces lighter than the canon.

[eastcoast909]

NJames:

Hi and welcome to the forum. I don't have any suggestions for what you might want to use for wedding photographic equipment, but you might want to check out this thread:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=76719

There are a lot of articles in the forum dealing with weddings so there is a lot of reading, most dealing with how to's.

Don't miss the chronicles of Bloo Dog, they are the MUST read of the wedding genre!http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

Good luck,

[Mark_48]

Keep the help coming.............

EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
EF 28-135mm f/3.5/5.6 IS USM

Are these the lenses that I want to start out with for my wedding shoots? Or should I go a different direction. Thanks for the advice on the flash I just failed to mention the 580EX as the flash I am getting.

Thanks
Remember to take into account the 1.6 crop factor on the lenses. The 24mm wide becomes roughly a 38.5mm. You may want to consider something around 17-18mm or so for wide shots.

[CyberPet]

I'm with the others... even if the Mark II is great (and drool worthy) you should, as pro's aim for great glass to begin with, so start off with a pair of 20D's (and maybe a small 350D as a backup).

Once you've gotten a turnaround and profit on your new digital investment (and believe me it'll go fast, a friend of mine is a wedding photographer in the US and he went digital - luckily with same brand - and after two weekens he'd paid off the camera body [ the Nikon high end - so he had the glass already]) you can buy the bigger bodies in a very short time.... and back up your lenses!

Have fun!!

[AjP]

Keep the help coming.............

EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
EF 28-135mm f/3.5/5.6 IS USM

Are these the lenses that I want to start out with for my wedding shoots? Or should I go a different direction. Thanks for the advice on the flash I just failed to mention the 580EX as the flash I am getting.

Thanks

EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

perfect set for weddings!!!!!!!!!!!!

or may add ultra wide lense to this list too

[NJames73]

From what I gather the 20D is a great camera.......but I wanted that Bling of a 1DM2......but the way this industry is......it is all ready outdated before you know it.....Maybe the 20D is the better choice.....Invest in Glass....and then a year or 2 down the road invest in the next big bad Canon to come around the bend.......

Everyone has been a great help

[Mohawk]

I have the 1DMKII and 20D. I am hard pressed to tell the difference between images. I like the 1.3x crop factor of the 1DMKII over the 20D, that is why I bought it, but... I would go with 20D and get the GLASS! Get an XT as a backup, but get the GLASS! You will be sorry... If you do not get the GLASS! Got it!

Mike

[mdude85]

24-70, 28-135, and 70-200? It seems like you have a lot of focal length overlap. I'd suggest getting some different lenses.

17-85*
70-200 2.8
50 1.4

*might want to replace the 17-85 with a 24-70

What lenses do you shoot with now, and are you happy with them?

[Andy_T]

Some very good advice given here ...

so a 'final' list that also has the wide angle covered might look something like this
17-40/4.0 L
24-70/2.8 L
70-200/2.8 L IS
50/1.4 or 85/1.8 as low light prime

If you want a smaller lens for candids, I'd suggest getting the Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR DI instead of the 28-135 IS. It's optically in the range of the 24-70/2.8 L, but smaller, lighter and considerably less expensive. Alternatively, the 17-40/4.0 might be ok for candids (at least for group shots).

And as far as backup is concerned ... either go with the 350D or use your Minolta system (unless you plan to sell that).

Best regards,
Andy

[BigRed450]

Nate ... I guess it really comes down to budget restrictions.
My no-holds list would be:
1-1DmkII body
1- 20D body
16-35 2.8L
24-70 2.8L
70-200 2.8L
2- 580EX flashes

However if budget is a concern I would start with the basics..

2- 20D bodies
1- 24-70 2.8L
1- 70-200 2.8L
1- 580EX flash

I have an awesome version of the 28-135, but it may be a little slow for indoor work. However for outdoors and vacations it is awesome...

[ScottE]

If you already have Minolta equipment, why aren't you getting a Minolta digital camera? It would be a lot more economical than starting a whole new lens collection. I believe the Minolta DSLR even has built in image stabilization.

I'm not knocking Canon, that's the brand I chose many years ago when Konica stopped making SLR's. I just don't understand the advantage you hope to gain from the cost of switching brands.

Scott

[Longwatcher]

Your full set of lenses to get would be: (parens indicate which should be gotten first)

16-35/2.8L (fourth)
24-70/.28L ( get first)
70-200/2.8L IS (second)
50/1.4 (third)
85/1.2 or 1.8 (fifth)
135/2 (sixth)

The first three cover most applications during the wedding and reception. The 50/1.4 will cover lower light situations and provide a backup portrait lens for 20D. The 85 and 135 are for portrait shots, although the 85/1.2 will also cover low-light situations.

The 28-135 as a low cost backup and walk around lens will work, but the 16-35 or 24-70 are not that heavy (at least with the 20D), Of course I don't think the 70-200/2.8L IS on my 1DsMkII w/550ex flash is too heavy either. Any other lens is a compromise of cost over quality.

Just my opinion, what I have heard and experience (of course I personally avoid shooting weddings like a plague, but I understand the concept and have shot a few for good friends as a gift)