Info required please

I don`t shot weddings normally, but to cut a long story short, I had been beaten in to submission to shot a family in Cuba, the ceremony its self will be outdoors, and the information I would like please from the wedding masters is:

Which/how many focus points do you use?
Which metering mode?
I have available to use either a 1D`s or a 1D MKII - which one?
Lens wise, I am planning to get either a Canon 17/40 F4 or a Sigma 24/70 F2.8

Help please.

You posted this in the wrong section. It should be in the talk about.

Which/how many focus points do you use? 1
Which metering mode? Evaluative
I have available to use either a 1D`s or a 1D MKII - which one? Not familiar with either camera
Lens wise, I am planning to get either a Canon 17/40 F4 or a Sigma 24/70 F2.8.. I use the Sigma 24/70 F2.8.. So I would say that one *L*

- Center point, focus and recompose
- M when I have to, AV for the rest of the day
- Both; you should have a second camera with you at all times in case something goes wrong with one. Plus, with two different lenses, it keeps you ready for anything
- Are those going to be your only lenses? You should also have something longer than 70mm Do you not have flash?

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, flash not problem, longer lens, either 28/135IS or 70/200F4.

Go with the 70 - 200 f4. IMHO the 28 - 135 IS is better used as a paper weight.

peterhanowell wrote in post #12881494
Go with the 70 - 200 f4. IMHO the 28 - 135 IS is better used as a paper weight.

I agree..especially since the ceremony will be outdoors...you'll be able to get away with the f4.

Concur with Peacefield:
- Center point focus
- When not in "M", spot metering mode
- Have both bodies aailable - having a backup is imperative
- Since the wedding is outside, both lenses are appropriate
I would take both bodies with both lenses ans swith back and forth as the focal length needs change

rincon wrote in post #12881666
When not in "M", spot metering mode

I keep experimenting with this and have yet to find an approach that I'm 100% satisfied with. I like spot metering but because I focus and recompose, the spot may have gone from the groom's face to his black tux. I just haven't established strongly enough the habit of exposure lock so I "settle" for center-weighted most of the time.

What I really wish is that when you push the trigger half way, the camera not only focuses and locks, but that it can be configured to also take a spot reading and lock. That would be cool.

Peacefield wrote in post #12881776
What I really wish is that when you push the trigger half way, the camera not only focuses and locks, but that it can be configured to also take a spot reading and lock. That would be cool.

Can't you do that using the exposure lock? Or am I misunderstanding what you're saying?

Peacefield wrote in post #12881776
I keep experimenting with this and have yet to find an approach that I'm 100% satisfied with. I like spot metering but because I focus and recompose, the spot may have gone from the groom's face to his black tux. I just haven't established strongly enough the habit of exposure lock so I "settle" for center-weighted most of the time.

What I really wish is that when you push the trigger half way, the camera not only focuses and locks, but that it can be configured to also take a spot reading and lock. That would be cool.

If you use back button focus you can.

jkim05 wrote in post #12882139
If you use back button focus you can.

And that's what I'm bad at doing. I wish it was an option to configure the half trigger to do both without having to also hit a button with your thumb.

peterhanowell wrote in post #12881494
Go with the 70 - 200 f4. IMHO the 28 - 135 IS is better used as a paper weight.

28/135IS is a good wall around lens for general purpose use.

Right, but it was my understanding that you are asking about wedding use - not 'walking around... for general purpose.'

Best of luck.

peterhanowell wrote in post #12896841
Right, but it was my understanding that you are asking about wedding use - not 'walking around... for general purpose.'

Best of luck.

The 28/135IS was in answer to previous poster`s question, I was not going to use it.

One way round the metering problem is to switch to manual focus. That way, you can point the camera at something in the scene that resembles 18% grey, lock the exposure with a half-press, then recompose, focus and shoot. Obviously, this requires that you're pretty good focus-wise. I used to be able to use this method till my eyesight went crook. Now I absolutely have to use auto focus unless I have time to squint, focus, squint again, adjust, squint some more, tweak focus.....then wonder where the bride went.