Going full-time, need help with a new camera lineup.

Hey everyone. I'm excited to say that I've reached my personal minimum for bookings and I'll be shooting weddings full-time in 2012, kind of a dream come true....

Anyhow, I downgraded some lenses and sold bodies earlier this year to fund marketing and a complete lighting set-up. I was left to shoot 2011 with a lineup that left me wanting more by the end of the season. I'm very knowledgeable but not much of a camera nut. So I need your help on choosing next year's camera lineup. I am willing to part with everything and I'm also willing to buy used bodies/lenses. I will also only use this equipment for weddings.

I currently have a 7D and 40D for "go to" cameras. Also have 2 older bodies I'm keeping.
Lenses are 17-40/4, 70-200/4, 50/1.8.
+/- $3000 spending money.

My ideas have been to trade one body for a 5Dc or 5DII(used 1 series??). Also maybe trade up to 70-200/2.8 non IS, or a 70-200/4 IS(which is better?). I might want a better 50mm as well. The other thing I considered is to trade everything in for exclusive primes.

I just can't decide. What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Persian-Rice wrote in post #13588296
I currently have a 7D and 40D for "go to" cameras. Also have 2 older bodies I'm keeping.
Lenses are 17-40/4, 70-200/4, 50/1.8.

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+/- $3000 spending money.

My ideas have been to trade one body for a 5Dc or 5DII(used 1 series??). Also maybe trade up to 70-200/2.8 non IS, or a 70-200/4 IS(which is better?). I might want a better 50mm as well. The other thing I considered is to trade everything in for exclusive primes.

I just can't decide. What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Dude id definately go towards the 5dmii
its FF sensor helps with high ISO situations when the lighting indoors arent that great.
so:
Get the 5dmii
grab the 70-200 f4 [If you';re shooting outside]
OR you can trade your 2 zooms for some primes.

keep the camera you have, add 35L and 85L to your lens collection and you're all set. Especially now that both of these prime lens are on sale, they are the combo that many wedding photogs preferred. lens often made a better "investment" than camera body, especially the 5D2 is due for replacement, you would see significantly more IQ improvement to upgrade/buy new lens instead of changing camera body. Get the FF when you have more cash flow.

If it all possible, I would ditch the 40D and get a 5DII to compliment your 7D. Center point AF is very accurate and the 5DII is a fantastic choice for wedding photography.

sell the 70-200/4 and pick up a 5d2 and a 70-200/2.8

LowriderS10 wrote in post #13588422
sell the 70-200/4 and pick up a 5d2 and a 70-200/2.8

^This.

You're going to want a minimum of 2.8 (IS preferably) since not all chapels/churches will allow flash. 5D2 for low-light capability.

5Dc, 85LII, 35L, done.

I would have a fast zoom on hand such as the 17-55 f/2.8. As you know stuff happens fast in weddings and it is good to have a fast zoom to help cope with changes.

5D2 and the 70-200f/2.8 and your on the path

I'm not a wedding photog, but I'm kind of surprised to not see the 24-70 f/2.8 L being mentioned.

Sell all your gear and buy 5d2; rebuild your lens lineup, starting with 24-105L or 24-70L

Edit: keep the 17-40L; didn't read carefully enough, sorry.

I don't understand how you can go full time into wedding photography, but not know what gear you need. You obviously have SOME experience if you've booked enough to consider going full time next year, so I'm kind of baffled.

However, I'd recommend the 5d2 since that is one of your options. Looking at skin tones on the 7D and 5DII, there's no comparison. The 7D doesn't do well with skin tones, or as well as a 5DII or my 1DsII in my opinion. Also, as recommended above, I'd ditch the 70-200 f4 and opt for the 2.8, unless you're doing all outdoor daytime weddings.

I honestly don't know how you've gotten by with your widest fast lens being a 50mm on a crop body. I'm sure that must have put you in some interesting positions to get "the shot". I'd look for a wider lens as well, maybe a 24mm or a 35mm.

Stamp wrote in post #13589177
I honestly don't know how you've gotten by with your widest fast lens being a 50mm on a crop body. I'm sure that must have put you in some interesting positions to get "the shot". I'd look for a wider lens as well, maybe a 24mm or a 35mm.

The OP said the current line up includes a 17-40 f/4.

Anyhow, I would take advantage of the 5DII and pair it with a 24-70/2.8

Sell the 40D unless you need the FPS and be done with it. 2K for a 5D brand new and a clean copy of the 24-70 for 1K still leaves you with a few bucks for batteries and CF cards.

canonguy14 wrote in post #13589194
The OP said the current line up includes a 17-40 f/4.

I know. I said "Fast" lens. F4 is not in the ball park of fast, and is unusable (IMO) for quality reception style shots. I'd go for a fast prime, like I mentioned above.

Kudos to OP! Nice to see fellow POTN member and local (to me) photographer in the progress!

Here is interesting read about Canon lenses for wedding photography.
http://weddingdocument​ary.com …-for-wedding-photography/

Stamp wrote in post #13589177
I don't understand how you can go full time into wedding photography, but not know what gear you need...

I'm know my gear well, but I'm not going to full time wedding photography in Toronto.
It is about marketing, networking, knowing different cultures here first and knowing gear second.