New Equipment, Thoughts?

Hi all,

Haven't posted here for a little while...

As the title suggests, I am looking to buy some new equipment. My girlfriend has ventured in to the world of wedding photography!

While its all very new and I wish her all the luck n the world, I have offered myself for any help if she needs it. She will be shooting my Boss's wedding next month and I offered to take some photos as a second photographer (my boss would like pictures of people enjoying themselves along with all the usual wedding photos).

I only have a 400D and a 70-200 F4 and also a 50mm 1.8.

I can't afford to upgrade to the 2.8 so am looking to maximise the use of my current zoom lens and therefore am looking to buy a 60D along with a 430 EX II.

Any advice would be much appreciated. My budget only stretches this far meaning the 7D is out of my reach.

The venue will be a mix of inside and outside. If raining then will all be indoors where the flash would be a necessity with my max F4...

Thanks

If this is your only reason for getting a new body I would say you don't need it. The 400D is easily good enough for wedding photography. A flash may be worthwhile, but your body and current lenses are great for what you want.

Along with my camera being silver (I hate the colour!) and also an upgrade to 18mp, I feel I could benefit from this upgrade when I photograph Motorsport (my main hobby) so that I can crop more than with my 400D.

The larger body is also appealing, although I am yet to hold the 60D.

Having seen many reviews of the 60D, I quite like the tilting LCD, as it could allow me to become perhaps a little more inventive with angles etc.

Forget about you, what gear you girlfriend is using for the wedding??? She is the primary photographer. You, only a second shooter. You may as well forget to bring your camera that day and everything would be fine with you. Your girlfriend? She is responsible for getting the photos, regardless what happens...

TooManyShots wrote in post #14849608
Forget about you, what gear you girlfriend is using for the wedding??? She is the primary photographer. You, only a second shooter. You may as well forget to bring your camera that day and everything would be fine with you. Your girlfriend? She is responsible for getting the photos, regardless what happens...

I can't see how this has anything to do with the original post... She has the gear she needs already. I am there to get the photos she can't get while she is busy doing the photos she needs to get.

Please read and understand the original post before posting in one of my threads again.

Stuuk1 wrote in post #14849688
I can't see how this has anything to do with the original post... She has the gear she needs already. I am there to get the photos she can't get while she is busy doing the photos she needs to get.

Please read and understand the original post before posting in one of my threads again.

Maybe getting the same gear as your girlfriend's.....???

This sounds a bit like the story of William Tell.

In other words, your girlfriend is going to be shooting the apple off your bosses head, or something like that. I hope she doesn't miss. If she does you might get hit by the arrow.

Since it's your boss: Rent a 5D2 or 5D3 and a lens that opens up. And a flash.

Of course, you're in the UK, and you might have a completely different culture when it comes to the boss than we Americans. Sometimes in America, if your boss isn't happy, then come Monday he's not your boss anymore.

...or you're not the employee anymore.

the idea of renting is nice, you could rent a 7D, the higher ISO would work nice with your f4 and gain you a few stops.

If your GF is shooting weddings and you will OFTEN be her second shooter it makes sense to buy gear, if its a 1 time thing it seems odd too, best to just rent. So if your going to do it a lot you def need a flash, make sure it has TTL, and you will need to make sure you are comfortable bouncing light. Get some modifiers for when its on camera, and find a way to make it wireless or get a cord so you can hand hold and bounce. Some sort of diffuser is really nice though for events when its on camera going straight at the subject. You need good lights for weddings, and a camera body with good low light capabilites. a 7d or 5d3 to rent would be good! I think you are fine with your glass. Betting you use the 50mm the most. You do what you can with what you have, until you can afford to do more. You do not need some super set up to shoot a wedding. Your current camera with you 50mm would be just fine, but if you want to step it up and CAN then renting a nicer body is a good idea, and I def think you should buy a flash if this will be a regular thing. Maybe even 2 flashes. If one drops or breaks you &&^%% outa luck at the reception. Is your KIT basically HER back up or does she have backsup of anything (flash, body)? If your system would serve as her backup in an emergecny that could change the urgency a bit more.

pixiepearls wrote in post #14850366
the idea of renting is nice, you could rent a 7D, the higher ISO would work nice with your f4 and gain you a few stops.

If your GF is shooting weddings and you will OFTEN be her second shooter it makes sense to buy gear, if its a 1 time thing it seems odd too, best to just rent. So if your going to do it a lot you def need a flash, make sure it has TTL, and you will need to make sure you are comfortable bouncing light. Get some modifiers for when its on camera, and find a way to make it wireless or get a cord so you can hand hold and bounce. Some sort of diffuser is really nice though for events when its on camera going straight at the subject. You need good lights for weddings, and a camera body with good low light capabilites. a 7d or 5d3 to rent would be good! I think you are fine with your glass. Betting you use the 50mm the most. You do what you can with what you have, until you can afford to do more. You do not need some super set up to shoot a wedding. Your current camera with you 50mm would be just fine, but if you want to step it up and CAN then renting a nicer body is a good idea, and I def think you should buy a flash if this will be a regular thing. Maybe even 2 flashes. If one drops or breaks you &&^%% outa luck at the reception. Is your KIT basically HER back up or does she have backsup of anything (flash, body)? If your system would serve as her backup in an emergecny that could change the urgency a bit more.

This is a great reply, thank you

She currently uses a 7D and a 500D as a backup (Also with a second lens at all times). She shoots with a 50mm 1.8 and a 24-105. I know she needs more lenses etc but you have to start somewhere.

I would buy the flash at the same time as the body even if I didnt use it, its something new to learn and its there when needed.

The 60D will also be nice for my motorsport photography and with the added LCD resolution it will help me see the pictures better as I tend to struggle with my 400D and often find that what I though was good is actually not as good when I get it on the big screen...

you're ok with the gear you've got. go and play 2nd shooter and enjoy yourself.

Stuuk1 wrote in post #14851497
She currently uses a 7D and a 500D as a backup (Also with a second lens at all times). She shoots with a 50mm 1.8 and a 24-105. I know she needs more lenses etc but you have to start somewhere.

I would buy the flash at the same time as the body even if I didnt use it, its something new to learn and its there when needed.

The 60D will also be nice for my motorsport photography and with the added LCD resolution it will help me see the pictures better as I tend to struggle with my 400D and often find that what I though was good is actually not as good when I get it on the big screen...

a 60D and flash will definitely help

TooManyShots wrote in post #14849608
You, only a second shooter.

That's a rather condescending way of putting things. Don't knock it until you try it.

Stuuk1 wrote in post #14851497
This is a great reply, thank you

She currently uses a 7D and a 500D as a backup (Also with a second lens at all times). She shoots with a 50mm 1.8 and a 24-105. I know she needs more lenses etc but you have to start somewhere.

I would buy the flash at the same time as the body even if I didnt use it, its something new to learn and its there when needed.

The 60D will also be nice for my motorsport photography and with the added LCD resolution it will help me see the pictures better as I tend to struggle with my 400D and often find that what I though was good is actually not as good when I get it on the big screen...

So it sounds like collectively you have a 7D, 500D, 400D and maybe a 60D in the very near future. As far as lenses, you have 2 x 50 1.8, 24-105, and a 70-200 f4.

If you guys are going to stay on the 1.6x bodies, I might suggest getting something in the 17-5x f2.8 range, unless you are getting away with f4 on the 24-105L and feel that 24mm on a crop body is wide enough. Of course the best choice would be the Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS, but you can go third party lenses as well.

I also might look into upgrading that 50 1.8 to a Canon/Sigma 50 1.4. The 50 1.8 is a poor focusing lens in low light. You'll have better focusing and just overall a much better and more reliable lens. 50mm on a crop body is 80mm, which is a nice FOV for tight portraits. Keep in mind though a 50mm is a 50mm regardless of crop factor. Personally I find 85mm and longer to be more flattering for tight portraits.

What about flashes? You guys are good with that. Having one will alleviate some of the issues you might encounter with slower lenses, provided flash is allowed.

I think the 60D will be a nice upgrade from the 400D.

nicksan wrote in post #14854892
That's a rather condescending way of putting things. Don't knock it until you try it.

So it sounds like collectively you have a 7D, 500D, 400D and maybe a 60D in the very near future. As far as lenses, you have 2 x 50 1.8, 24-105, and a 70-200 f4.

If you guys are going to stay on the 1.6x bodies, I might suggest getting something in the 17-5x f2.8 range, unless you are getting away with f4 on the 24-105L and feel that 24mm on a crop body is wide enough. Of course the best choice would be the Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS, but you can go third party lenses as well.

I also might look into upgrading that 50 1.8 to a Canon/Sigma 50 1.4. The 50 1.8 is a poor focusing lens in low light. You'll have better focusing and just overall a much better and more reliable lens. 50mm on a crop body is 80mm, which is a nice FOV for tight portraits. Keep in mind though a 50mm is a 50mm regardless of crop factor. Personally I find 85mm and longer to be more flattering for tight portraits.

What about flashes? You guys are good with that. Having one will alleviate some of the issues you might encounter with slower lenses, provided flash is allowed.

I think the 60D will be a nice upgrade from the 400D.

Sorry I forgot to mention that she has a 430EX ii. I wil also be buying the same flash as it fits nicely in to my budget with the 60D.

I believe she will be renting a wide angle lens so was thinking about the 16-35? It's what I see everyone raving about and the price is very expensive, however renting works out at about £70 for a week which will allow a little time for her to have a play around.

I'll have a look at the Sigma lens, thanks for the suggestion

nicksan wrote in post #14854892
That's a rather condescending way of putting things. Don't knock it until you try it.

So it sounds like collectively you have a 7D, 500D, 400D and maybe a 60D in the very near future. As far as lenses, you have 2 x 50 1.8, 24-105, and a 70-200 f4.

If you guys are going to stay on the 1.6x bodies, I might suggest getting something in the 17-5x f2.8 range, unless you are getting away with f4 on the 24-105L and feel that 24mm on a crop body is wide enough. Of course the best choice would be the Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS, but you can go third party lenses as well.

I also might look into upgrading that 50 1.8 to a Canon/Sigma 50 1.4. The 50 1.8 is a poor focusing lens in low light. You'll have better focusing and just overall a much better and more reliable lens. 50mm on a crop body is 80mm, which is a nice FOV for tight portraits. Keep in mind though a 50mm is a 50mm regardless of crop factor. Personally I find 85mm and longer to be more flattering for tight portraits.

What about flashes? You guys are good with that. Having one will alleviate some of the issues you might encounter with slower lenses, provided flash is allowed.

I think the 60D will be a nice upgrade from the 400D.

Actually, is more like getting one's perspective in check. The OP is sounding like he will bailout his primary shooter since she is his girlfriend. He may spend more money to get better equipment in case his girlfriend isn't up to it. He did say she is new in wedding photography. Has she been a second shooter before? Don't know. I don't think in a real world situation you can second shoot a wedding if you don't already have the gear. You really don't want to learn how to shoot your new body the first time in a wedding.