Would my lenses work for my first wedding?

I'm shooting my first wedding this weekend, and was wondering if this set up will work. My main concern is getting a wide enough shot. Not sure how big the chapel is. My widest focal length prime is the 40mm, which isn't that wide on my crop body. I'm probably gonna have to use my kit lens I'm thinking.

My buddy has a 20mm 2.8 & 28mm 1.8 that he can let me borrow, but was just wondering if I can work with what I have. And if I do borrow from my friend, would the 20mm or 28mm be a better choice over my kit lens considering focal length and quality.

Or any affordable wide lens out there that I can scoop up before the event?

40mm on a crop sensor would be 64mm. That isn't wide at all. If you are trying to get a wide shot to capture the space, I would go with the 20mm.

Yea I was thinking the same thing. Ok, 20 it is! Thanks.

You dont have the 18-55 still? Your bigger concern for wedding work is to make sure you have a backup body and flash.

Do you know what the reception lighting is like?
They can sometimes be pretty dark. Having the 28mm f/1.8 & an external flash will help.

p00kienrayray wrote in post #16915292
I'm shooting my first wedding this weekend, and was wondering if this set up will work. My main concern is getting a wide enough shot. Not sure how big the chapel is. My widest focal length prime is the 40mm, which isn't that wide on my crop body. I'm probably gonna have to use my kit lens I'm thinking.

My buddy has a 20mm 2.8 & 28mm 1.8 that he can let me borrow, but was just wondering if I can work with what I have. And if I do borrow from my friend, would the 20mm or 28mm be a better choice over my kit lens considering focal length and quality.

Or any affordable wide lens out there that I can scoop up before the event?

Heya,

Your 18mm kit should work, with flash.

Otherwise, the 20mm F2.8 on a crop would be my choice for a wide with F2.8 if you wanted that aperture. It will be a bit sharper and faster than the kit lens. 20mm is still not that wide though, on a crop.

You could get the new 10-18 STM IS for $300 new that will definitely bring wide angles to your crop, with IS onboard. Worth looking into if you are sticking to APS-C shooting.

What all do you plan on using? Have you scouted the location? Are you using flash?

If shooting a wedding on aps-c, I'd have two bodies, flash, and a wide (10~20mm ranges), and either a tele-zoom (50~200 ranges) or a tele-prime (85mm would be my choice). Though honestly, if I were in your shoes right now with what you had, I would buy another camera (something grippable for battery life), and two flashes (TTL capability, Yongnuo 565EX TTL's), and roll your 18-55 and 85 F1.8.

Also, ultrathin depth of field is less appealing, so don't worry about using non-primes at F1.4 and F2. You want everyone's face in focus. Last thing you want to present is under/overexposed images where one eye is in focus and one is not, or the groom is in focus and the bride is not, etc. Nothing wrong with F2.8~F4 here for almost everything.

Very best,

gonzogolf wrote in post #16915309
You dont have the 18-55 still? Your bigger concern for wedding work is to make sure you have a backup body and flash.

THIS.

If you have 2 bodies, you have 1. If you have 1, you have none. If your camera craps out for ANY unforseen reason, you're done. That is NOT a feeling you want to experience.

A flash is going to be essential unless you know what you're doing and have fast glass. Your 50 1.4 will probably get a lot of use. The 85 1.8 will also come in VERY useful for candids and giving you reach with speed at f1.8. The kit lens is only f3.5 on the wide end so you're going to have to drag your shutter and/or up your ISO to compensate. That's where flash really helps, you can keep your shutter up and your ISO down.

20mm is much better than 40mm, but not as wide as 10mm, 12mm, or 18mm. The difference in FOV on the wide end is much more noticeable than the long end. 2mm wider is much more noticeable than 2mm on the long end, where it is hardly noticeable.

The SL1 is capable but you will be the true limiting factor. It has a small battery but if you set your preview to 5sec and auto off at 30sec you can really extend battery life, but with batteries: if you have 2 you have 1, if you have 1 you have none

gonzogolf wrote in post #16915309
You dont have the 18-55 still? Your bigger concern for wedding work is to make sure you have a backup body and flash.

I just picked up a 50D with 2 batteries, and I have one flash, though I am debating I should by another one just to have.

ozzmodan wrote in post #16915317
Do you know what the reception lighting is like?

No, I do not. Checking it out first would have been the smart thing to do, but now I don't have the time as it is out of town.

MalVeauX wrote in post #16915329
You could get the new 10-18 STM IS for $300 new that will definitely bring wide angles to your crop, with IS onboard. Worth looking into if you are sticking to APS-C shooting...
...If shooting a wedding on aps-c, I'd have two bodies, flash, and a wide (10~20mm ranges), and either a tele-zoom (50~200 ranges) or a tele-prime (85mm would be my choice). Though honestly, if I were in your shoes right now with what you had, I would buy another camera (something grippable for battery life), and two flashes (TTL capability, Yongnuo 565EX TTL's), and roll your 18-55 and 85 F1.8.

Also, ultrathin depth of field is less appealing, so don't worry about using non-primes at F1.4 and F2. You want everyone's face in focus. Last thing you want to present is under/overexposed images where one eye is in focus and one is not, or the groom is in focus and the bride is not, etc. Nothing wrong with F2.8~F4 here for almost everything.

Very best,

The 10-18mm doesnt come out until next month correct? The wedding is this weekend. and you have a point, I will bring my kit lens just in case I need it.

BrickR wrote in post #16915330
THIS.

If you have 2 bodies, you have 1. If you have 1, you have none. If your camera craps out for ANY unforseen reason, you're done. That is NOT a feeling you want to experience.

A flash is going to be essential unless you know what you're doing and have fast glass. Your 50 1.4 will probably get a lot of use. The 85 1.8 will also come in VERY useful for candids and giving you reach with speed at f1.8. The kit lens is only f3.5 on the wide end so you're going to have to drag your shutter and/or up your ISO to compensate. That's where flash really helps, you can keep your shutter up and your ISO down.

The SL1 is capable but you will be the true limiting factor. It has a small battery but if you set your preview to 5sec and auto off at 30sec you can really extend battery life, but with batteries: if you have 2 you have 1, if you have 1 you have none

Yes true. I will be shooting with my 50D + flash as primary, and SL1 + telephoto as secondary. Have 2 batteries for both bodies. But I'm debating on taking my sister's T3i instead bc of the bigger battery. Although the SL1 performs pretty well with high ISO.

Thanks for the input, guys. I forgot to mention that I'm technically only the secondary photographer. The primary photographer is a friend of the groom, which means that he will probably be partaking in the ceremony here and there, so I just want to be prepared.

Well heck, you're golden if you're the second shooter! You're pretty much just the candid/environmental shooter. The SL1 will be perfectly fine with 3 batteries and sharing the load with the 50d.

you could always look at renting something...maybe a 17-55IS?

also if i were you, i'd at least google the location, you should be able to see a couple images that may give you an idea of what to expect lighting wise

on a crop body you can't wrong with the 10-22 look into renting one, once you're in that building or doing group shots you will wish you had the range.

shiftonephoto wrote in post #16915931
on a crop body you can't wrong with the 10-22 look into renting one, once you're in that building or doing group shots you will wish you had the range.

I rather doubt you need an ultrawide for a wedding. The distortion you get from a lens that wide (and the accompanying working distance) is rarely flattering to the human form. You might get one or two dramatic shots, but if you are looking to upgrade your lenses start with the 17-55 2.8 IS.

This thread made me pretty sad until i read you were 2nd shooter.

You should be fine with what you have in that case.

Although, if you are 2nd shooter, why not talk to the main shooter and ask him what he wants to you to be doing?

IMO if you were to pick up one lens before this event, I'd get the sigma 18-35 1.8. Fast glass is important indoors, and your body doesn't have the best ISO performance.

Your lenses should be fine as a second shooter, but do you have a flash? I definitely wouldn't shoot a wedding without one.

Jerobean wrote in post #16917272
This thread made me pretty sad until i read you were 2nd shooter.

You should be fine with what you have in that case.

Although, if you are 2nd shooter, why not talk to the main shooter and ask him what he wants to you to be doing?

I was thinking the same thing (both in red above).

I am going to be second shooter at a graduation this weekend. The primary and I are going to meet the day before at the event site and go over everything he wants me to do and expects of me. This is GOOD. It is his shoot. I am a helper. I want to shoot exactly what he wants me to. He trust me and my equipment, but he still is in charge.

I have only done 3 weddings and at all them I was second. I am not anxious to do another. They are a ton of work. At the last one I did, my best camera had it's shutter fail. I finished with my old XTi. It saved the day for me. All these people who caution about equipment failures at important events are giving great advice.

It will be quite a learning experience for you.

EDIT: changed it to 3 weddings. I forgot one. I also recommend the 17-55mm 2.8 (rent)