My 5d mark III dilemma

I could use some advice that touches on depreciation, used market value, and the crystal ball. Want to decide if its a better decision to rent or buy.

I am shooting my first wedding for a relative this summer. Fortunately I'm getting paid. I have a few professional photographers (I've looked at their stuff and its good) who have graciously allowed me to be their caddy for a few weddings this spring. I am confident in most technical areas but could use some more practice in posing couples and group shots.

I currently have a 6D, battery grip, several OCFs, and a decent array of lenses. I am plagued by paranoia and want to shoot the wedding with a 5DIII for the dual card slots and full frame sensor. I guess the higher flash sync speed would also be nice (1/250 as opposed to 1/180 on the 6D) as my YN flashes don't do HSS. I've never had a card go bad before, but there's a first time for everything. I would write RAW to both the CF and SD.

Right now with rebates and discounts it seems as though the 5dIII can be had for $2,000, either via grey market or buying the printer bundle + rebate and then selling the printer. I have no interest in the 5Ds (50 megapixels seems obscene to me and the low ISO is unappealing) and I wouldn't want to spend the $3,500+ that a Mark IV would cost even if it were to get here before summer (unlikely).

I am considering renting a III from Lens Rentals for $200-250ish. But since I don't have it in hand that would mean crunch time to get to know it in a few days. The other option would be to use the Mark III for a few months and either sell it or the 6D but hopefully not at markedly more loss than what a rental would have cost. I've come to enjoy shooting the comparatively low key events that I've been doing over the last year and could see myself shooting several weddings a year, which is why the purchase option is tempting. But that opens up a whole new world with going into business with an LLC, insurance, website, marketing, etc. however its not like I was accosted by a celebrity who thinks my photos are all that--this is a relative who is willing to pay to have me do it. I'm not sure how well I can market myself and if I have the charisma to attract good paying clients. The Canon rebate ends this month and unfortunately most of my assistant-role weddings are in April. I guess part of this dilemma is about self-confidence.

ok... lets hear it _______

Well the first question would be do you want to continue to work in photography to make money?

If you're answer is yes than the Mark III is a no brainer if you're going to stick with shooting Canon.

I was in the same boat as you with the 6d but the second I started to make any money, I knew I had to have 2 card slots plus the MILES better auto focus of the 5d III. The 6d had slightly better high ISO performance but you seem like you know how to use your flash so that shouldn't be a problem.

Look at it this way...

You buy the 5dIII for around $2000. If you use it for a year and sell it next year for $1400-$1600. How much would it cost you to rent the body for a year? It pays for itself so quickly.

Here's a vote to take the plunge!!

First wedding, rent. Most Canon cameras are pretty much the same in terms of controls, no huge risk IMHO.

I was able to pick up a 5Diii bundle a couple months back, and after selling off the 24-105 the body cost me about $2200Cdn before taxes. My vote is that if you find a price you like then go ahead and buy it; you know you want to! You will then have ample opportunity to become comfortable with it and it may lessen some of the anxiety you seem to be feeling.

I own a 6D/5D3 combo and I think you'll be just fine with your 6D.

In fact, you might find it to be more useful depending on the lighting conditions of the wedding due to the -3 EV sensitivity.

What is currently in your "decent array of lenses"?

sourcehill wrote in post #17475364
Well the first question would be do you want to continue to work in photography to make money?

Yes!

mclaren777 wrote in post #17476191
What is currently in your "decent array of lenses"?

All Canon brand...
-70-200mm F4L IS
-24-70 F4L IS
-16-35 F4L IS
-85mm f1.8
-50mm f1.8 II

There's a bit of overlap so the destruction of one lens can be mostly overlapped by another one in the kit. I've become quite proficient in buying and selling used lenses. Usually I resell them for more than I bought them for So you'll never catch me renting a lens and might possibly be clouding my judgement because cameras depreciate far more than lenses.

That to say that I will probably buy and resell around the wedding a fisheye and the 70-200mm f/2.8L Mark II.

Comments please...

tim wrote in post #17476129
First wedding, rent. Most Canon cameras are pretty much the same in terms of controls, no huge risk IMHO.

i'd like to think that. I've looked at photos of all sides of it and am even watching some YouBoob videos to get accustomed in either case. However, I think more than just knowing where Canon tends to put things doesn't replace the conditioned reflexes (often erroneously dubbed "muscle memory") of changing settings as desired with little conscious thought in the matter.

Silver-Halide wrote in post #17476377
All Canon brand...
-70-200mm F4L IS
-24-70 F4L IS
-16-35 F4L IS
-85mm f1.8
-50mm f1.8 II

There's a bit of overlap so the destruction of one lens can be mostly overlapped by another one in the kit. I've become quite proficient in buying and selling used lenses. Usually I resell them for more than I bought them for So you'll never catch me renting a lens and might possibly be clouding my judgement because cameras depreciate far more than lenses.

That to say that I will probably buy and resell around the wedding a fisheye and the 70-200mm f/2.8L Mark II.

Comments please...

Back when I shot Canon (7D) F4 wasn't really fast enough to focus quickly and accurately in dark rooms without AF assist - my 24-105 F4L used to seek a lot. Make sure you have flashes with AF assist beams on each camera. My old D700s aren't even as good as the 7D for low light focus, but with AF assist they're great.

You may want to have a 35 or 50mm F1.8 - F1.4 type lens (eg 35 F1.8) for if you need better low light focus. 50mm is probably better on a FF body. I didn't like the Canon 50 F1.4 though.

The wedding will be outdoors in mid summer in a northern latitude. I shouldn't have a problem with uber low light and focus issues. I will have far more of a problem with HSS and flash sync speeds.

Weddings have receptions that often happen in low light. Sometimes it rains and the ceremony goes indoors. One thing you learn after the number of weddings I've been to is they're unpredictable and you need a good bag of tricky, both gear and knowledge, to get you through. Your lenses look generally good, but what flashes, battery packs, and light stands do you have? Battery packs can be especially important when it's sunny.

Scope out the venue in advance, work out the light. I've had situations where:
- Half the wedding party were in sun, the other have shade (from a tree). No easy fix there, you have to catch it in the planning stage.
- Direct sun from the side (so half the face is in deep shadow). A flash from one side can help, but you may need a big strobe.
- A ceremony inside in a hotel that metered ISO3200 F2.8 1/3rd of a second. I lit the whole area with two strobes (a speedlite might do the job)
- A ceremony in a tiny room that couldn't even fit all the guests, so I was really close to the couple. This was my first wedding doing it free, I had a 18-55 on a crop body. I couldn't get the whole wedding party in one shot. I now have a 16-35 on full frame.

Full disclosure, have only done 7 or8 weddings. That said I d think it would be advantageous to rent a second 6d rather than try and master a camera the night before a wedding.

Silver-Halide wrote in post #17476377
Comments please...

Your lenses look good for what you'll be shooting, so if you don't have a second body for redundancy, I'd suggest renting another 6D.

johnandbentley wrote in post #17476684
Full disclosure, have only done 7 or8 weddings. That said I d think it would be advantageous to rent a second 6d rather than try and master a camera the night before a wedding.

I would definitely rent it for a week or 10 days and probably spend more time with it than my kids

tim wrote in post #17476657
Weddings have receptions that often happen in low light. Sometimes it rains and the ceremony goes indoors. One thing you learn after the number of weddings I've been to is they're unpredictable and you need a good bag of tricky, both gear and knowledge, to get you through. Your lenses look generally good, but what flashes, battery packs, and light stands do you have? Battery packs can be especially important when it's sunny.

Scope out the venue in advance, work out the light. I've had situations where:
- Half the wedding party were in sun, the other have shade (from a tree). No easy fix there, you have to catch it in the planning stage.
- Direct sun from the side (so half the face is in deep shadow). A flash from one side can help, but you may need a big strobe.
- A ceremony inside in a hotel that metered ISO3200 F2.8 1/3rd of a second. I lit the whole area with two strobes (a speedlite might do the job)
- A ceremony in a tiny room that couldn't even fit all the guests, so I was really close to the couple. This was my first wedding doing it free, I had a 18-55 on a crop body. I couldn't get the whole wedding party in one shot. I now have a 16-35 on full frame.

Thanks Tim. I really appreciate your insights so I hope I didn't come across as flippant. The reception will likewise be semi-outdoors. There will be lots of windows and a large white tent with white ceilings to the tent that should be amenable to bounce flash. I could set my stands up in the corners and just set them to throw light up into the ceiling for each exposure as needed.

Unfortunately strobes are going to be a no-go because this will be a destination wedding that will involve airlines. I have a Canon 430ex Mark II for ETTL needs and two Yongnuo 560 Mark IVs and a 560tx. Two 9.5' Adorama Flashpoint stands, too. I will probably buy at least one more YN560IV just as a backup for either the tx should it go under or if I want to use three flashes. I vaguely understand that battery packs allow for faster recycle rate and won't need as many changes during the event but I was just planning on going through a slew of AA batteries for my first wedding. I could see myself buying battery packs and even strobes down the line if this goes well.

Here is me scouting out the venue.. PitchersThis is both the site for the ceremony and the reception.

Keep the advice coming please. Thanks so much.