Buy Used FF or Not for Wedding

First (not being rude, but I've posted similar here before and got these type of replies) I don't need responses like "hire a wedding photographer", "you have no business shooting it". I'm going to be shooting a wedding, my granddaughters. She's going against most of the family's wishes of getting married very, very soon, like Jan 2nd. She wants me to shoot her wedding. I have shot a few, more informal, weddings, and this will be like that. She doesn't want a church wedding, just by a judge. She is having a reception afterwards. I'm not going into business as a wedding photographer

Just a little more info, she does not have any parents to speak of. Her mom passed away 16 yrs ago, her worthless drug-dealer(that's fact, from her and her mom when she was alive) biological father has only seen her a few times, and she wants nothing to do with him. She's been raised by her great-grandmother, and me and my wife. She does not have the finances for a "pro" wedding photographer, nor do I. I wished I did, because that's the route I would take. Wedding photographers in this area are $2k and up.

That said, the only camera bodies I have are, Canon 70D and T4i (650D). I know it's best practice to have at least 2. My dilemma, is the T4i is ruled out, too different from my 70D for me to rely on being able to quickly change settings. So I'm wanting to replace it with either another APS-C or go ahead and pick up a FF. What I'm considering;

• 5D MK2 or a 6D (used of course) for full frame
  
• 7D MK2 or 80D for APS-C
  

• Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM OS
  
• Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM OS <---That could be an issue since it's specific to APS-C.
  
• Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
  

You can get a new 6D @ B&H for $999. If this is going to be your only wedding you can always rent?

You don't need anything, put on the flashes and go, don't overcomplicate.

Your current idea won't make a huge difference IMO. Just use your lights.

You can consider renting as well, buying 2 cameras, ide consider 2 second hand 5D3's.

If you're only considering buying a used FF body for the wedding and don't see a need for it long-term, why not consider renting? You can rent a 5D Mark IV for seven days for $158 from lensrentals.com. A 24-70mm f/2.8L II is $63 for the same seven days.

https://www.lensrental​s.com/rent/canon-5d-mark-iv
https://www.lensrental​s.com/rent/canon-24-70mm-f2.8l-ii

I can't speak much for full frame bodies since I'm a crop user. In the crop domain, you have a 70D and you're asking about a 7D Mark II vs 80D. I made the jump from 70D to 7D Mark II earlier this year and I found it was a big learning curve. The 7D Mark II has so many additional settings and AF modes that it took me some time to become familiar with how to set them all, especially when I'm out shooting and need to make changes in a hurry. Since the wedding is only four weeks away, the 80D might be better since it is closer to the 70D that you already have and are used to.

For that matter, maybe the best option is to rent a second 70D.

Mike

I would save your money. With all due respect, the problem is not lack of equipment. The problem is not knowing how to adequately use your existing equipment. I've used a 650D to shoot anything from NCAA basketball to global conferences, all in manual. You own some very capable gear. Many people have gotten beautiful results over the years with equipment more primitive than yours. Any new gear will still involve some degree of a learning curve. A civil venue will probably have better lighting than a candle lit church, and probably won't have restrictions on flash or access points. The reception probably won't present any unique problems either. Work to improve your technical knowledge, practice, then shoot with confidence.

What you have is more than enough. Ignore everyone who says otherwise. They're quick to spend other people's money.

Go. Create. Have a good time.

The idea of two bodies is mostly for equipment failure purposes...not necessarily to shoot quickly with two lenses, although that's what sometimes is done.

Speaking only for myself, I found that I had better quality results when sticking with just one camera and lens for a while and then switching out the lens itself as appropriate, not even carrying both at all. You're never gonna capture everything anyway, and switching between the two around your neck makes you miss more than keeping one at the ready at all times.

Think of it this way: you're always going to miss wide opportunities when you have the telephoto up to your face and you're always going to miss telephoto opportunities when you have the wide up to your face and you're always going to miss it all when you're switching.

ever hear of the KISS method/approach?

why not shoot the event with your 70D & your Sigma 17-55mm?

while I'm not a Sigma fan, keep it simple & spend your energy composing and paying attention. simplify the ergonomics & gear - one lens, one camera, one set of controls - so you're not distracted and ...

maybe have fun.

I second the idea of just shooting the entire wedding with the 70D and your Sigma 17-55. Make sure that you are comfortable with your flash, practice a family get together during your Christmas celebration or something similar. You could take the 100mm for some macros etc. while the guests are dining. Perhaps a nice ring shot and some portraits of the bride. Make a list of what shots are necessary and you'll be good to go. No need to spend any extra money.
But if you really need to get a second body, rent the same that you are familiar with and not anything new to you that requires a learning curve; you don't need to feel stressed out. You also want to enjoy the wedding if possible. Make sure you explain the situation to the bride and just shoot and have fun. Have plenty of spare batteries for your camera and the flash and plenty of super fast SD cards.
Good luck

Usually not a fan of 3rd party lenses either but I bought the Sigma 17-55mm because I got it new on sale for around $350. It is an OK lens but is destined for only crop. That lens with the 70D @ F/8 and a flash will allow for lowish ISO and result in good pictures. The T4i is a fine camera at low ISO, I own the 7D MI, 6D MI and I still use my T2i. The 17-55mm on one body & the 70-200mm on the other would be a fine combo if you use flash on both to keep down the ISO. I think maybe the OP is kinda like me, looking for an "excuse" to buy a new body.

texkam wrote in post #18767374
I would save your money. With all due respect, the problem is not lack of equipment. The problem is not knowing how to adequately use your existing equipment.

I agree with this statement, but also add that OP's unfamiarity with some new-to-him recent purchase is no better than his already voiced complaint,
"My dilemma, is the T4i is ruled out, too different from my 70D for me to rely on being able to quickly change settings" !!!
Only a second 70D would alleviate that issue. Getting a FF body results in a camera just as (if not more so) unfamiliar to the photographer!

As already stated, the second body is typically brought so that a hired photographer has less chance of totally blowing the task of getting photos for his/her client, and while a second body does permit a second lens FL range to be immediately ready for use there is the logistical problem of what to do with the 'idle' body while the other one is in use, set it down and get it stolen, or let it crash into the other body at times?!
I still have, from my wedding shooting days (film), a brand new medium format body which I had as a spare and had never employed during wedding work because I did not want the body to be stolen when it was set down and/or I could not figure out how to keep two bodies from crashing into each other from time to time.

Don’t buy a 5D mk2, the focus sucks and not just in low light. Used it at weddings for a couple of years and was very glad to be rid of them when the mk3 came out.

Ron:
I would go the rental rout. The Canon 5D MKIV is as sweet a camera as you can get and the two lenses you mentioned will work well on this camera. I would use the 70-100 on this camera, but if you really want an all round lens you may think about renting the EF 24-70 2.8 L lens.
Make sure you work out the light situation for this event.

I'd also recommend not spending anything on new equipment and research what the venue will be/learn controls of your current equipment. Renting a 5D4 and L lenses means needing to spend a lot of extra time learning the interface (and what you learn, are you going to use again if you want to stick with your current cameras?). You haven't given details about the reception: if its at a restaurant during evening you may have instances were you can keep ISO low if you're able to remote your lights. I assume since you're immediate family, you'll also tend to be close enough to use the 17-50mm the most. But for dances, you may need more reach (so having the 70-200 in your bag doesn't hurt). You can have the extra equipment at the reception. Since you're close to the bride, you may still find some heart felt moments to have one body and lens with the court wedding and other events throughout the day.

If you are well familiar with your equipment I say stick with them vs renting equipment you are not familiar with. Practice indoor people shots until the wedding - both with and without flash. You didn't mention if you have flash or not. Don't depend on internal camera pop-up flash - too weak. If you don't have a shoe mount flash rent or buy one. Finally make sure you have plenty of spare batteries for the cameras and the flashes as well as spare memory cards. Keep calm during the ceremony and you'll do fine.