Got a wedding to shoot ad All i have is an 18-55 lens? What should I get?

Ok, so all I got is the Rebel withthe kit lens and I have a Wedding coming up in November. Gonna ask for about $800, that way I can convince hubby to let me but a lens before hand and put some of that money to the lens cost.

So, what lens would you all get, and let's say $500-$600 is the the most I could spend.

I want the EF 70-300 USM IS f4.5-5.6 (because I have a nephew who is a football player and would like that lens for the sports shots as well). But I figured it would have the verasitility for low light pics as well in wedding shots. Granted I might not get as much of the DOF I want but I think it would be a good first buy. And I know it doesn't have the rear focusing, but still my first choice. P.S> I can get this lens for aobut $440...don't ask how....

What do you all think?

Lunajen wrote in post #2030750
Ok, so all I got is the Rebel withthe kit lens and I have a Wedding coming up in November. Gonna ask for about $800, that way I can convince hubby to let me but a lens before hand and put some of that money to the lens cost.

So, what lens would you all get, and let's say $500-$600 is the the most I could spend.

I want the EF 70-300 USM IS f4.5-5.6 (because I have a nephew who is a football player and would like that lens for the sports shots as well). But I figured it would have the verasitility for low light pics as well in wedding shots. Granted I might not get as much of the DOF I want but I think it would be a good first buy. And I know it doesn't have the rear focusing, but still my first choice. P.S> I can get this lens for aobut $440...don't ask how....

What do you all think?

First of all...is this wedding indoors? I assume so, as most are and will post based on that assumption. If you are shooting completely outdoors, than this could be a different answer.

First lens to buy is the "thrifty fifty" (also known as the canon 50mm f1.8)...it's only about $80 new and will give you a chance in shooting in indoor light.

the 70-300 IS, although a good lens, won't be of much use in indoor conditiosn as the f4.5-5.6 just isn't fast enough. Certainly turn up your ISO when shooting indoors, but even then this lens would still be a bit too slow and you don't want your ISO too high or the pictures will be too grainy/noisy.

you will also want a zoom lens that will help you take shots at all different focal lengths. The most important thing to look for is that it is a fast lens (i.e. 2.8 and faster). I've heard good things about tamron 17-50, but that may not be long enough for a lot of what you need so I will leave recommendations for a fast zoom to others. make sure you get something wide enough (17 or wider on the wide end) so that you can get good group shots/crowd shots as well.

I would reccomend that you get very familiar with your 430EX flash, as that will be very important. I would also look into getting a relatively cheap flash bracket (~$75) that will also work in portrait (vertical shooting) mode. The idea behind the flash bracket is that you want the flash away from the lens to reduce redeye and you also want it centered over the lens, even when shooting in portrait mode. If you buy a flash bracket you will also need the canon off-camera shoe cord which can run you another $50.

Lastly, I would reccomend that you try to buy as much of this used as possible. Check the buy/sell forum here and on fredmiranda.com ....the latter of which is a very fast moving and busy buy/sell forum for photography so check it often and if they don't have what you are looking for today, check tomorrow.

if you have any questions about any of this, certainly feel free to PM/Email/IM me.

A bottle of Crown Royal.

Shoot film?

No digital...Rebel. Yes I know it is slow, but I get great pics.

I would get the tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 along with the canon 50mm f/1.8.

This should equate to around $500

Another option is to get the 85mm f/1.8 and get the 430 EX flash - I would personally go by this route.

EDIT: Just noticed you have the flash and the nifty fifty in that case get the tamron 28-75, and use that along with the 50mm and the 430 flash.

mdm wrote in post #2030859
A bottle of Crown Royal.

Yes, well that is for after.

Lunajen wrote in post #2030907
No digital...Rebel. Yes I know it is slow, but I get great pics.

Perhaps you misunderstood me. In looking at your gear list, you seem to have a braoder range of lenses for your AE-1 than for the Rebel. My question was, "Is it practical to use film instead of digital to take advantage of the glass you have."

If I were you I will get a flash and a bracket before any lens.

I agree with Kenwood33... maybe a Lightsphere unless you are really good with your flash.

Lightspheres waste a LOT of light and cause really slow recycle times with even a powerful flash like the 580EX unless you're in a wee tiny room. Chances of that are small at a wedding.

My suggestion is bracket, off camera shoe cord, and index card. Practice bouncing the flash with the card rubber banded to the flash head.

If you're going to shoot a wedding for pay, go well equipped so you don't shortchange the couple. Consider renting the 17-55 and the 70-200 f/2.8IS for the wedding and purchasing the 50 f/1.4 and the 580EX with a good bracket with the money you have budgeted. Once you have this wedding under your belt, you can build your kit with decent lenses.

If this is like a one time wedding and you don't plan on doing this pro then get a prime like the 50 1.4 and use your 430 EX flash and make do. Maybe rent a good lens over at Dury's Pro shop in Nashville. If you want to do weddings a lot you are going to need a heck of a lot more equipment.

PS: My advice was based on the assumption that this is a one-off deal for zero or little pay.

I have seen too many people in the Nashville area try to do 'weddings' for people without having the right equipment. I know 2 people that just got their camera with kit lens and are going to make a business and another that actually had a Upper end P&S that did weddings. That is just asking for trouble. To do weddings ongoing seriously you need backups of everything, 2 cameras, 2 flashes (or at least a second cam with on board flash), 2 nice lenses (like 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8) and a prime lens minimum with 10-16GB of CF cards if you shoot raw (which you should be at weddings).