Attn - Jamison / Canon Digital Xt Users

[Sheila]

If you don't mind I have a few questions. I am getting ready to purchase the
Canon digital XT online and I am strongly considering buying just the body.
I presently have the 28-105mm lens that came with my 35 mm digital rebel and also the Canon 75-300 IS 1:4 - 5:6. Is there another walk around lens that you could suggest to compliment what I already have?
My daughter is getting married in June 2006 and although she will have a photographer, I would also like to take pictures so I would like to have a lens that would work well for the indoor and outdoor wedding pictures.
One lens that I was considering would be the 50mm 1.8. I would gladly consider selling any lens that I currently own if there was a better one to replace it with.
My primary use of taking photos is family pictures, kids playing sports and vacation pictures.
Also do you own the Adobe wedding cd? If so, do you think it would be could for a lay person to use?
I appreciate your expertise and opinion.

Thanks
Sheila

[britkev]

Can't help you with most of that, but I would warn you, from personal experience, that although 28mm is quite nice on film, it really is not wide enough when you stick it on a digital body... the crop factor turns it into 42mm, or maybe even 45mm on the Canon I think, which is barely even a wide angle at all.

[Rhys]

If you don't mind I have a few questions. I am getting ready to purchase the
Canon digital XT online and I am strongly considering buying just the body.
I presently have the 28-105mm lens that came with my 35 mm digital rebel and also the Canon 75-300 IS 1:4 - 5:6. Is there another walk around lens that you could suggest to compliment what I already have?
My daughter is getting married in June 2006 and although she will have a photographer, I would also like to take pictures so I would like to have a lens that would work well for the indoor and outdoor wedding pictures.
One lens that I was considering would be the 50mm 1.8. I would gladly consider selling any lens that I currently own if there was a better one to replace it with.
My primary use of taking photos is family pictures, kids playing sports and vacation pictures.
Also do you own the Adobe wedding cd? If so, do you think it would be could for a lay person to use?
I appreciate your expertise and opinion.

Thanks
Sheila

The XT is a fine camera. I would suggest purchasing a lens such as the Tokina 12-24 for the intereor photos. Other than that, you're all set lenswise. I'd also suggest getting the 420EX flash for it as it emits an infra-red focussing beam that will help a lot in the intereors where ambient lighting might fool the camera into thinking it has focussed.

I don't own an Adobe wedding CD and have never heard of one.

Another recommendation - lots of memory cards and plenty practice with the camera before the event.

[ktixx]

I second the wider lens, a 28mm lens becomes a 44.8mm lens on a Rebel xt.
In adddition, I second the flash, if you want to get some nice indoor shots a flash is almost essential.
Ken

[aparmley]

I recommend the Canon EF 50 F1.4 USM. I shot two weddings last year with only the 50 1.8, I wasn't the hired photographer, and I found that focal lenght to be great for most of your standard photographs, although you'd like some differing FL for different views, but to get the job done and to capture the days events with confidence and on a budget, I'd recommend the 50 1.4 with out hesitation. The 1.8 is very hit or miss on the focus and is soft when used say below F4. Having shot two weddings with the 50 1.8 and numerous other candid style portraits with it and now the 50 1.4 I'd never trust the 50 1.8 to an important event much like your daughters wedding. I used the phrase "on a budget" earlier, what I meant by that is there are plenty of other "Dependable" and capable lenses you could get, but at a premium price.

I'll let the wedding pros handle all the details, but I'd say you need a low light performer - which is something you lack and will need. That is why I mentioned the 50 1.4.

I'd recommend you wait on getting anything wider than your 28-105 until after you have your camera and mount the 28-105 - I personally consider the 28 end to be plenty wide - I don't know what to do with all the world I get at 28mm. But anyway get the body and mount the 28-105 then you can decide if something wider will be useful for you at a wedding. I personally don't think you'll need anything wider than 28 on the 1.6x crop XT, but thats just me, I'm not a wide angle nut.

I'm going to bet a solid flash is going to be recommended over and over and its a wise decision to get one. 430, 550, 580.

Good luck.

P.S. I think if you had to you could just pick up a good flash and use it with your 28-105. That would be the cheapest route to take here. But I also think it'd be wise to have a low light performer so you don't always have to use flash, you might not be able to in the church.

[cdifoto]

I can't recommend the 50mm f/1.8 because I went to my cousin's wedding with just that lens and my XT w/grip figuring I could just snap a few shots without being seen.

Well I did snap a few shots. I was unseen. But only a couple out of over 40 actually came out in focus. I wasn't shooting wide open, and for the most part I was far enough away to have enough depth of field even if I was wide open..yet still no good focus locks.

Fortunately I had the rest of my gear out in the car "just in case" so I ran out and grabbed it to get some formals of my own and cover the reception.


At any rate I'd recommend the 50mm f/1.4 for better focusing and even lower light capabilities based on Aparmley and others' samples & reports. My own will arrive tomorrow so I'll be able to confirm it with first hand experience later.

I do recommend a flash as well and a lot of practice with bouncing it in different ways to achieve the best possible results. Gizmos and add-ons can be useful but ever since I shed mine and learned to bounce more creatively I've been getting better results...without a goofy gadget on my flash.

Which flash to get will ultimately depend on budget and/or whether you plan on using flash a lot or hardly at all. If you can afford it, the 580EX is at the top of the Canon lineup and it is truly worth every penny (in my opinion). Next down the line is the 550EX, just as capable with slightly less power and minus a few features and different controls I believe. The 430EX is next and it's a fairly new model. Less powerful than the 550EX but having some of the features and same control layout as the 580EX. The 420EX can be had pretty cheap now since it's been discontinued to be replaced by the 430EX. Somewhere between the 550EX and the 580EX lies the Sigma EF-500 DG Super. It's a nice flash from a 3rd party that rivals the 550EX but has most of the features of the 580EX, except it lacks a little in build quality and the controls are different. It's priced below the 550EX by about $60 most places.

[jamison55]

I agree with all of the above statements, and think that you are pretty well equipped except for the flash. A wider lens is more personal preference than anything else...I favor a wider POV, because I like to fill the frame with as many story elements as possible, and I like to work close in. Then again, I'm the hired pro, I'm allowed to be up close and personal. If I was a guest, I'd consider myself pretty well equipped with the lenses you already have. In fact, if another pro was providing primary coverage (and I had your kit + flash), I'd probably sit back with the 75-300 IS and snipe candids from across the room. I had a chance to use my 2nd shooter's 75-300 IS at my last wedding of 2005, and was really excited with the results (excited enough that I just dropped $1600 on the IS L version of the lens + another $150 on a Kenko 1.4 extender to get me to 300mm).

Here are a few of those shots: (all with the 75-300 IS, Canon 20D, ISO 800-1600, 1/30-1/60, f5.6-6.3, 550EX flash pointed right at the unsuspecting subjects)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/jamiewexler/smPaigeTony332.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/jamiewexler/smPaigeTony344.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/jamiewexler/smPaigeTony360.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/jamiewexler/smPaige--Tony-774a.jpg

As you can see, standing back with a really long lens, allowed me to get images where the subject were completely unaware of the camera pointed their way. I pointed the flash straight at the subjects because I wanted enough light for the longish working distances. From longer distances the direct flash is far more diffused than it is close up. I used a slower shutter speed and high ISO's to bring in as much of the ambient light as possible (and the IS allowed me to shoot at SS's that would have been impossible with my 80-200L non IS). I had my FEC set to +1. I did have the flash mounted on a bracket, because I find that working without it at longer focal lengths produces mucho redeye. As a guest, however, I'd probably leave the bracket at home and deal with the redeye in software.

So my advice is the same as everyone else...buy yourself a good flash. By all reports the 430EX is a great place to start. Compact and plenty powerful. The 580EX is even more powerful, and recycles faster than any other Canon flash (i.e. you can take the next flash shot faster. If you want to save some money, used 420ex's go for around $150, with used 550ex's fetching around $200-$250 (I use two of these). Buy a couple of sets of NiMh rechargable AA's, and you are good to go.

How to use the flash will depend on the amount of light that's already present at the wedding. If the wedding/reception is in the dark venues that I often find myself shooting in (i.e. indoors at night with dim room lighting), I'd probably set my ISO to 800, my FEC to +1, and my camera to "M" (1/60, f5.6).

I've never heard of Adobe wedding CD...

Best of luck!

[aparmley]

. . . I'd probably set my ISO to 800, my FEC to +1, and my camera to "M" (1/60, f5.6). . .

1/60th, 5.6 as a starting place correct - see what type of exposure that will give you and fine tune from there. That didn't exactly jump off the screen to me the first time but when I thought about it again, I was sure thats what you meant. I just wanted to ask the question to be abosulelty sure.

[jamison55]

1/60th, 5.6 as a starting place correct - see what type of exposure that will give you and fine tune from there. That didn't exactly jump off the screen to me the first time but when I thought about it again, I was sure thats what you meant. I just wanted to ask the question to be abosulelty sure.

Correct, depending on the light. In a really dark room (where the average evening wedding reception is held) I find that my settings don't change that much... 1/60, f5.6, ISO800 pretty much does the trick. It's a slow enough shutter speed to bring in some ambient light, but fast enough to freeze the action (provided it is so dark that the flash is the primary source of light, i.e. the short duration of the strobe is actually freezing the action). I like f5.6 because it gives a nice amount of DOF. The setting I play around with the most is FEC...

Mind you, these are my "safe" settings, and the ones that are dialed in all night to my main camera (On a bracket, usually w/the 17-40 attached). With my second body, I play around with wider apertures and slower shutter speeds, depending on the effect I am trying to achieve.

For someone just starting out, I'd recommend the "safe" settings...heck, "P" mode with ISO 800 and +1 FEC will probably do the trick!

Looking at the pics I posted, I realy would have liked to have a wider aperture on the shot of the bride wiping the tear to further separate her from the guest behind her... That's where the 135 f2 will come in handy :)

[Sheila]

Hi,

I just wanted to thank each of you for your wonderful suggestions and help.
I should have mentioned in my original post that I did already purchase the
Canon 430 EX flash. I have only used it twice and kept it on the automatic settings that were recommended when I purchased it. I am hoping to get more familiar with the flash over the next few weeks.
Ok --I am going to order the 50 mm 1:4 lens with my XT. I am going to try to build up my collection of lenses slowly and just get quality lenses. I have really learned so much from reading these message boards. I think it is so nice of all of you to take the time to answer questions and share your knowledge.
The ceremony and the reception will take place in the hotel. Some pictures will probably be outdoors in the courtyard but the majority of them will be indoors with dim lighting. She is getting married at the New York Palace Hotel.

Jamison - Your pictures are amazing ! I would be thrilled if my pictures were half as good. May I ask how long you have been a photographer?
I am going to safe your tips and print them out for the wedding day.

Here is the name of the wedding photo editing software. I have seen it on Ebay several times. I probably didn't use the correct name.
(Pro Digital Wedding Kit for Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Item # on Ebay 7220754541) If interested, just copy item #, pull up ebay and paste item number in search and you will see more information on it.

Thanks again.
Sheila

[jamison55]

Hi Sheila.

Sounds like you are pretty well set on the equipment front! Thank you for the compliment. I have been shooting "professionally" (i.e. I've been getting paid for it) since October '04...started planning to give it a shot (with free portrait sessions) since April '04...so I'm just starting out myself - with LOADS more to learn!

In getting ready for your Daughter's wedding, you should get familiar with the Histogram display in the LCD and the FEC feature. The histogram will tell you where you overall exposure lies, and highlights that are overexposed (and thus unrecoverable in post processing) will blink at you. When I'm using a flash in a dark indoor location, the blinking highlights tell me when my flash is firing a bit hot, and I need to adjust my FEC. The FEC is the single most useful control in dark indoor settings, and I am usually riding mine all evening, trying to get my exposures right "out of the camera".

Other than that, start in "P" mode, and adjust your ISO to bring up the background "ambient" light, and the FEC to compensate for Canon's conservatism, and you'll be good to go!

With the 28-105 and 50 f1.4, you might also want to experiment with bouncing your flash to make the light look more natural. As I stated before, the 70-300 might require direct flash (esp at the 300 end), but the shorter lenses should be fine bounced off of the ceiling (i.e. point your flash head straight up). Try it in your living room at home (bounced vs direct) to see the difference. If you really want to be creative, try bouncing off of different walls (to the side and behind you) and observe how the quality of the light changes.

Finally, with the 50 f1.4, experiment with wider apertures. In a dark room, the wider apertures will let even more ambient light in, and will give you that nice background blur that seperates your subject from the background.

It's digital, so it's free to experiment! Can't wait to see your shots!

[aparmley]

Ok --I am going to order the 50 mm 1:4 lens with my XT.
Sheila

I think you'll be very happy with it. I think its a good decision.

I am going to try to build up my collection of lenses slowly and just get quality lenses.

Thats a smart idea.

Good luck.