The GSN at weddings

[neway]

Hi everyone, first time posting... But I've been reading and this place is an absolute wealth of knowledge...

So I was planning on bringing my GSN to my friend's wedding and was hoping to get some advice from you guys on using the GSN as well as shooting a wedding in general with an RF camera. It's going to be a dimly lit banquet hall and I was probably going to shoot this lens pretty wide open for most of the night...

So any tips on using the camera? Can I rely on the exposure sensor in really low light?

And if anyone has any samples also, it would be great to see some. Thanks in advance!

 

[KoNickon]

This camera is known for having a very accurate meter in low light. My caution is that you really don't know what the shutter speed is, so I'd suggest 800 speed film to keep the shutter speeds as fast as possible. I take you're not planning on using flash? 1/30 is the flash synch anyway, as I recall.

 

[Taynt3d]

I just shot a wedding like you describe two weekends ago. Tri-X pushed to 800 and Illford Delta 3200 (shot at 1600) are your friends! A few pics here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1440722&postcount=21

 

[b1bmsgt]

I just shot a wedding like you describe two weekends ago. Tri-X pushed to 800 and Illford Delta 3200 (shot at 1600) are your friends!

Beautiful shots! Bravo!!


Russ

 

[Mablo]

I would use a flash.

GSN does sync flash at all shutter speeds so no restrictions there. 1/30s is the minimum it will go without giving a warning signal. I think it's a great camera to use with flash, Auto-mode (with Thyristor) of course.

 

[Harlee]

Quite frankly, I may sound like I'm anti-rangefinder, but I'm really not. I have a number of RFs and carry them with me much more than I do my SLRs. Having said that, my first question is, are the shots for you or for the bride and groom? While I truly like the Yashicas, if I were shooting pics for the bride and groom, which I have done over the years, I would carry a good Canon or Nikon AF SLR with built in flash as either a backup or use the GSN as a backup. I say that because you will most likely have to take some fast shots and while the GSN does OK as far as focusing is concerned, I personally would prefer to have a good fast auto focusing machine in my hands to capture shots you would never get with the Yashica, plus you would also have a built in flash also at your disposal. However, if the pics are for yourself, then I'd say if you're up to the challange, go for it with your Yashica. Always remember, shooting weddings is "instant insanity" in my humble opinion, because anything that can happen usually does happen. Good luck either way you decide to go!

 

[neway]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! As for why I'm doing it.. A part of me wants to challenge myself on trying to catch the moments and being non obtrusive about it... I do have a dSLR (with a prime lens) that I've taken pictures at a couple of weddings with and I feel somewhat comfortable in doing that.

I think a part of me is wondering what the differences in style and outcome would be with the RF camera. It's the "Can I catch that moment?" or the "Will anyone notice me doing so?" kind of thing In a thread on *lickr, I saw a person shoot a wedding with a Leica M9, and many of those results came out spectacular..

We'll see what happens! Thanks a lot for all your advice!

 

[unixrevolution]

I would use a flash.

GSN does sync flash at all shutter speeds so no restrictions there. 1/30s is the minimum it will go without giving a warning signal. I think it's a great camera to use with flash, Auto-mode (with Thyristor) of course.

Pardon for asking, but how do you force it to use flash at a fast speed (other than taking the battery out so it always fires at 1/500)? If you attatch a flash but don't put it in it's dreadfully slow 1/30 sync mode, it'll still meter and shoot for the conditions, flash actuation or not, won't it?

 

[sanmich]

the GSN forces you to work on AE which can be a problem in some cases where the light is tricky (and a wedding can be).
Also, I would never use a "new to me" camera or lens for a wedding.
been there ,done that, tasted the disaster...