Wedding Lens Advice

[sjb33]

Hello All, (EDITED)
I FORGOT TO MENTION:I have been photographing wedding FOR 6 years so I'm full aware of the flow of the wedding- I really appreciated the feedback given thus far. Film brings a constant immortality as with digital something is missing. Digital photography is radically democratized. Everybody can do it, and do it well without any real understanding of the mechanisms involved. So I hope that you could lend some tips along my way please
Yes you all can call me crazy:bang: but I will be attempting in a year to begin to photograph weddings on film. I have 2 M6 just bought and learning how to use these wonderful cameras. I see that zeiss offers a 35 and 50 but not sure of the quality compared to a Leica lens. I like to start with a 35 to I don't have 3000 grand to spend on lens. Suggestions wanted.

 

[Bill Clark]

Hope this helps you.

What is your style of photography? Your answer will depend on what lenses to own.

I started with film, using both medium format and 35. I used, most of the time, an 80 for medium format and a 50 for 35. I had others that I used every so often. Back then, I had a large cooler that I transported to each gig, had divided up the inside into compartments for each type of film.

For me, it was wonderful when I moved to 100% Canon digital, and I liked it much better than film. This is what my clients desired. The lens I used the most was the 24-70 f2.8. I did have others but they were used less frequently. The process stage went from the darkroom to the computer. I captured 100% RAW and used ACR to process with one of my iMacs.

Three features of digital I really liked, changing the ISO anytime, black/white or color, color balance, didn't make any difference with RAW capture as this could be processed wih the computer with ACR.

I always had an associate photographer. Better coverage. She could switch lenses. I didn't. The clients that hired me, after meeting with me, learned the advantages of having at least two photographers for their wedding.

I found a young married couple liked the instant look at their photographs digital offers. Couple options I offered was the ability to have a select group of their wedding photos as a slide show at their reception, a group of wedding day photos loaded on a device they could view on the plane while going on their honeymoon, offering an iPad as an option to take wih them. If the venues have wi-fi that helps for making the wedding photographs.

The best advice I can give you is to find a coach, a mentor who is willing to help you as you start your journey into wedding photography. Join you local PPA affiliate. Get education by attnding various workshops. Assist a photographer if you can find someone who is truly a pro and not just a weekend warrior.

I think a wedding is like going to a play. There is a story, the actors, all these things are happening, little emotional and big emotional moments, family gathering many haven't been together for a long time. There is a script with set design, props, venue, costumes and lighting and music. Family dymanics especially in this day and age. You see it on TV, sitcoms, news, talkie shows. My job is to record the play, as it unfolds, knowing full well that specific moments they for sure will want, hopefully forever. Money shots as some call them. Forget them and that could spell trouble.

The equipment becomes a part of me. I don't need to think about it. I know it like I know how to speak in english. I just do it! I focus on the event. It only takes place just this one time. It is a tremendous responsibility. I enjoyed every moment. I have one wedding this September. It is on the roof of an apartment building in Saint Paul, set up for events like this. I'm going to check things out, form a game plan. Work on getting people photographs with the Minnesota Capital in the background. I'm out of retirement for this! I can hardly wait!

Good luck.

 

[mikyor1]

If your gonna shoot a wedding in film, id highly recommend getting a medium format camera with a fast normal lens (preferably 2.8 and faster) for portraits/first look,
then for everything else use 35mm with 400-800 speed film.

Reason being is medium format brings out the BEST of film for portraits and things, because 1, less noise, high quality, printable to massive sizes, the best shots are most likely going to be from first look/bridal party shoot/portraits. the tones from the massive negative is unreal.

I shoot a RZ67 pro ii with a 210 APO and 110 2.8 sekor Z and use 5d Mkiii for everything else.

 

[mikyor1]

Also, this will allow you to forego spending 3k on a lux lens, because the dof from a medium format at 2.8 is like 50mm 1.2. , mind you, RZ lenses go for peanuts on ebay, and they have a 400 flash sync speed due to leaf shutter.

I think this will fit your hole in your film gear, because Im guessing you want something with ultra cream dof.

Another thing about the RZ its massive, but it has a 6x7 negative, rotating back, and bellows, to get SUPER close. Its seriously a dream to shoot on.

 

[jbielikowski]

28&50 and you're done, Zeiss lenses gonna be good, good enough.

 

[Livesteamer]

Get a 90mm Summicron, the old fat one would do, and a tripod to shoot thru the wedding. Rings, first kiss and all that. Joe

 

[hellomikmik]

Many ways to go, for me it was c-biogon 35 + c-sonnar 50 - nice and compact. I would recommend to start with one lens and learn it well.

 

[lynnb]

Having done wedding photography with both film and then digital, I must agree with Bill Clark. Good advice. I strongly suggest you take it.

If you intend to go ahead with wedding photography on film then I'd suggest either a 28 or 35mm on one body and a 50mm on the other. And an assistant to load/unload the film and help organise the people and keep track of everything.

However your most pressing problem is not which lens but lack of experience shooting weddings. Get yourself hired as an assistant or even assist for free with an experienced wedding shooter and learn the ropes under supervision. Then you will understand the demands and the huge responsibility you will have to your clients to deliver a complete set of photographs to a high standard, without fail.

There's a lot of resources on the web about all this. Do some research but remember there is no substitute for the valuable experience gained assisting an experienced wedding shooter. A wedding is the B+G's most important day and you have to be 100% familiar with your equipment in real world wedding conditions and 100% capable of delivering to their expectations.

Please don't risk a couple's most important day by jumping in without doing what I've suggested. And please don't do it alone. A second shooter is your insurance (which you should also take out).

Good luck with your endeavours!

 

[Nick R.]

Good use of flash can eliminate many of the problems of shooting film indoors with different lenses. If you're not experienced with professional flash, however, there's a good chance you'll ruin most of your shots. My advice is buy a quality flash system and then go and take hundreds of shots, and write plenty of notes, until you get a handle on what works.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where are some photographs who have done weddings with Leica. It is different from digital Canonikonians approach. Not regular weddings with templates provided on seminars, but more like true documentary and capturing the true moment, not just "first kiss", rings etc.
Search for "weddings with Leica". Some have posted it on RFF, some at Huff's site and else. You'll get correct answer where about lens.

 

[KM-25]

I take it you are not a wedding photographer as in a professional wedding photographer who is earning a full time living off of the craft of wedding photography?

Because if you were you would already know exactly what you need to shoot weddings on film vs digital....right? No offense but this is a photo 101A question you have presented here.

 

[Richard G]

1. Zeiss is certainly good enough.

2. You will need f1.4 in one of your lenses, most likely your 35. I've used the C Sonnar only as I was not the wedding photographer: it would be too nerve-racking thinking about the focus shift on a wedding job.

3. Read some threads on the photo.net wedding forum.

4. After number 3. above you should be abandoning your original plan.

 

[Richard G]

Good use of flash can eliminate many of the problems of shooting film indoors with different lenses. If you're not experienced with professional flash, however, there's a good chance you'll ruin most of your shots. My advice is buy a quality flash system and then go and take hundreds of shots, and write plenty of notes, until you get a handle on what works.

5. And this. Leica photographers don't much like flash. Wedding photographers have to, especially outdoors on a sunny day.

 

[Vics]

I take it you are not a wedding photographer as in a professional wedding photographer who is earning a full time living off of the craft of wedding photography?

Because if you were you would already know exactly what you need to shoot weddings on film vs digital....right? No offense but this is a photo 101A question you have presented here.

Did you neglect reading the OP's post?

 

[leicapixie]

Film has the power to be different!
You can temper it to your vision and craft.
Film carefully processed will be archival..
Digital is very shaky here.

Film has the need for development and printing.
Will you do that at home, if BW?
A Medium format camera on paper is perfect.
Sadly paper solutions are less than ideal..
Folks today expect super fast speed from photographers..
There is barely time to focus..

I always double shot on different films.
It was a safety issue.
A process run with Kodak, ruined 9 rolls of film..
It could happen anywhere, anytime!
Digital memory cards can also go "loco".
Carry the least possible.

Do a test shoot, well in advance with couple, prior to shoot.
Show the images with family.
See if you can work together!
Don't shoot it, if there are issues at this point,


.

 

[B-9]

Having a dozen or more weddings under me, using Rangefinders, I think Bills response is a wrap on this entire thread.

No amount of equipment will save you the trouble of practice.

The recommendations for a 28/35 + 50 kit is solid,

I would reccomend the 28 Biogon and 50 Sonnar, both have excellent resale value so if you find yourself needing for more speed or a different perspective you won't take a loss.

 

[rfaspen]

I have to say Bill Clark provided the ultimate summary. Perfectly.

I learned the right way that I absolutely detest wedding photography (as a wedding photographer). I assisted a professional wedding photographer on several weddings, through the entire process from client contact to the big day to processing and proofing, to delivery. There's a lot more to this business than running around with a camera during the big day.

As already mentioned. I would probably not recommend Leica's, film or otherwise, as primary cameras for wedding photography. If you're just learning how to use your wonderful M6's (and they are wonderful), I would not attempt to use them "officially" until you truly learn all the "ins and outs" of these cameras. You'll find they are not usually the best tool in quite a few situations. An M6 as a secondary camera seems a fine idea, but as the main, I'd re-think that.

As for lenses: Zeiss lenses are truly excellent. I have a few and the 35/2 Biogon is stellar. A 50 is a good focal length for receptions, and the Zeiss Planar can deliver there. I would also consider the advice somewhere above regarding the 90 summicron. You will need something of length to capture "alter moments" in many venues where you simply can't get close enough to use a 50, or similar. And even if you can, the 90 can provide detail images.... And then there's the issue of speed; both lens and film. Some venues can get pretty dark. I found film most restricting in this aspect (otherwise really like film). Its tough to crank up the ISO on a film camera on the fly. And then you're typically limited to ISO 400, and you can push a stop (forget cropping now) if needed, but the entire roll. Or you mutter the mantra (as we often did): "film is cheap" and rewind that roll with just 3 exposures to reload another more appropriate film type.....often.

And weddings on film in general....well there's a reason they've been shot with medium format for a looong time. A lot of cropping happens and the big negative will save your hide.

 

[easyrider]

As others have said, the Bill Clark post covers it. What you have not explained is why you want to shoot film or who your target market is. Many couples now see the ceremony projected digitally as they sit down to eat. Others want a quick look at the shots and don't want to wait until film is processed. There has to be a reason to shoot film and you have not explained that. But whatever the medium, as Bill Clark explains, a wedding is essentially and event, a story -- or as he says -- a play. The most important thing is to tell the story visually. You have to decide what your story telling style is going to be, who your customers are going to be and then take it from there.

 

[YYV_146]

Film Leicas and flash are not the best of combinations. You definitely won't need strobes for a wedding, but having a good flash system will go a long way towards versatility.

But in general, I agree with the dozen or so posts above. Shooting weddings with only 135 film RF bodies is challenging regardless of how experienced you are. Almost certainly a bad idea if the actual event is months away, and you still haven't made up your mind about lenses. If you have $3,000, put it towards a good, used full frame DSLR (a D600 will work) and buy/rent lenses as needed. Of course, you can keep the M6's in a bag and wait for the right moments.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I'm a little surprised so little has been asked in terms of your target market and their requirements. Don't misunderstand me, using film is perfectly fine but are you actually positioned for that, now quite niche, market.

Are you offering a film and un-posed documentary service? Are you offering posed portraits and groups on medium format? Colour...black and white, both? Offering a very specific type of product may limit your customer base significantly but may, if you have the reputation, experience and marketing abilities enable you to charge a very handsome fee to offset that - not much info for any great advice. I would suggest that a longer lens is certainly worth being in any wedding photographers kit....but again, it depends where you're heading.

Good luck in your endeavours

EDITED: After OP's added information

Personally I'd save a little cash and go with Zeiss lenses - apart from some flaky paintwork on my Zeiss Planar 50mm f2 they're a superb rival to the legendary Leica lenses. I love my 35mm lenses and would recommend both the 35mm Biogon f2 as well as the 50mm Planar - and I'd happily go second hand if I could find excellent examples, perhaps keeping enough money to get a 24/28mm wide lens for small rooms and a longer lens for its close-up and stacking effect - but then we are getting expensive. Perhaps you're after a certain look, maybe an old uncoated lens from the 30s or 40s? It may be cheaper?