Wedding with an M3 ... Journalist style

[dave lackey]

A friend is looking for a journalist style wedding shoot and I was wondering about using the M3 and maybe another camera. With this style, what is the widest and longest lens you would use for a small wedding in a historic mansion?:angel:

If this works out (and I have done weddings in the past with Nikon DSLRs), then maybe it will open up something new.

 

[KoNickon]

I think you will need a 28 (and maybe a 24/25 also) for tight shots -- since it's inside you can't step back too far for group posed shots or for pictures of people dancing. You probably can make do with a 90 on the long end.

 

[johannielscom]

Dave,

I would happily put on a 21mm. I own one and it is perfect for tighter spaces, even when it does warp the image towards the edges.

The 90mm would probably be the longest lens usable indoors in a country mansion, maybe even a 75 Voigtländer... But then you would have to switch finders alongside lenses...

Enjoy the day, there's a thread here somewhere (wasn't too long ago) about shooting weddings with a rangefinder, maybe one of the other members can locate it an post a link? IIRC there were some people in your neck of the woods that tried their hand at it and might want to share experiences!

Cheers from Holland!

 

[paulfish4570]

i used the x100 with 35mm equivalent FL for two weddings "PJ" style. i only wished for a 50 to join it. if'n' yer doin' PJ, you ain't gonna shoot group shots anyhow ...

 

[Richard G]

I shudder to think of it but I did this with an M2 and and an M4-2 and a 50 and a 90 many years ago. I wish I'd had a 25 back then. I think it turned out OK. Even as unequipped as I was back then I knew enough to have two cameras.

 

[robert blu]

If you use the x1 you already have the 36 eq. A 50 (or 75) for head/shoulder portraits and details. A 21 for interiors could help, depending on sizes of the place.
robert

 

[Dave Jenkins]

All B&W? Or some color neg? 24/35/90 or 28/50/90, depending upon your preference, and most importantly, what you have.🙂

You probably won't be able to avoid doing some groups, and shooting them with anything wider than 28mm introduces too much distortion for my taste. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to do an entire wedding with a 35 (or 40) and a 90.

 

[ShinX414]

well, it obviously depends on your location. From my past experience i never really needed anything wider than 35mm but it wouldn't hurt to have a wide angle lens, sth <=28mm, as a back up. For the longest lens 90mm did it for me even though i shot most of my shots at 50mm

 

[brainwood]

I too would go for a 50mm particulary as it sounds like an intimate documentary look is what your after. I shot my nieces wedding last year with an M2 and a 50/1.5 nokton with a IIIg and 21/4 for some more dynamic shots . The 21 was great inside the church if you can get close enough to the couple , which aleast with some vicars in the uk is not always possible.

I even took a couple of shots with a 15mm which inside the church gave great impact and produced some less obvious shots but probably 70% was shot on the 50 .

 

[dave lackey]

Great comments so far! Thanks to all...😎

If I do this, I will also shoot at least a roll or two with the Ciroflex!😀

 

[nikonosguy]

first wedding i ever did was an m3 witha 50 summarit and a bessa r2 with a 90 elmar -- do it....

 

[dave lackey]

first wedding i ever did was an m3 witha 50 summarit and a bessa r2 with a 90 elmar -- do it....

Well, got the Summarit. Will need a fast wide w/ finder and a fast 90 on loan. Will probably use the IIIF as well.

 

[johannielscom]

Great comments so far! Thanks to all...😎

If I do this, I will also shoot at least a roll or two with the Ciroflex!😀

😀

Take the couple outside and do a few semi-formals with the Ciro-flex! The transition from sharp to unsharp is really specific on medium format and having several meters depth behind the plane of focus brings it out lovely!

 

[Denton]

Fast Glass?

Fast Glass?

Depends on the light at the mansion. I like 35mm and 75mm with F2 or faster. I recently shot a wedding with these two lenses switched out on an M9, but I also had a 5D with 24-105 IS. I did prefer to used a speedlight with many of the sanctuary shots, but I could be done with two rangefinders and pushed BW.
Denton

 

[dave lackey]

😀

Take the couple outside and do a few semi-formals with the Ciro-flex! The transition from sharp to unsharp is really specific on medium format and having several meters depth behind the plane of focus brings it out lovely!

Yep!

😀

 

[kshapero]

I have shoot many a wedding with a Nikon D7000 with a 35mm lens (FOV 50mm) and a Leica M3 with a 21mm lens. A great combo. I have shoot a couple of weddings with the Leica combo only, but then I freaked out because someone told me I made them look fat. Now I use a 40mm with the M3. That combo works well.

 

[maddoc]

If memory serves me right .... RFF member riccis did some outstanding wedding work using a M3, 50mm lens (Noctilux in his case) and a 21mm (Super-Angulon-M), all on BW film. 🙂

 

[maddoc]

niiice !!! 🙂

Yep!

😀

 

[dcsang]

For me.. the wedding "kit" includes the following:
Rolleiflex T
2x M7
21mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm

I tried to use the 135mm f4 but it just didn't take... oh ya.. and a vivitar 283.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Vics]

A friend is looking for a journalist style wedding shoot and I was wondering about using the M3 and maybe another camera. With this style, what is the widest and longest lens you would use for a small wedding in a historic mansion?:angel:

If this works out (and I have done weddings in the past with Nikon DSLRs), then maybe it will open up something new.

If it were me I'd shoot it with a 50 and a 90. M3 style all the way!