Just bought A700 need advice for family wedding coming soon.

RKonegen

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I have been using K&M 5D for the past few years and just last week received a new A700.

I have the wedding coming up soon and wondered if some of you could give me some advice on which lenses you would bring. And also how to set-up the A700 camera for mostly portraits. I am not a photographer just a hobbyist but would like to do the best I can. :) I think my lenses are listed below.

It would be nice to set the camera up so I don't have to fiddle with it too much during the wedding, it possible.

Thanks for any advice you can give. :D
 
I have used a KM 28-75. If in a church, you need to find out about flash use, generally only during procession up and down.

Low light alter stuff a tripod or mono pod will help as well as a 70-200 2.8.

How big is the wedding party for the after shots, you made need something wider than 28.

--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

I don't make posts here to get you to go to my website!
 
I dont see any lenses listed below, or do I see any mention of flash other than the limited on board flash. You said mostly portraits so this means no capture of any reception, dancing , flower throwing... I assume you are not the wedding photograher.... I think if you are not the wedding photographer that you should have fun at the wedding, and take some photos to capture memories, but otherwise enjoy the wedding..

will the wedding be indoors or outdoors?.. there are many elements to making memorable wedding shots. many people take candid shots with a throw away camera and have fun doing it.. if we knew your main purpose and your equipment we could help you more...
in doors
out doors
motion shots
low light shots

wedding party size and where these shots would be taken ( Light wise ) at the altar or outside
strength of flash availability ( Model )
lens availability
your ability to post process high ISO images
how much ISO are you comfortable with

--
Bill
Capturing memories, one at a time.

Visit my Smug Mug Galleries at:
http://evil-twin.smugmug.com/
 
KM5D and A700+ Minolta 3600 flash - 16-35Z|85/1.4Z|70-210/2.8|75-300/4.5-5.6|18-70/3.5-5.6|70-210/4|28/2.8|50/1.7

I get the feeling that you feel I'll be competing with the paid photographer and maybe I should mind my own business. (and enjoy the wedding) I must say I am not looking to be or compete with the wedding photographer. The wedding photographer if a friend of the bride and groom and has not shot weddings before this.

I am just a retired Uncle, trying to help out. The wedding will be in Orlando, FL. I'm sure there will be plenty of low light shots as the evening rolls on the wedding is from 6 or 7 until 10PM
 
Oops! :P Here's a list of my stuff:

KM5D and A700+16-35Z|85/1.4Z|70-210/2.8|75-300/4.5-5.6|18-70/3.5-5.6|70-210/4|28/2.8|50/1.7
You need to upgrade your medium zoom.. the kit is not up to some of the other lenses you have.

These all will give you much better IQ in that range. Especially now that you are at 12 MP

17-70 Sigma
17-50 Tamron
16--80 Sony CZ

---------
Ken - A700 Owner..
Some of my work at:
http://gallery.cascadephotoworks.com
 
KM5D and A700+ Minolta 3600 flash - 16-35Z|85/1.4Z|70-210/2.8|75-300/4.5-5.6|18-70/3.5-5.6|70-210/4|28/2.8|50/1.7

I get the feeling that you feel I'll be competing with the paid photographer and maybe I should mind my own business. (and enjoy the wedding) I must say I am not looking to be or compete with the wedding photographer. The wedding photographer if a friend of the bride and groom and has not shot weddings before this.

I am just a retired Uncle, trying to help out. The wedding will be in Orlando, FL. I'm sure there will be plenty of low light shots as the evening rolls on the wedding is from 6 or 7 until 10PM
--I think you are talking to me here. I dont know or have ever heard of a 70-210 f/2.8
the 36 flash will limit your flash range

Did you ask the bride and groom permission to shoot, and why did the bride and groom choose a friend and not their uncle? The friend never shot a wedding either.. is anyone getting paid.. did you ask the friend ( photographer chosen by the Bride and groom if you could compete with him for shots?

there is no such thing as a single setting to capture, all of the events and conditions you have described, inside outside, reception, activities, dancing etc.

you need to know the basics of photography to achieve memorable shots..

you need the right WB, the right ISO to achieve the proper DOF and shutter speed and aperture for each individual shot condition. the 36 flash will not cover a very large range especially if you have to take a back seat to the other photographer.

Rather than being a wet blanket, Good luck with your opportunities.. take lots of photos. If you are not sure of what you are doing and expect to get everything with one setting then I suggest you auto everything , use the auto program mode. Hope for the best.. If you make a single set up you will be disappointed because most of the photos will not fall into this range.. at least with auto everything you have an internal brain that has been designed around taking photogrpahs... If you dont know what you are doing and select one set up, it could make most of your photos worthless... The camera can do only so much though, but it is better than trying to guess what to do for each shot.. the biggest problem you will have with auto everything is that the camera can not detect motion enough to raise or lower the shutter speed. so if you have an action shot ( eg. bride throwing the flowers ) and her arm and the flowers look way out of focus ( Motion blur due to a slow shutter speed. If you crank up the shutter speed without enough light your DOF may be too narrow.

Again I hope you have fun and take my advice in the manner in which I presented it.
Bill
Capturing memories, one at a time.

Visit my Smug Mug Galleries at:
http://evil-twin.smugmug.com/
 
We just did a family wedding:

http://photosbyjim.smugmug.com/Weddings/Jessica-Jason-Wedding-Aug-22/9354189_vAguN
and
http://photosbyjim.smugmug.com/Weddings/Jessica/9414516_ayFJC

My wife used the A700 and 16-80Z and Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX... I use the A900 w/24-70Z and the 70-200G did need more or less than that.... 56AM flash and 58AM were also used....

A700 16-80Z is just about perfect and I use the 24-70Z on A900 80% of the time during the wedding...





maybe also bring the 85mm 1.4 for low light portrait.

Jim in Vt
 
I'd use primarily, if I was the main photographer:
85/1.4
16-35
50/1.7

These are the fastest lenses and probably most useful lengths. But I'd discuss with the other photographer which of you is going for which kinds of shots. Then pack lenses accordingly. You might end up going with a longer lens if you're in the background.
 
I shot a family wedding recently and used the A700 and CZ16-80 almost the entire day. I did switch to the 50mm 1.7 for some shots of the wedding banquet tables before the guests arrived to get some nice DOF control. I also used the 42 Flash.

Results were good but I think I got lucky as it wasnt a church ceremony so didnt have to contend with really low light and no flash.
 
I'm not a wedding pro (have done several for hire) but I've shot at enough events as a guest here is what I would offer:

1) Get a flashgun! Before worrying about which lens to use get at least a Sony HVL-42 flashgun and learn how to use it. At the minimum learn how to use bounce flash indoors and high speed sync outdoors. Contrary to popular belief outdoors at mid-day is one of the most critical times to have a flash. Shadows are dark and contrast and without one you'll either get dark faces, blownout backgrounds, racoon and/or squinty eyes, etc. Flash is essential IMHO.

2) As nice as primes are, I would use your zooms. If you're not experienced at weddings, fumbling and switching lenses is not a good option. Grab your 16-35 and 70-200/2.8 and you should be covered. f2.8 is plenty fast especially when paired with a flashgun.
--
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