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
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