Shot a wedding on an X-T1 in 2020

[Vintage JB]

So, first Im new here. It had been a long time, almost a decade since I had shot a wedding. So when asked, I was a bit disapointed as I had sold my Fuji 90mm f2 already for lack of use. I accepted on the condition that I receive some Godox flashes to get the job done. The only gear I had was a 23mm f2, Samyang 12mm f2, 18-55mm f2.8-4 , and a 40 year old manual fujinar T 135mm f2.8 and a converter. Godox was new to me, went with the V860llf with extra batt. X2T tranmitter and a little tt350 with some mini folding attachable softboxes. One dozen double AA's extra V860llf batt. And 4 fuji w126 batteries. Was nervous got the job done, no noticeables misfires with the Godox. Shot high ISO. I shot a lot and I moved the flashes around off camera, it was nerve racking at first and then became fun. All 11 hours of it. I felt like I got a lot of good photos for them. Here's a few.


Had them clean clean off this couch quick, and just chill for a minute for this photo with the Samyang 12mm.


Had a flash in the back ground on this one.


I used the Samyang 12mm f2 a lot more than anticipated. It was just easy to stick the focus somewhere between 3ft and infinite and pretty much be in focus.


Here was a shot with a 40 year old adapted Fujinar 135mm f2.8 manually focused. Shot was taken a few months prior to the wedding.

 

[Marek1977]

I really like the last one, well done

 

[Samuraidog]

Given your circumstances, you did a great job. The client should be happy.

 

[Rmcp20]

I think you are a very brave man!

Using mostly manual lenses on a wedding is a risk, not so much for the samyang, but the 135mm...

You did a reasonable job with what you had, but i wouldn't have accepted that wedding with that gear for sure.

 

[biza43]

I really like the last one, well done

Same here.

 

[Marek1977]

I think you are a very brave man!

Using mostly manual lenses on a wedding is a risk, not so much for the samyang, but the 135mm...

You did a reasonable job with what you had, but i wouldn't have accepted that wedding with that gear for sure.

Yes strangely enough 5 years nobody would question this. Why is that? Don't forget one important fact, lots of clients have no clue about cameras, lenses, they are only interested in the end result.

 

[bowrilla]

I think you are a very brave man!

Using mostly manual lenses on a wedding is a risk, not so much for the samyang, but the 135mm...

You did a reasonable job with what you had, but i wouldn't have accepted that wedding with that gear for sure.

Yes strangely enough 5 years nobody would question this. Why is that? Don't forget one important fact, lots of clients have no clue about cameras, lenses, they are only interested in the end result.

What exactly do you mean? This is definitely not because of the clients expecting autofocus but about a wedding photographer making sure to catch the moments you can't replicate. Sure, it has been done 40 years ago, but standard regarding sharpness were a bit different and the cameras back then had proper screens to help you with quick manual focus. Using MF lenses on AF bodies that aren't really made for quick MF, especially on cameras with EVFs (on top of that older and slower EVFs) is quite a risk. If this was a pay job I would certainly not haven taken the job - or I would have rented some equipment.

 

[Kamukix]

Lovely shots, I still absolutely looooove the images that I capture with my X-T1. The color and feel is something I don't think I've ever had with any other camera yet. (I also own the X-T2)

Glad you had a good time, and they were happy with the results as the gear doesn't matter anyway...only the client's feeling about the work.

I got married last year as a matter of fact, and the only stipulation on gear I gave my wife when looking for a photographer was that the photographer must use either a DSLR or mirrorless body aka no cell phones or point and shoots as a main camera under any circumstance. Other than that I couldn't care less what gear was used. The photographer ended up using a Nikon D7200 she's been using for years (she also shot a very dear friend's wedding a handful of years back), and I didn't care. She got the shots we wanted, she did a wonderful job of blending in, and she did it all with a very cheap (today) body.

I wouldn't hesitate to use one of my old cameras to shoot a job (assuming there weren't megapixel/size restrictions in the contract) if I felt that camera would give me the output/feeling that I needed for that job. I even recently sold my Z6 (wonderful camera) because it just didn't do anything for me despite the crystal clear images it could produce.

The only restriction you had that made me a bit skittish was that I'd have wanted to rent a lens or two for the job haha.

--
I love people

 

[frez]

You don’t mention having a spare camera body, if this was a professional gig then you definitely should have had spare equipment, irresponsible not to. If it was a favour then that’s another matter, but it would have still been incumbent on you to explain the risks based on what equipment you would be using.

when equipment breaks on a fashion shoot you can rebook if necessary, you can’t do that on a wedding.

 

[bowrilla]

You don’t mention having a spare camera body, if this was a professional gig then you definitely should have had spare equipment, irresponsible not to. If it was a favour then that’s another matter, but it would have still been incumbent on you to explain the risks based on what equipment you would be using.

when equipment breaks on a fashion shoot you can rebook if necessary, you can’t do that on a wedding.

Yeah, imho that's a given. If MF is a potential risk factor, no spare camera is an even greater one. Even as a favour and after explaining the risks because of limitations of the own equipment, I wouldn't feel good about it. Non photographers usually do not think about how quickly a camera can die and even if they say, they do understand that this might end up with no pictures at all, they will be disappointed if it does happen and you will potentially lose friends over this or you'd be the one in the family who messed up. Only if they do understand these points very clearly I'd be willing to go there as a favor and not as a pay job.

 

[Marek1977]

What I mean is that most clients eyes will glaze over if you start talking to them about what equipment you are going to use.

 

[mapline]

Sorry to ask but was soft focus intended?

 

[Vintage JB]

The wedding was actually a favor which I did reluctantly. I wasn't happy with the gear I had and I'm looking to get an X-H1 and keep the X-T1 as a backup. I was asked to do it because a had done a wedding for someone they knew years ago with a Canon 30D. I said I would do it if they bought me a Godox V860llf flash. When I realized the venue was a ballroom with 30+ ft. high ceilings I ordered another flash and a transmitter. I knew I wasn't getting away with bounce flash. Went through 4 camera batteries managed to recharge two of the 4 batteries, only killed 2 AA's in the tt350, Transmitter went strong entire day lost one bar, and the partially drained battery was replaced in the V860llf 2/3 thru the day. I knew the risk going in and honestly was sweating bullets until after the ceramony and started having fun.

 

[Vintage JB]

With the 135mm yeah it does have a bit of softness to it. I kind of liked the dreamy look though, I don't think you can get that look any other way with newer lensed. Also, a couple here and there with the Samyang were a little off. But I felt the xf18-55mm f2.8-4 really did well were it counted. I'm strictly an amatuer being pushed into doing work, and so yes I let a little bit of creative freedom come out, also a daunting feeling of responsibility. I don't plan on doing another wedding unless I'm fully ready with extra gear and lenses and lighting that I would prefer. None of the photos have even been edited yet. Most shots were in classic chrome, some later dance floor shots in velvia.



Fujinar T 135mm f2.8


The Godox's off camera did a fairly good job in commander mode in manual. I know I've got a lot to learn but I wouldn't hesitate to do another wedding after I get another camera body and some nice Fuji primes.


Had my back against the wall for this shot with a 135mm

Honestly I'm no professional but I felt this was not a bad series of shots from a 40 year old manual focus 135mm lens.



While I used the 18-55 for most of the party shots I couldn't resist switching on the 12mm for a couple low angle shots.

 

[Vintage JB]

Anyway, thanks for any comments or critiques. I've been browsing this website for years looking at camera rewiews, and looking up opinions on topics related to photography or any info photographically related and it's been useful.

 

[Kamukix]

Anyway, thanks for any comments or critiques. I've been browsing this website for years looking at camera rewiews, and looking up opinions on topics related to photography or any info photographically related and it's been useful.

I think you've done a wonderful job especially with the limitations you had. The photos are lovely, and I bet they'll look back on them in the quiet moments and smile, laugh, and maybe enjoy a good cry.

Good job!

 

[Tom Schum]

had done a wedding for someone they knew years ago with a Canon 30D.

I did a wedding for my brother-in-law with a Canon EOS 30D a few years ago. Swore I would never do another wedding. I borrowed a lens and flash from my daughter's husband's father, and nothing failed. I was lucky, but the whole thing was so much work I never want to do it again.

So, more power to you!

 

[Vistaview]

I think you did a terrific job. I would hire you.

 

[biza43]

Some of those shots do not look like from a 135mm focal length lens. They look like from a wide angle. Also, when looking in detail, they are really soft and out of focus, or both. Strange...

 

[Vintage JB]

Some of those shots do not look like from a 135mm focal length lens. They look like from a wide angle. Also, when looking in detail, they are really soft and out of focus, or both. Strange...

They were not all 135mm some were 12mm. I guess I thought I was typing in the photo caption when noted 135mm. It was a comment about the above photo and a series taken with ir. I realize now I didn't really hand select images to post on here, just random thumbnails I clicked on and uploaded from my phone gallery and being manual lenses they may be a little soft on focus on my part. Also the venue was much darker than most photos show and the ceilings high so I was using high ISO. The atmosphere in the place was very night club like, so I was trying to compensate. These phots below better represent the atmosphere and ambient light available to me. It was definately challenging for me to say the least. Bottom two images are ISO 6400. Given the place was basically candlelight mixed with whatever Mr. Wizard back there had going on I'm surprised I got anything in focus at all.







Kinda feel like this one might look good in black and white, so...