Shooting a Wedding, need opinion

[PhotoGimp]

I put a post on earlier about shooting a friends wedding in May. I shoot canon film body and digital with a 10D, and after reading up on the digital and canon flash problems with their ettl(with exposure), I wonder if I would be better shooting film as my main. I have not owned the digital long, and still have quite a bit to learn about white balance and flash usage with it. Is there perhaps another flash that will work that is a little less technical? Thanks in advance

[another view]

It's not just a Canon problem. Supposedly Nikon has really improved with their latest digital TTL system but I haven't used it. When I shoot my digital this way, I use the flash on "A" mode which is not TTL. The results are pretty good; much better than TTL - at least on the Fuji S2 I have. It's not as accurate as TTL with a film camera and digital has less exposure latitude than film, so the bottom line is that your exposures won't be 100% dead on like they can be (practically) with film.

These two reasons (flash and exposure latitude) are why I shoot film for weddings, although I may try some digital during the service because I can't use flash (ISO800 looks very good on the S2).

[JK_Photo]

When I shoot a wedding I always have a second body for backup(also for different lenses - not so much lens switching). Do you have 2 digital bodies? If one should go down for whatever reason you're not stuck.
I'm still shooting film for weddings for a number of reasons; I've got more equipment for film, I've not got enough computing power at present to deal with all those huge files quickly, and I'm still on a learning curve with the digital workflow.
If you're not completely comfortable think about sticking with film 'til you are. Don't mix the two though; too many variables in the final output.

[another view]

Don't mix the two though; too many variables in the final output.

Yeah, I'm thinking about passing on that idea. I have one on Saturday and afraid it will be a little too fast paced to change from one system to the other. And like you I have more film "infrastructure" than digital. I only have one computer and DSLR and wouldn't want to have to rely on that - Murphy's Law, you know.

[racingpinarello]

Hi,

I've photographed a wedding using the 10D and a 550ex flash on TTL. The results were extremely good, and with digital you can always fine tune the flash output if it's too bright.

Note..you have to adjust the output on the flash. With Nikon you can adjust the flash on the body, and it took me forever to figure out how to use Canon flashes.

With weddings you have to feel 100 comfortable with your equipment, and if that means shooting film, then do it. Your focus has to be on the people and not learning how to use the camera. I'm telling you this on personal experience where my first wedding was a nightmare.

Loren

[JK_Photo]

Hi,

With weddings you have to feel 100 comfortable with your equipment, and if that means shooting film, then do it. Your focus has to be on the people and not learning how to use the camera. I'm telling you this on personal experience where my first wedding was a nightmare.

Loren

I'll definitely second that.

[PhotoGimp]

Thanks for all your opinions. I still have until May and I've really been playing with the flash and camera together the past couple of days, I plan on doing a couple of trials with my wife in her dress next to my suit, in different darknesses etc. If I don't feel comfortable soon, then I will just shoot with 2 film bodies and have my 10D as backup. Thinking about it, digital really only has one advantage for me, and that is being able to see exposure right away. I've been flustered ever since I got it. Back to slide for me! Thanks again

[another view]

You won't really have time to look at the LCD at a wedding. Maybe the first shot or two to make sure everything's working and set how you want it, but you really can't check every shot.

I was thinking about digital during the service for two reasons - the clean high ISO files I mentioned and adjustable white point. The LCD is great, but you really can't plan on relying on looking at it much. And I agree about knowing your equipment inside and out. Keep using it until you don't have to look at it to change a setting.