Hello Lon, I'm not as prolific at shooting weddings as Tom, and probably have a more traditional style, but here goes:
As to lens choices, your hunch is pretty good. I find that even a 28mm lens is stretching it for a group shot with no distortion. 35mm is wide enough and back up a bit if you have to. On the long end, I wouldn't see much of a difference between 100 and 135, take one or the other. For a major portion of your shooting, 35-100 should cover it. One possible exception is during the ceremony at the alter. You will need to see where you need to be placed (may require a long lens to get any closeups) to determine proper focal length. As to flashes: 280T's are good flashes. One weak point is that almost all flashes are a bit harsh. I almost always use some kind of diffuser (StoFen, Lumiquest) to soften the light a bit. Also, highly recommend 400 speed film - reason being that you want the backgrounds to show as much as possible. Nothing looks worse than the white dress quenching the flash quick and causing the background to be black - the deer in the headlights look. Also drag the shutter to get as much ambient light in as possible - 1/30th to 1/60th range, if possible. And put the flash on the bracket! You need that light above the camera so that shadows will stay behind and below the subject (even when shooting vertically), not to mention no redeye. As to film: I know, I know, you said not to go there, but...consumer films are quite contrasty (except the Reala) and you are shooting a wedding - very high contrast - black tux, white dress. You would do well to use a portrait/wedding film for this. Fuji NPS(160) and NPH(400) or Kodak Portra 160NC and Portra 400NC. It will make a big difference in the final prints - you'll see detail in both the tux and dress and the skin tones will look nice and natural. There, I've said it... HTH, Bruce Sunday, January 18, 2004, 11:41:52 AM, you wrote: LW> I'm doing a friend's second wedding as the primary photographer. LW> I've checked the church; it's light enough for me to focus at LW> f4, even f5.6, in a pinch. I have KX, MX, SuperProgram bodies, LW> and will use the Supers due to TTL flash (a brace of AF280Ts). LW> I have the tele and wide adapters for the 280Ts, MEII winder and LW> A motor drive, a Stratos 11" flash bracket, monopod, and tripod. LW> I plan to shoot mostly flash shots except outside, using the LW> winder and/or Stratos as a grip unless noise is clearly ok. LW> These folks are interested primarily in people shots. Big LW> surprise. LW> It's a Second wedding. They don't want 100's of photos of LW> everything. In fact, nothing beyond them, the Minister, LW> closest relatives, Maid and Best Man. I've already got LW> the shot list, and it is modest. LW> The question is: Lenses...... LW> The only zoom I'd press into service is the A35-70. This should LW> get me most group shots and decent portraits of the HappyCouple when LW> together. Will the 35 end be enough for most group shots? I'd think LW> so; I'm more worried about this lens performing as a portrait lens. LW> But I'm going to try to make it do most of the work. LW> Additional lenses I could press into service: LW> Soligor 20 f2.8 (too wide, I should think....) LW> K 24 f2.8 (maybe too wide for group shots) LW> M 35 f2.8 LW> Various K/M/A 50's from f1.4 to f2.0 LW> M 100 f2.8 LW> K 135 f2.5 LW> M 200 f4 LW> Sigma 70-300 APO (I don't want to lug this and probably won't) LW> My common sense tells me the 28, the 35-70 zoom, and the 100 should do it. LW> Maybe a 50 f1.4 for available light. And perhaps the 135 for shots during the LW> ceremony. LW> The 24 would probably distort group shots, and the 200 may be too long and slow LW> to be of any use. LW> I plan to have available several rolls of film in 100, 200, 800, and 800. LW> This will be film I am familiar with; all consumer stuff except Reala. LW> Please stick especially to lenses and usefulness of a monopod in replies. LW> It is possible to mount the Stratos flash bracket to my monopod, but I'm LW> not sure it's worth taking the monopod. LW> Thanks. I know some of you are good at weddings. LW> -Lon
