On Sep 12, 2005, at 11:10 AM, Frank Knapik wrote: > ... PZ-1p, LX, MX,AF500FTZ,AF280,AF 50/1.4,Af28-105(pz),A24/2.8 and > more. ... does anyone have any wedding experience using an *istD or > DS with the above flashes and lenses. I do realize I will need a > wider lens. Any digital specific zoom recommendations? ...
I did some wedding work this past summer with the ist-D. Any of those flashes will work OK, but you really want to use one that supports P-TTL for best results. The Pentax AF360-FGZ, or the new Pentax AF540-FGZ or the Sigma EF500 DG Super. The pro I was working with did 99% of his shots with a 17-35 and an 80-200/2.8 but I also found a 28-70/2.8 very useful. (BTW: The pro I worked with had a Canon 1D and he found even its autofocus useless under wedding conditions.) Your lighting will be hugely variable, both in level and color balance. Mixed daylight, incandescent and fluorescent in a variety of blends. :) This means you need to shoot RAW on automatic white balance and set the proper color temperature during RAW conversion. Don't try to use custom white balances for the different lighting conditions - you'll miss shots while changing settings. Here's the formula: Shoot RAW Automatic white balance Manual focus Camera on manual exposure Flash on P-TTL auto 17-35 zoom for group shots and "scene setting" wide shots 28-70 zoom for portraits and small groups (sitting at tables at reception) 80-200 zoom for close-up portraits and shots of ceremony itself (use tripod, slow shutter speed, fill flash) A 14-15mm is useful for party shots at reception. Put camera on monopod, hold over crowd and trigger shutter with remote. -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com
