Question for Olympus Users

I use and have always used the Olympus E-series digital SLR's. My current
main camera is the E-3 and I have 8 lens's for it, but most were actually
made for the E-1 and E-300. I usually just shoot wildlife and nature
shots, but in June my middle son is getting married and has asked me to do
the photography. You hear some really bad stuff about wedding
photographers and I really don't want to do it, as I don't shoot people,
specially at weddings.

I've got a coupla questions. Anyone using the new 12-60mmSWB lens? Would
that be a good lens to shoot indoors at a wedding? Since it's a zoom and
can also do wide angles and is fast (the fastest autofocus around) I was
thinking of buying it for the occasion.

Thanks for ideas.


--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

"Get lost" wrote in message
...
On Feb 24, 8:19 am, "MoParMaN"
wrote:
I use and have always used the Olympus E-series digital SLR's. My
current
main camera is the E-3 and I have 8 lens's for it, but most were
actually
made for the E-1 and E-300. I usually just shoot wildlife and nature
shots, but in June my middle son is getting married and has asked me to
do
the photography. You hear some really bad stuff about wedding
photographers and I really don't want to do it, as I don't shoot people,
specially at weddings.

I've got a coupla questions. Anyone using the new 12-60mmSWB lens? Would
that be a good lens to shoot indoors at a wedding? Since it's a zoom and
can also do wide angles and is fast (the fastest autofocus around) I was
thinking of buying it for the occasion.

Thanks for ideas.

It should work fine, it's reasonably fast (f2.8-4), very sharp and
focusing is quick. The 50mm f2.0 might get you more flattering
portraits. I think you should consider, if you/he can afford it, to
hire a pro. Why dilute the market doing a job a pro should do that
(frankly) is not going to be up to a professional standard? It's like
when some company owner says his neighbour's kid is designing the
company website.


Exactly why I don't want to do it, he doesn't have the money to hire a pro
and he knows I take a lot of pictures....I'm prolly stuck with the job for
now. I already has the 50mm F2.0 lens. It's fine for up close and I've
got the 50-200mm F2.8 for long shots. I was thinking the new 12-60mm
would be nice for in between.


--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---

"MoParMaN" wrote in message
...
I use and have always used the Olympus E-series digital SLR's. My current
main camera is the E-3 and I have 8 lens's for it, but most were actually
made for the E-1 and E-300. I usually just shoot wildlife and nature
shots, but in June my middle son is getting married and has asked me to do
the photography. You hear some really bad stuff about wedding
photographers and I really don't want to do it, as I don't shoot people,
specially at weddings.

Whatever you do take more than one camera.

Firstly - assuming money is not the issue I agree with the other
poster to hire some else to shoot the wedding. My daughter got married
a few years ago and while I did take along small camera I really would
not have enjoyed myself if I was doing the shooting. Also, if the
shots don't come out good, your son's and daughter-in-law's memories
will be ruined (and they probably won't forgive you anytime soon. It
is one thing if you were a pro WEDDING photographer, but from what I
read you are not. It is not as easy/simple as it looks. (And yes I
have done it a few times.)

Second - the 12-60 is a great addition, especially since you have the
E3, which can take advantage of the SWD motor in the lens. As was
stated it is very sharp and focuses very fast - even in pretty dim
light.
I also agree with the other poster about bringing a second body. Just
imagine if something goes wrong with your primary camera.

On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:21:23, MoParMaN wrote:

Exactly why I don't want to do it, he doesn't have the money to hire a pro
and he knows I take a lot of pictures....I'm prolly stuck with the job for
now. I already has the 50mm F2.0 lens. It's fine for up close and I've
got the 50-200mm F2.8 for long shots. I was thinking the new 12-60mm
would be nice for in between.

You might also consider the Sigma 30mm f1.4 or Leica 25mm f1.4 for
indoor/low light shots without flash. An Sigma 30mm and an Olympus
14-54mm f2.8-3.5 approches the same price as the 12-60mm.

Do you have a second body? It would be quite disappointing to miss
some shots because you were changing lenses...

Also, if you're going to be using flash, do you have an FL-50 or
FL-50R with an external battery pack? The internal flash or FL-36
won't recharge very quickly, and you have to get all the way up to the
50/R before you can connect an external pack.

On the other hand, this is your son's wedding. Would you rather be
participating and celebrating it yourself or trying to document the
moment? I have a couple of semi-pro friends who do wedding
photography (not as their primary source of income) who charge rates
competitive to what the $600-800 that the 12-60 would cost.

-a

--
Alan Hoyle - - http://www.alanhoyle.com/

Alan Hoyle wrote:

On the other hand, this is your son's wedding. Would you rather be
participating and celebrating it yourself or trying to document the
moment? I have a couple of semi-pro friends who do wedding
photography (not as their primary source of income) who charge rates
competitive to what the $600-800 that the 12-60 would cost.


Well said. That's probably the best advice so far in this thread.

Amateurs who plan to shoot weddings always ask the same question: what
equipment should I buy? The problem is, wedding photography is not
primarily about equipment.

Wedding photography is about managing people, and getting the shots you
need while disrupting the flow of the event (and the joy of the day) as
little as possible.

Some people have the necessary people skills and just need a little
training in the shots that are needed and what are the easiest and least
disruptive routines for getting them. Other people just don't have the
necessary people skills. They should just butt out, employ a
professional who knows what he/she is doing, and enjoy the day.

The worst possible way to approach wedding photography is to ask what
equipment needs to be bought. The answer is probably "none".

More equipment isn't the answer; learning about managing people relative
to the nature of the venue and the ambient conditions is. But that's
far more difficult than charging a new lens to your VISA card.

On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:19:03 -0600, "MoParMaN"
wrote:
: I use and have always used the Olympus E-series digital SLR's. My current
: main camera is the E-3 and I have 8 lens's for it, but most were actually
: made for the E-1 and E-300. I usually just shoot wildlife and nature
: shots, but in June my middle son is getting married and has asked me to do
: the photography. You hear some really bad stuff about wedding
: photographers and I really don't want to do it, as I don't shoot people,
: specially at weddings.
:
: I've got a coupla questions. Anyone using the new 12-60mmSWB lens? Would
: that be a good lens to shoot indoors at a wedding? Since it's a zoom and
: can also do wide angles and is fast (the fastest autofocus around) I was
: thinking of buying it for the occasion.
:
: Thanks for ideas.

Find at least one similar event (an anniversary party, for example) to
practice on and see what you're up against. If you don't do it very well,
re-think the idea, because a wedding is one of the tougher challenges an event
photographer will face.

How will you handle the fact that, as the father of the groom, you'll have to
be *in* some of the pictures?

Even if you do get stuck with this job, you may never photograph a wedding
again. So you may not want to buy an expensive new lens unless you're sure
you'd use it for your wildlife photography. Especially if, as someone else
suggested, you can find a paid photographer for about the same cost as the
lens.

Bob