2 x 1d2 or 1x 1ds2 for wedding

[Les_Pattison]

Hi all,

Years ago I used to do wedding videos & now hoping to break back into weddings, but with stills.

My budget can handle that beautiful Canon 1Ds2, but I'm wondering if 2 of the 1D2 camera's be more useful.

Changing lenses is no fun with prospects of dust, especially with so many people dashing around. Also I wish to capture for the traditional book & with the photojournalistic style.

The lenses I'm thinking of starting off with are:
EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
TS-E 24 mm f/3.5L

& a couple of 580 flashes too.

As I have never been on the still side of a wedding, I'm not really sure if the picture power of the 1Ds2 is just plain overkill. Or does the fact that wide angle means wide angle justifies the use?

I hope to use for landscape, architectural & other bits too, but my main source of income over this year will probably be weddings. Touch wood.

Any suggestions on alternative set-up & what your ideas are on the camera use would be very much appreciated.

Thanks, Les

[BryanRinnert]

I personally would go with 2 x 1d II. A backup camera is great to have and not needing to change lens is a very big plus. I shoot more journalistic style (including sports and music concerts) so the frame rate is also important to me. The MP on the 1d Mark II is strong enough for almost all enlargements for wedding work. The 1ds II is almost rivaling medium format in terms of print quality (although I'll never give up my Hasselbald). Your lens selection is good, although you may want to go with a 14mm or 17mm for wide angles, and I do love using the 15mm fisheye for effect occasionally.

[joeisayo]

Les,

For what its worth this is what I shoot with.
Canon EOS 1Ds MK2, 1D MK2, 20D.
16-35 2.8, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8, 35 1.4, 50 1.4, 85 1.2, and 300 2.8.
Hassy X-pan w/45, Leica MP and M6 with lenses from 21-90.

I find for the type of shooting I do, the 1Ds MK2 is overkill. The files take up too much on the computer and the quality from the 1D MK2 and 20D is more than good enough. If I was you, I would start with a MK2 and a 20D and get the best lenses (for your style) possible. Oh yeah one more thing, shoot as little strobe as possible.

Cheers

[Les_Pattison]

Thanks Bryan,
The idea of the extra wide appeals, so I have think I will stretch to the EF 16-35mm f2.8L USM.
I know what you said, but I like the flexibility of zooms.

And Joe,
When I was doing multiple video cam set-up, I usually used the same model camera for synced editing.
Basically, not jumping between 2 different qualities.
I must admit to not really knowing the pros & cons of the 20D.

For which circumstances, apart from the different lens stuck on it, would you use the 20D over the 1D2?
Also, thinking about it now, which lenses would you stick on each camera?
I haven't had a chance to experiment with cam or lenses yet.

Again, any advice is appreciated,
Les

[joeisayo]

Two lenses that are absolute must for me are the 16-35 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 IS. Those two lenses are a good foundation to begin with. I personnaly am not a big fan of the medium zoom range like the 24-70 (though I have one) becasue of its boring range. The only time I use fast fixed lenses are when I need bigger apetures or most likely when I want the "ethereal" look of a 1.2 or 1.4 lens shot wide open.
Cheers