Tamron 18-270 VC for a wedding???? HELP =)

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

05/18/2009 02:46:57 PM · #1

HELP! I am a wedding photographer and am so tired of changing my lenses every time I want to get a different look for my shots. Especially in a time sensative situation. I've got a 10-20, 28-70 & a 70-300 lens. And I use all three of them for every wedding. I mainly use the 28-70, but would use the 70-300 more often if it wasn't such a pain to switch out. (Ok.. It's not that it's such a pain, but I don't want to miss something while the zoom is on and be too close to get the image)

I have been looking at the Tamron 18-270 VC but have read really bad reviews. Can anyone give me advice on this? Would you suggest this lens for a wedding? Or would the image quality be less. And if not, what lens would you recommend that covers a wide range? I don't use my wide angle very much, so something that is in the range of AT LEAST the 28-200 that would be fast indoor or outdoor, with image stabilization (if possible), under $800 and not toooo heavy. I have the Canon 40D if that helps.

I've read this lens gives "soft" pictures which I think would be ideal for weddings. So that doesn't bother me.

Thank you... THANK YOU!

faidoi

Pentax K10D

05/18/2009 02:53:42 PM · #2

Buy a second body.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/18/2009 02:56:30 PM · #3

I have a second body in case something goes wrong with my first. But would prefer NOT to carry them both around with me at the same time. It's a bit much and the second one gets in the way.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

05/18/2009 03:17:53 PM · #4

Originally posted by nfulton:

I have a second body in case something goes wrong with my first. But would prefer NOT to carry them both around with me at the same time. It's a bit much and the second one gets in the way.

You can't think that way if you're gonna be a pro... Really... Just get used to a second bod with a wide angle on it hanging around your neck, and your problem is solved with quality glass. And you really want that quality glass...

R.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

05/18/2009 03:20:15 PM · #5

I have not ever seen a wedding photographer NOT carry two bodies on them all the time. Even back in the days of film. I could not imagine wanting "soft" photos and actually be selling them. Perhaps you don't really understand what soft means. The aperture of that lens is so slow at the long end unless you are shooting outdoors and in bright sunlight its going to be useless. Shoot with a long lens on one body, and a wide on the other and get used to it. Either that or hire a second to shoot with you every time.

Matt

Prof_Fate

05/18/2009 03:40:02 PM · #6

How are you shooting weddings with such slow glass? Are you 'old school' and using a bracket with direct flash all the time?
The trend in wedding photography is toward natural light - and to get that under the conditions of most weddings you need fast glass - 2.8 at a minumum and it's better to have some 1.2/1.4/1.8 primes for the low light/shallow bokeh.

Remember that even if you have a style that is working/selling for you, brides to be will look at many photogs work and pick what they like - and that's heavily influenced by trends. Few brides want the same 'look' to their wedding as mom had for hers.

It's also a price point thing too. At the low end brides buy on price first and art second. As you move up the food chain it flips the other way. There is a reason the top photogs shoot the top line gear, have 10 lenses, etc. It makes a difference in their product that allows them to command a higher price.

And I don't know anyone that doesn't want to get paid more for what they do.

If changing lenses is too much work, and carrying two bodies it too hard, consider a)getting an assistant to do that and just hand you what you ask for or b)get into a different line of photography, perhaps studio or school photography were one lens and a tripod are used.

Leo

Apple iPhone Xr

05/18/2009 04:11:23 PM · #7

I'll have to agree with the previous commenters regarding a second body and fast glass.

My input would be the Tamron 18-270 is definitely not for weddings. For indoor shots you'll miss plenty of shots because it is slow to focus, it will hunt for (many) seconds before locking it. You won't get that nice bokeh with this lens. Bottom line is this lens is not for what you want to use it for.

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=869522

05/18/2009 04:11:52 PM · #8

I have a similar Tamron 28-300, and I agree it is soft at the long end, but it is not the kind of soft you want. It suits my purposes as amateur, but for professional wedding photography indoors, I have to agree with the others that a fast prime, or a least a zoom more appropriate to the task is needed.

05/18/2009 04:27:08 PM · #9

Prof-fate, I do NOT have or use the 18-270 VC. I was asking about it.

Bear Music, I don't mind switching to the wide angle since I only need that for specific photos. I'm asking what I should use that will be a good lens that will cover the 28-200 range. And when I need to add my wide angle, I will. If I were to carry around two bodies, it would be with my other two lenses.

As for the soft comment, I am going off reviews. So you are right, I do not know what they mean by "soft". And I'm sure you all are correct in saying that it's the wrong "soft" I am looking for. That is why I'm asking my questions.

I'm a little shocked by everyone's responses. I thought this was a forum for advise, not lectures and rude comments. All I want is for some helpful advise on a good lens that will cover a good range without compromising the quality of my photos. Not one person has responded with a LENS suggestion.

I guess I've made a mistake thinking there were friendly professional photographers on here willing to help out a fellow photographer that is still learning. JEEZE!

05/18/2009 04:36:09 PM · #10

People can sometimes be a little harsh around here, and since you came off as a pro, they were blunt with their advice. There are a lot of very good wedding photographers here. Perhaps a good way of finding something might be to have a look at some of their work and see what lenses they have listed as being used for those pics.

Here is a set of wedding shots from

Hanneke that I was really impressed by. She does not list the lens, but I'm sure she would be happy to respond to a PM asking.

The really long reach zooms just have too much glass in them to be fast for such use. I love my 28-300, but readily admit it's native element is outdoors or tripod work with stationary subjects.

Message edited by author 2009-05-18 16:38:31.

05/18/2009 04:41:20 PM · #11

Thank you Yo-Spiff. Now that is some HELPFUL information. And I will look at the link you sent. Not sure how I came across like I was a "pro". I've been doing weddings for a few years now and have some beautiful work. I've probably got about 16+ weddings a year, so I'm doing something right. But a pro? Nope.. There is always rooms to learn and grow. I for one know that just because I can take a good pic doesn't mean I know everything there is to know. =)

It's almost like people on here think I should know everything just because I make money from doing photography. It's funny... As long as my clients are happy and they get good images that they love, I'm happy.

Thank you again!

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

05/18/2009 04:50:11 PM · #12

Here is a link to the entire wedding gallery on DPC. I'm sure you cna get a good idea of what others are using just from browsing through it.

I'm not good for much else in this area, though. People photography is not my forte.

Leo

Apple iPhone Xr

05/18/2009 04:52:14 PM · #13

Check out this photographer's link too, she does weddings and is a Canon user and has her lenses listed...

//www.dpchallenge.com/profile.php?USER_ID=61654

Good luck.

(To Yo_Spiff, you the man. You're one of the nicest people on the site.)

Message edited by author 2009-05-18 16:55:34.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

05/18/2009 04:55:14 PM · #14

You always have the option to rent one to see if it fills your needs. Testing it out yourself + opinions from others will help you decide if you should buy it or not.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/18/2009 04:56:09 PM · #15

nfulton - I just had a quick gander at your website and you have some rather nice stuff on there - just as good if not better than some of the `pros` on here.. and your website looks quite sweet not some horrible mish mash of styles, fonts and colors. - but for the love of all that is holy - LOSE THE MUSIC!!!

hanneke

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/18/2009 05:03:12 PM · #16

@ Steve: thank you so much for your compliment! The funny thing is that the wedding on the 8th of August was the first wedding I ever did. In June this year I'll shoot my 2nd one..

The problem is that the whole intuitive photography isn't my thing. So I don't do the ceremony's. That's not very easy in wedding photography (because the couple usually wants the whole day covered) and I had to turn down a lot of couples for that. But I don't mind, because I know I won't sleep for 3 nights before the wedding and I can guarantee the couple the photo's won't be good, haha.

But the conceptual shoot (inbetween the ceremony and the reception / party) is my thing. The couple in the gallery specific asked me to do it like this, one of their family members covered the rest of the day.

That said, back on topic. I mostly used my Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM for the shoot, and the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM I think for some pics. The best advice I can give you is to use a Canon lens (no Tamron or Sigma). For the range I think it's up to you what you like. Be sure the lens is fast (2.8 is good!) so you can use natural lighting.

Hope this was useful :)

Message edited by author 2009-05-18 17:35:47.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/18/2009 05:12:24 PM · #17

Originally posted by nfulton:

Bear Music, I don't mind switching to the wide angle since I only need that for specific photos. I'm asking what I should use that will be a good lens that will cover the 28-200 range. And when I need to add my wide angle, I will. If I were to carry around two bodies, it would be with my other two lenses.

I'm a little shocked by everyone's responses. I thought this was a forum for advise, not lectures and rude comments. All I want is for some helpful advise on a good lens that will cover a good range without compromising the quality of my photos. Not one person has responded with a LENS suggestion.

I guess I've made a mistake thinking there were friendly professional photographers on here willing to help out a fellow photographer that is still learning. JEEZE!

I don't know why you think my comment was harsh or in anyway "lecturing"; you said it yourself, you came here for advice. I spent my working life as a professional photographer (I'm retired now) and I gave you straight-from-the-hip *advice*, friend.

Sorry you took it the wrong way, but I'm at least as nice a guy as Yo_Spiff, jejeje.

R.

Prof_Fate

05/18/2009 05:33:06 PM · #18

Originally posted by nfulton:

Prof-fate, I do NOT have or use the 18-270 VC. I was asking about it.

I said you have slow lenses - the sigma 10-20 is an F4-5.6 lens
The 28-70 is a 2.8 to 4 lens
the 70-300 is a 4 to 5.6 lens.

These are all slow, varialble aperture lenses. Compared to 'fast glass' they will be slow to focus - it's a fact that cannot be ignored. The more light that reaches the camera body the better it can focus- and when you have 2.8 or faster (constant aperture glass) extra focusing sensors turn on giving you faster and more accurate focus.

Now if you light and pose every shot it's not an issue, but if you are going for a PJ style of shooting you need fast focus or you will miss the shot. And you need to use ambient light as you can't set up the lighting for candid shots, so fast glass is a necessity.

Originally posted by nfulton:

I guess I've made a mistake thinking there were friendly professional photographers on here willing to help out a fellow photographer that is still learning. JEEZE!

Join your local PPA chapter and attend a few meetings. Your mind will be blown. All the talent and how helpful they are will just amaze you.

If you ask for advice from working pros then take it, don't blame us because you don't want to hear what's right but only want a confirmation of your own opinion.

IMO if you are working professional you should have, or be working toward, the best gear out there. Clients want images, not excuses. Better gear makes a difference, but you (or anyone for that matter, even me at one point) will believe it until they get an L lens and see it first hand.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/18/2009 05:43:33 PM · #19

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

IMO if you are working professional you should have, or be working toward, the best gear out there. Clients want images, not excuses. Better gear makes a difference, but you (or anyone for that matter, even me at one point) will believe it until they get an L lens and see it first hand.

You do make me laugh, only a few months back you was shooting with `prosumer` kit at best.. then you have a bit of a spending spree and then we find you waxing lyrical about `getting the best kit` if you are a real pro.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

05/18/2009 05:44:43 PM · #20

What many folks on here are providing you is pretty good advise. It is unreasonable to get a pro caliber lens with sharp focus at both 20mm and 200mm. Full time pros use multiple bodies and multiple lenses for a reason. While an 18-200mm or something similar is great for vacation shots or shots of the family, that is not going to cut it for a pro shoot.

You have a really good eye and from the number of jobs you are getting, you clearly are good as a photog and a marketer. That is to be commended. But with the amount of work you are doing, it seems that better glass (sharp focus (L glass or equivalent), fast (2.8 or better), and sturdy is what is needed.

While you may not consider yourself a "Pro", you are. You are doing more than 10 or 15 weddings a year, and are getting paid for it. You have some skills and you are working, so that qualifies you - much more than I for example.

From a lens perspective, Prof Fate provided some great suggestions including fast primes for inside (50mm 1.2 or 1.4, 85mm 1.8,) short zoom with a fixed 2.8, and a 70-200mm 2.8 or similar - all Canon L. This is where you want to go to get the beautifully sharp details and that smooth luscious bokeh.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/18/2009 07:21:58 PM · #21

I love my Sigma 50-500. It's range is amazing, but I can't see it in a wedding setting.

In the low church light that flatters brides and make the groomsmen look less hung over, it tends to be dim. Look at any of the good wedding shooters here and you will see lots of fast glass. If they have a zoom, it will be short ranged and no slower than 2.8, and they will have more primes than zooms, because primes are just sharper. In low light big range zooms hunt for way too long before they focus lock.

And while Canon is on the whole better glass than Sigma or Tamron anyone who tells you never to use them but still uses the Canon EFS 18-55 is blinded by brand loyalty. Never let the ideal be the enemy of the good. A soft shot of the perfect moment is better than no shot at all, and a great photographer with decent equipment is better than a decent photographer with great equipment.