I shot so many weddings where the plan was for pictures before the wedding, but, I think, way less them half of them worked out that way. Someone important, usually the bride, was not ready and then the guests would start to arrive. If they want the group shots they will be willing to pose after. If they don't want to pose-OK, no pictures. Also, you need insurance, not just for your gear but to cover yourself if something goes wrong or someone gets hurt.

I don't think you meant what you said. Capturing more than the camera is capable of actually means you are capturing just what the camera is capable of.

In my original mention of the Histogram I left out something that many are pointing out here and what most of us do without thinking.We use our histograms and meters, in camera and hand held, just to tell us how much light is present. Meters don't tell you what your camera settings are supposed to be. The camera and meters don't know what you are shooting or trying to achieve, they are just a guide to light levels and contrast.

I haven't seen anyone mention the histogram. For almost anything I shoot I am checking the histogram to see how well I'm holding highlights and to judge the overall contrast of the scene. I tried carrying a light meter for a few months but found I didn't really need it.

Oppps... it was meant to go with an earlier post but I hit the wrong button. Ignore it. Out of context it means nothing. I'll try and get it right next time.

Oppps... it was meant to go with an earlier post but I hit the wrong button. Ignore it. Out of context it means nothing. I'll try and get it right next time.

Oh no. Juneau, Alaska is in a rain forest. The best pictures are outside in the rain.

Not quite the end of the discussion. Manual focus lenses are tough to deal with without a split screen or fresnel pattern to tell you when you are in focus. I tried for months to deal with the little green light in the corner of the viewfinder before coming to grips with the fact the modern digital is just not manual focus friendly no matter how good the lens.

I didn't know this and as kind of a tech guy it's interesting.

I also use FotoMagico Pro.

Thanks.

A couple of things. Stage show are usually dark backgrounds and edges and bright highlights. It's all about the highlights. Automatic does not work. You have to work quickly and know your settings because, as the photographer, you are often standing (or sitting) in the dark. I set my ISO, usually 1600, mostly shoot wide open (2.8) and only vary my shutter speed to adjust for the light. There is no time to fiddle much with your camera. For each scene I photograph I try to spot check the stage while the actors are getting organized. It might be 30th. of a second over there, 125th in the back, 350th for the main actors. The next scene might be 60th for the whole stage. I live and die with my histogram, checking it constantly.
I generally shoot photo calls so the show is being performed for me. If I blow a setting or miss the action I can stop them and change position or have them do it again.
If the show is live, (uggg...) but I am getting paid by the theater, I sit where my lenses have the most flexibility (your wide shot has to cover the whole stage) and warn the people who try to sit around me take I am going to be taking pictures throughout the show and that if this is going to annoy them they might want to sit somewhere else.
I shoot raw with tungsten light setting so that there is some consistency in color temperature when editing. Digital will make the blues to blue and the reds to red so they always have to be dialed back when editing. Remember, shoot for the highlights and deal with the shadows in post. Shooting shows is a kick. Have fun.

Focusing a manual focus lens on an auto focus camera is tough. The green light and beep only happen when you are right on so there is no sense of direction or getting close and the green dot is low and to the side of the viewfinder. I don't understand why Nikon can't put a split screen for fresnel pattern in the viewfinder of their digital cameras.

No information in your reply. Don't know why you would say that or how to reply. I am confident in my answer.

Not much difference these days. If you can get the picture sharp and nail the exposure you can blow up the pictures from either type of camera to pretty much any size you want. Technique not gear.