this day and age buying a new lens is both a thrill and expensive. Am retired so my choice was new lens or new rod and reel, both cost about the same - yes fishing can be that expensive. Opted for the rod and reel this time
I use a 2.8 105 and takes tack sharp photos. However. the 1.8 for a blurred background is even better.
I say shoot in RAW, convert to tif for editing and also save a copy as jpg for e-mail purposes. I have found that because I started out shooting RAW that i now have the ability to go back to pictures shot a few years ago and edit them in ways that I didn't know then. Some of those old RAW pictures have, with the right editing, turned out great and now hang on the wall.
pitchurman:
I have a 70s and use a nikkor AF 28-105 3.5-4.5 and my pictures turn out razor sharp when on a tripod and handheld. I usually shoot in apeture priority and just make sure I have sufficient shutter speed, usually 1/80 or faster. I have read several reviews of the nikkor AF-S, VR lenes that come as a part of a kit such as 18-55, 18-105, and 55-200. Many comments that the pictures are not tack sharp and are usually soft. May be an inherant problem with Nikon lenses.
Adubin is right - check the file extension - it will tell - also right click on photo - file information should come up. If it is worth anything - found out the my Epson Stylus Photo R380 can read Nikon raw files and I now us it to download from my compact flash card. Also us windows to transfer photos into a file on my computer - don;t need any separate software.
Also, remeber that weddings photographs are all about composition and light. Composition is the easiest of the two. Getting the right lighting can be a real problem. I would advice you invest in a multiple lighting outfit. I use two umberallas and Nikon 600 flashs. The connection between the camera and flash s is wireless, no cords involed. This makes it easy to move the lighting around until I get it right. I am sure Canons have the same feature. Again, a workshop would cover all of this and speed up your learning curve. Learning by trial and error while actually shooting weddings an be a very unhappy experience.
School or workshops is the best place to really learn your craft. In the meantime first thing to do is get rid of the 18-55 kit lens. Very poor and will not give you quality pictures that you want.
If you can afford, go for a new full frame canon. If you can not afford, put your money in the lenses, not necessarily the body. A relative inexpensive body with a prime lens will take excellent photographs. I have a nikon 2.8 105mm lens and it takes beautiful photos, even on a entry body such as the nikon 70s.
I have used HDR when ever the range of light is to much for the camera, one has to either blow out the highlights of lose whats in the shadows. Photomatix offers a free time trial of their Photomatix Light. This is a great learning tool and if you like the program the purchase price is just $39.00. Outdoor Photographer magazine has had a couple of articles on HDR the past few motnhs. Also worth checking.
Good suggestions I always had trouble using density filters and am trying out HRD to solve such exposure problems
Thanks folks for the help. Gave me some good ideas as what to do.
Good Photographs - especially the first and third. Notice though that you came close to blowing out the highlights. Have you looked into using HDR - a great method for taking photos when the range of exposure is so great. Locations look familiar. I lived in Inwood for 2 years before retiring and moving south.
Well - let me join the chorus. Even though friends/family or whoever asks you to take their wedding pictures doesn't mean you have to say yes. I have over 30 years of experience and yet when asked to do a wedding I decline and tell the folks best to get someone who knows how to do wedding photographs. My expertise is landscape and wildlife but that doesn't mean I am a good wedding photographer. Canon cameras come with photo editing software - Nikon does not, they make you buy it. Also, at the least you will need at least two bodies and two lenses, a very good flash, filters and light reflectors to do it right.
I can afford to buy the upgrade for Capture NX, but thought "why spend almost double the price" if Elements 9 offered similar capabilities. Also, just about everything published in magazines uses CS and/or Elements for their tutorials. Almost never see anything about Capture NX. Didn't know Version 10 was out yet. Thanks for the tip.
I currently shot Raw files and use Nikon Capture Nx for editing. Inasmuch as it is the older version I looked into obtaining the upgrade. Nikon wants $130 for the upgrade (ouch). I can get Elements 9 at Costco for $79 and have been told Bibble Pro or Lite is also very good for editing Nikon raw files. Any recommendations?