| p>Regardless if you are an amateur or a professional | | | | CT-4 was getting old, so I thought it was time to |
| photographer, if you commit yourself to a wedding | | | | update. I got this new digital flash thinking it would |
| you must have top notch photo equipment. | | | | have been just better than the previous one, but I |
| Countless times I've seen wedding photographers | | | | was wrong. I used it once and sold it! |
| shooting a wedding with less than standard | | | | My first disappointment was when I realized that the |
| equipment. This is not only very unprofessional, but it | | | | recharging time is longer than the 60 CT-4... I |
| is also very risky; if something goes wrong with your | | | | imagined that the compact battery, as a result of |
| amateur camera, go tell the bride that you can't finish | | | | technological development, would have performed at |
| the job. | | | | least like the one on the old 60 CT-4, but instead it's |
| What is an adequate photographic equipment for a | | | | just a smaller/less powerful battery. On a wedding |
| wedding photographer? Simple: the top, the best, the | | | | job I usually rotate the head of the flash all over the |
| most expensive. No way around it. It is useless for | | | | place all the time. This new Mecablitz 76 MZ-5 flash |
| me to list camera models here, because especially | | | | has a locked head; to rotate it you have to press a |
| with digital photography, cameras evolve very quickly | | | | button in the back, which is not that easy and/or |
| and before long this article would be dated. Instead | | | | comfortable to do and it got me stuck a few times, |
| choose a brand among the world's five best (Leica, | | | | causing me to miss that special shot. |
| Hasselblad, Mamiya, Canon, Nikon), look at the top 3 | | | | I was in a quiet church when all of a sudden the |
| most expensive cameras... and pick one. That is the | | | | newly installed cooling fan at the bottom of the head |
| camera you will be expected to use at a wedding. | | | | turned on... it is relatively loud and some people |
| Anything less will not be top notch photo equipment. | | | | turned around to see what it was. To me it sounded |
| What are the lenses you need for a wedding? The | | | | like a vacuum cleaner and I simply cannot go around |
| more the better. Each lens gives you a different | | | | churches with photo equipment that gets people |
| point of view and a different prospective. So why | | | | turning around... the job of a wedding photographer |
| limit yourself... get as many as you can afford. Each | | | | requires discretion. This fan stayed on for a long |
| different lens will open new possibilities by enabling | | | | time, causing me some embarrassment...it just |
| you to get new ideas. As a rule of thumb, you will be | | | | wouldn't stop! The ready flash beep is also very loud |
| expected to carry at least three lenses: a wide angle, | | | | and it also gets people turning around, other than |
| a normal lens and a telephoto lens. | | | | really bothering my hearing and nerves. There is no |
| Because of the several moving optical elements, | | | | way to lower the volume. When using it in manual it |
| zooms are not very good quality wise (unless you | | | | is not as straightforward as the old 60 CT-4; you |
| spend really a lot of money) but they are commonly | | | | have to change the f/stop by pressing a few |
| used at weddings when the photographer shoots | | | | buttons on the control unit... when things are |
| using the reportage style. | | | | happening fast in front of you there simply isn't time |
| What about the flash? Flashes are an integral part of | | | | to go through these electronic menus, that require |
| your photo equipment. Believe it or not, I have | | | | me to put some extra thought and attention into |
| encountered people that intended to shoot a | | | | them... nothing beats the old 60 CT-4 with clear |
| wedding without a flash... simply because they didn't | | | | manual dials that you can change without even |
| have one. Were they mad? No, they were just | | | | looking. |
| amateurs and unfortunately the market is filled with | | | | In the whole I believe this is the worst flash Metz |
| those. Most of a wedding day takes place indoors | | | | has ever produced. The only positive thing about it is |
| and you must have some sort of light aid, or most | | | | that you can change the power of the small fill flash |
| of the photos will obviously be improperly lit. Once | | | | by operating a little dial on the site. As a result of this |
| again, only buy top notch flashes, yes I said flashes, | | | | sad experience, I bought another old 60 CT-4, still |
| because you need at least two of them: one to use | | | | king of flashes. |
| and one as backup. There are two main brands for | | | | Used photo equipment is often very cheap, but |
| flashed: Metz and Quantum Instruments. Regarding | | | | make sure you get it from a proper dealer that took |
| Metz, I advise you not buy the latest Mecablitz 76 | | | | the time to test it and refurbish it. Professional |
| MZ-5 as in my opinion is a poor flash. | | | | equipment is usually worn out by the time it is sold, |
| As a professional photographer, I am always looking | | | | so make sure you are not throwing away your |
| for the very best performance in a flash, as well as | | | | money. |
| in all my photo equipment. My wonderful old Metz 60 | | | | |