Full Frame and Crop Body shooting the same event

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I've found it to my disadvantage to use a crop and ff at a event. Due to the 1.6 crop, I need a wide lens on my crop that I also want to use on my FF. I'd use my 16-35L on the crop and 24-70 on FF, but run the risk of missing a wide shot. Putting a telephoto on a crop might just get part of a face in the frame.

 

[MonteGraham]

I've found it to my disadvantage to use a crop and ff at a event. Due to the 1.6 crop, I need a wide lens on my crop that I also want to use on my FF. I'd use my 16-35L on the crop and 24-70 on FF, but run the risk of missing a wide shot. Putting a telephoto on a crop might just get part of a face in the frame.

Im thinking if i mount the 24-70 on my FF and 70-200 on crop i would have (24-70) - (112-320) covered. the gap in focal length shouldnt be a big deal.. It sounds feasible but time will tell if its successful in practice. 24-70 is great for groups during the reception and i can use the length of the crop for the ceremony.

 

[spacetimeroger]

I think going wide-moderate-tele on the 5D and tele on the 7D is a great way to go, I've done that combo a number of times with great results - the extra reach on the long-end w/a 7D is a very nice thing to have at the ready, and the 7Ds autofocus is very, very good and offers you fast FPS shooting if you need it.

There are good reasons to use both a crop and a FF camera on the same shoot, just as there are good reasons to use two identical cameras--what really matters is what works best for you and your style of photography, the notion that FF cameras are the only serious ones is crazy. You can do great work with them. People have been photographing weddings for a very, very, very long time, with far lesser cameras than the 7D.

 

[MonteGraham]

Honestly though, I think the decision is going to be made each and every time you show up at a venue. Because they're all going to be different and have different room sizes, etc.



So sorry if I sound like I'm being ambiguous, but I don't think there will be a fixed setup. You're going to have to decide how to deploy your equipment every time, based on the conditions. From that perspective, if you want to simplify, do a 6D for one, and 5D3 for the other. Or two 5D3s if you can spring for them.

I think i will test out these setups at a not so "important" event to get a grip on my limitations. And as of now i just invested in the 5D3. Im still debating on whether i should get a 6D because the price is tempting and it should be good enough for events. But i really want another 5D3 after the feedback from this thread. It seems a bit more simple and cohesive to just run with the same bodies. It just that price tag hurt me once. These events will help pay for it. So again the only way to know it what i have will be sufficient is to go out and shoot.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

One thing that obviously is missing in the OP's question is distance to the subject. I can be 5 ft away from the subject at events if wish, or fade back to 100 ft, maybe more. Usually I am within 15 ft, so a telephoto lens on a crop camera would be of no use. When I want to get a whole stage in the image, I can move back, but that can also lose a shot. Usually when using two cameras, I have a assistant, who stays in the center of the stage 15 ft back with the crop body. I'm the one who moves up very close, way back, and left or right with my 5D MK III.
This makes a big difference in lens selection.

 

[mackguyver]

I would buy an extension tube vs. a macro because wedding work isn't usually done at 1:1 and the lenses you have work great with the 25 tube.

One bit of advice I learned the hard way working with two or more bodies at events - ALWAYS sync the time on all bodies prior to the event. EOS Utility is the easiest way to do it. You can fix later, but having cameras off by an hour (daylight savings!) or a minute or even a few seconds can be a nightmare when trying to edit the shots into a cohesive sequence.

 

[ablearcher]

What Dave_NYC said - you need to adapt to a location every time you shoot. Most of the time you can scout the location before the day, so you will have a game plan which FL to pick. I'm in the same situation with my two bodies and the way i see it, 7D is not really the best option for any indoor events. I've used it for quite a long time (was one of the first 7D adopters) and yes, you can mange considering good lenses, flash, etc. But right now i can see a significant difference in IQ comparing to 5DIII.

In general, for now I keep (just like others suggested here) a wider end on my FF body and a longer lens on 7D. I also try to pair 7D with a prime whenever possible. Most of the time I use two lens setup for indoor ceremonies 35L+ 85/1.8. But thats mostly for indoor ceremonies. For outdoor I do the opposite - 10-22 on crop and 70-200 on FF. 7D is perfectly fine for my needs when it comes to outdoor locations. Its the indoor when I see the limitations.