Pro Photographers--What they are using
This is just general information, but I do find it interesting "what the pros use." Exactly how relevant this information is to my gear is minimal, as I've learned long ago that some pros go for the best/latest gear and others go for the most minimal gear needed to get the job done with, perhaps, longevity a bit more important to them than 0.5 stops of extra DR (for example).
But, I attended the third wedding in three weekends last night. What I saw was:
- Wedding 1
- Stills: 5DIV with 70-200 f/2.8 II for most of the ceremony, switched to the 5DIV with a 24-70 II. Used some sort of 430 ex flash.
- Video: Sony A7 something. I didn't make out which iteration. Lenses also looked to be Sony, and they must have been a bit of a wide angle lens as they kept getting very close to the bride/groom. Heavy use of a monopod.
- Wedding 2 This ceremony was "unplugged" for guests. But the pros-
- Stills: Dual cameras. First it look like a 7D (I, II ??) with 70-200 f/2.8 II, and a 5DIV with what I am pretty sure was the Sigma 24-35 f/2. The 70-200 II was mostly used at the outside ceremony and the Sigma for the indoor reception. 600 ex rt flashes.
- Video: Panasonic Lumix, probably the GH5, but could have been the 4. Interestingly, Canon EF 24-105 Mk 1 lens all on a handheld gimbal.
- Wedding 3
- Stills: Dual shooter. The lead pro using dual bodies, one mounted with the 17-55 f/2.8 and then other with what looked like a 70-200 f/4 non-IS (looking at my video, the foot looks like a 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS, but I thought it was smaller than my 70-200 f/2.8 II). The second, younger shooter, was using Nikon. One larger camera and one smaller. The larger of the cameras seemed D800-D850ish mounted with a wide angle while the smaller was more of a crop sensor with a telephoto. All the flashes were Yonguo. This group of pros went with a combination of on and off camera flashes for the reception (2-3 off camera stationed around the reception hall. They would move as needed).
- Video...me. I gave a friend of the bride some pictures and impromptu videos from a wedding last year where I noticed they didn't have a videographer. Apparently, they liked the video enough the bride asked me to do video here. I'd have been more comfortable with stills, but whatever, I checked that they'd be happy with "better than nothing" and after being assured, agreed to do it. Used the 5DIV with 70-200 II mounted on a tripod with a gimbal for the ceremony and took random videos of the key events with the M3 (mix of 22/2 and 18-55) similar to last year.
Another observation, all the still pros were sporting these leather harnesses. Each was slightly different, but pretty elaborate stuff. I was impressed.
Anyways, I am always interested in how others work, what is actually being used, etc. I did find it interesting that for stills, 3 of 4 pros were using Canon. For video, it was the Sony and Panasonics.
