24-90 for Event and Weddings?

[JamesBarry]

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Hi Dan,

 

I shot a charity event, classic car owners meet-up, at the end of last year which may be of interest.  Images 1-28 with 24-90 including indoor shots using on camera flash (SF64) .  

 

http://www.jamesbarryphotography.com/events/

 

I did not have to use my M9/50 lux but it serves great when pairing up with the SL/24-90.  Fab combo!

 

James

[dancook]

Hi Dan,

 

I shot a charity event, classic car owners meet-up, at the end of last year which may be of interest.  Images 1-28 with 24-90 including indoor shots using on camera flash (SF64) .  

 

http://www.jamesbarryphotography.com/events/

 

I did not have to use my M9/50 lux but it serves great when pairing up with the SL/24-90.  Fab combo!

 

James

 

 

thanks,

 

I'm juggling in my head when - Q, SL 24-90 and M10 50mm 1.4 - not all three at once  - but i think they can find their place..

 

I had actually been thinking about the 50mm APO, but if I'm keeping the SL and even buying another lens for it - i shall forget the APO for now:)

Edited January 24, 2018 by dancook

[ramarren]

OCF: 

 

The best way to get what I wanted when I was doing environmental portraiture and event photography that needed flash was to use a human light stand (an assistant) to work a flash with a medium size diffuser on a short boom and trigger it with a simple RF trigger (Cactus V2 or V5). When setting up, a couple of pops and check the exposure on the LCD to set the f/opening, 1/80 second, and that's all that's needed: all manual exposure, the assistant working the light just stays within the right range and works with me. 

 

Beyond that, if I'd had the SL and the 24-90 zoom for that work, I'd have been in heaven. Supplement that occasionally with the 90-280 for long shots when at outdoor events ... Let me die so happy! This kind of work is what these lenses do best, and these are two of the best lenses of this type ever made. I could care less about autofocus speed—to me, autofocus at events with all the people moving about and complicated questions of "where is the darn focus point hitting?" get in the way—is irrelevant because I mostly manual focus and use AF on demand with the back button or joystick to 'rough in' a focus point. Events and such are rarely 'high speed shooting' events anyway, timing is much more important than fast. 

[dancook]

I shot a rehearsal of a play just the other day, I was not familiar with the play and people just burst into action and went from one end of the stage to the other - and before you know it the scene was over - this is originally what got me thinking about a zoom with AF...

 

that and the fashion show a few nights before.

[sillbeers15]

I shot a rehearsal of a play just the other day, I was not familiar with the play and people just burst into action and went from one end of the stage to the other - and before you know it the scene was over - this is originally what got me thinking about a zoom with AF...

 

that and the fashion show a few nights before.

Now that is the value of the SL & Native zoom lenses with AF, else I prefer the M10 & Prime lenses.

[lx1713]

I use the SL with the 24-90 about 90% of the time during weddings. Decided not to get the 90-280 largely because the weddings I shoot have an increasing share of mobile phone users. With 200-300 guests, it's quite complicated to dance around them. AF is simply too useful for me. And the quality is so good I don't really need much else.

 

But I do supplement the 24-90 with a Zeiss 35mm f1.4, Voigtlander 12mm for low light and ultra wides. Lifesavers. The main partner however is the 11-23. These 3 are quite compact and easy to work with but rarely in play. So far my biggest worry has been color harmony but my solution is to use the 24-90 with the 11-23 as often as possible. So it's been less of an issue than I first anticipated.

 

I'm thinking of adding a Leica M 135mm f3.4 to bring back the longer shots but 5 lenses is too much for me. The SL 90f2 is likely my choice though.

 

The other problem is Leica SF 64 flash. I hate it. It's the worse investment I've made, worse than my Rolleiflex 6008    It's been jamming in an upright position that doesn't allow me to unlock. Don't mind me, there's always something that bugs us 

 

Only 1 camera in hand at all times. 1 backup. I'm unable to juggle the mindsets needed for CL, Q, rangefinder and SL. Have dropped using the grip for weddings, and used the RRS plate, as Gordon and others suggested.

Hope that's helpful.

Edited January 29, 2018 by lx1713

[JamesBarry]

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I use the SL with the 24-90 about 90% of the time during weddings. Decided not to get the 90-280 largely because the weddings I shoot have an increasing share of mobile phone users. With 200-300 guests, it's quite complicated to dance around them. AF is simply too useful for me. And the quality is so good I don't really need much else.

 

But I do supplement the 24-90 with a Zeiss 35mm f1.4, Voigtlander 12mm for low light and ultra wides. Lifesavers. The main partner however is the 11-23. These 3 are quite compact and easy to work with but rarely in play. So far my biggest worry has been color harmony but my solution is to use the 24-90 with the 11-23 as often as possible. So it's been less of an issue than I first anticipated.

 

I'm thinking of adding a Leica M 135mm f3.4 to bring back the longer shots but 5 lenses is too much for me. The SL 90f2 is likely my choice though.

 

The other problem is Leica SF 64 flash. I hate it. It's the worse investment I've made, worse than my Rolleiflex 6008    It's been jamming in an upright position that doesn't allow me to unlock. Don't mind me, there's always something that bugs us 

 

Only 1 camera in hand at all times. 1 backup. I'm unable to juggle the mindsets needed for CL, Q, rangefinder and SL. Have dropped using the grip for weddings, and used the RRS plate, as Gordon and others suggested.

Hope that's helpful.

 

 

Interesting.  I do not have the same issues with the SF64.  Do you see yourself swapping out 24-90 with 90/2 solely for longer shots... quite a commitment at weddings when both lenses have the same focal length?  The 135 would certainly be a good option.  The new 90/2 does sound appealing and it will be interesting to see just how different or 'improved' it is to the zoom at 90/4... looking forward to hearing how new owners get on with it!

[FlashGordonPhotography]

I use the SL with the 24-90 about 90% of the time during weddings. Decided not to get the 90-280 largely because the weddings I shoot have an increasing share of mobile phone users. With 200-300 guests, it's quite complicated to dance around them. AF is simply too useful for me. And the quality is so good I don't really need much else.

 

But I do supplement the 24-90 with a Zeiss 35mm f1.4, Voigtlander 12mm for low light and ultra wides. Lifesavers. The main partner however is the 11-23. These 3 are quite compact and easy to work with but rarely in play. So far my biggest worry has been color harmony but my solution is to use the 24-90 with the 11-23 as often as possible. So it's been less of an issue than I first anticipated.

 

I'm thinking of adding a Leica M 135mm f3.4 to bring back the longer shots but 5 lenses is too much for me. The SL 90f2 is likely my choice though.

 

The other problem is Leica SF 64 flash. I hate it. It's the worse investment I've made, worse than my Rolleiflex 6008    It's been jamming in an upright position that doesn't allow me to unlock. Don't mind me, there's always something that bugs us 

 

Only 1 camera in hand at all times. 1 backup. I'm unable to juggle the mindsets needed for CL, Q, rangefinder and SL. Have dropped using the grip for weddings, and used the RRS plate, as Gordon and others suggested.

Hope that's helpful.

 

My SF64 is at Leica for the same problem. The button jams and I can't swivel the head properly. I really wish they'd dump Metz and just get a version of the Nissin i60 including it's wireless capabilities.

 

Gordon

[sillbeers15]

My SF64 is at Leica for the same problem. The button jams and I can't swivel the head properly. I really wish they'd dump Metz and just get a version of the Nissin i60 including it's wireless capabilities.

 

Gordon

Yes. Nissin i60 with Wireless Controller for Leica to gain TTL/HSS OCF capability is certainly what I would look forward to. Even better if Leica can offer 3rd party wireless trigger manufacturers the TTL/HSS protocol for product developments. I wold love to be able to get my hands on a set of Leica compatible Profoto A1 & AIR-TTL.

[Ruz]

Its a superb camera for Weddings, I did wedding shoots with my SL 24-90. The SL have an excellent IQ in low lights even stopped down to F5.6 or 8. Even using ISO 1600-6400, all the photos are practically clean.

[lx1713]

Interesting.  I do not have the same issues with the SF64.  Do you see yourself swapping out 24-90 with 90/2 solely for longer shots... quite a commitment at weddings when both lenses have the same focal length?  The 135 would certainly be a good option.  The new 90/2 does sound appealing and it will be interesting to see just how different or 'improved' it is to the zoom at 90/4... looking forward to hearing how new owners get on with it!

 

I do agree with your point. I've no complaints about the 90 at f4. It produces great images that usually suits my taste, i.e. enough depth of field for the face  

But dimness can kill the AF capture speed so its about that too. I do want a longer lens but if the SL 90 has killer quality I will work with that instead. I can always walk or crop the shot.

[dancook]

Just bought a 24-90 wooo looking forward to that, might have some other regular photography work which will benefit from a zoom af lens.. I just hope the SL can keep up.

Edited February 4, 2018 by dancook

[ChasMP]

I’m seriously considering the SL, I’m booking weddings for the new year and I am not invested in any kit other than an M10. I sold the Canon kit a year ago as it was gathering dust due to a year long work contract that stalled any need for it. 

So the D850 and four lenses (28mm, 50mm, 85mm & 70-200mm) is raising my eyebrows a little.

Canon 5D Mark IV equivalents of the above. 

The Canikon options feel a little dated and I have been there and done that, also I can only see them abondoning the DSLR’s and associated lenses soon for the Mirrorless lines. At least with the SL, there will be no need to switch lenses. Having access to Sigma Art lenses is also a plus.

SL with a 35mm, 50mm & 90mm. Perhaps the 24-90mm. The SL interests me for the control layout and obviously the best lenses available. The downside is reliable remote triggered flash, low light AF and the huge cost difference. The SL is surely due for a Mark II soon too.

The Summicron lenses look great and I’d love to get my hands on the 28mm which is probably my favourite focal length.

What is the EVF like when the light get dim, does it lag and become unusable? 

 

[thighslapper]

The EVF us usable down to ridiculously low light levels ...... although AF becomes a bit flaky ... The EVF makes focussing manually easy in all but very dark conditions. 

Bear in mind the current Sigma Arts with the AF adapter are very variable in reliability .... and there is no knowing when specific L mount Sigmas will appear..... or for that matter the SL2. 

I think you need to borrow/rent and try before committing yourself and see if the advantages outweigh the lack of features that most of the competition have ....

[LocalHero1953]

Between the SL and Leica lenses, the D850 and the Canon 5d Mk4 and their native lenses, there is no practically discernible difference in IQ that the average client will notice, compared to the results your own talent and experience as a wedding photographer can produce. Your choice will come down to how each camera in turn will help you get the shots you want. So I would advise that you take each of the three cameras out at dusk and try them in low light, both for viewfinder experience and AF ability. Performance with flash depends on whether and how you use flash for events: I prefer to avoid flash, and to use manual flash where I do use it - that doesn't blind me to Leica's real limitations with TTL/HSS flash. What I really value about the SL and 24-90 for events is the simplicity of interface and ease of control, which makes it easy to react to changes in front of you, without getting confused by multiple buttons and deep menus.

Edited November 1, 2018 by LocalHero1953

[ChasMP]

Thanks, and I agree re trying out each system. I’m pretty familiar with the Canon set up and could get by if I had to shoot tomorrow. The Nikon or SL option would take some adjustment, to unlearn old habits. The simplified, no nonsense menu and control layout is very enticing on the SL as a start, not to mention the lenses. Any system will have compromises and advantages and it will come down to what is the best and most comfortable fit for my shooting style.

I love shooting with my M’s and it feels like a very natural and unobstructed process to me. I guess I want to have that feeling when I shoot with which ever system I go for...

[LocalHero1953]

I should have added that another difference between the SL and the Canons/Nikons is the fully silent electronic shutter on the SL which can be used with the EVF, while the Nikon/Canon require LV on the rear screen. As a I guest, I find the noise of DSLRs during a wedding ceremony intensely annoying while, as a photographer, I have sat within three metres of the couple during the vows and been told afterwards that my activities were unnoticeable.

[Irakly Shanidze]

On 1/23/2018 at 3:33 PM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

The SL 24-90 is as good as it gets in a standard zoom for the 35mm format. Optics are stellar. But you really need to test it yourself to see if it's up to your standards as far as AF speed goes. It's most certainly better than the 90-280 or 50 SL 'lux when the light drops.

 

I am really not sure about the statement that 24-90 is better than 90-280 in low light. I've shot ballet rehearsals with 90-280, and did not see any difference in performance, except the fact that at 90mm it is one stop faster than 24-90 at the same focal length

[SiggiGun]

Hi 

SL+ VE24-90 is a great combo. Quality is "first class". Color rendering and bockeh are perfect. I used this lens this year for 2 weddings with success in combination with M lenses, especially 35LUX and 50NOC. The only problem I had, and it is not related to the VE, concerns the switch between autofocus and manual focus on the SL. During an other event I used M10 with M lenses and the SL with the VE. The resultats are better, less images out of focus

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