It took me two years to get to this point. Sure, I’ve had my Sony RX1 for over two years, and I liked it so much that I quickly incorporated it into my Canon DSLR setup. But whenever I shot a wedding, I was still in that DSLR mindset, and the mirrorless RX1 was a sort of “tag-along”. That changed about a month ago, when I shot an entire wedding with an all-mirrorless setup. I’d like to share some of my impressions from that experience.
The New Kids On The Block
Leading up to that wedding, I had been slowly weaning off my long-time setup of three Canon 5D Mark II bodies with a 24mm f/1.4, a 35mm f/1.4, and an 85mm f/1.2. I’ve shot hundreds of weddings over the last ten years with that setup. I have other lenses that I also use sparingly, but that lineup is battle tested, my bread-and-butter trio.
When I started to put together my all-mirrorless lineup, I decided to start with what I already know, my Sony RX1, which has a fixed 35mm f/2 lens. I’ve already shot dozens of weddings with that camera as a secondary body, so I know what it’s capable of doing — and it’s able to do a lot. I added two Sony a7II bodies to my repertoire, and hooked up a Sony 28mm f/2.0 to one of them, and the soon-to-be legendary Sony/Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 to the other. Here are the new kids on the block (sorry for the 90’s reference).
My a7II cameras are outfitted with a Gariz leather half-case for protection and I use a HoldFast Gear camera harness to carry them both. Then, the RX1 goes around my neck with a regular camera strap (in the future, I’m planning to get a couple of HoldFast camera leashes so the RX1 can also attach to my harness). The only other thing I have on me is a wallet that carries four extra batteries and half-a-dozen SD cards. I also bring with me two light stands, a Lowepro backpack that carries a pair of flashes and off-camera triggers, and some more batteries — extra gear that I won’t bring out until the reception. All in all, this set up is a big improvement over my last one. It feels like I’m carrying half of the weight that I used to carry and I’m sure my back will thank me when this year’s wedding season is over.
Sample Images
It really doesn’t matter if my mirrorless gear feels better to carry than my previous DSLR setup if the photos I capture are not up to standard. How did the images turn out? Well, I’m glad you asked. Here are a few samples from my first all-mirrorless wedding. I hope you enjoy looking through them as much as I loved capturing them.
The dress. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 100, f/2, 1/640 sec.
Bride getting ready. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 640, f/2, 1/125 sec.
Tools of the trade. Sony a7II, FE 28mm @ ISO 1000, f/2, 1/125 sec.
Anticipation. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 500, f/1.8, 1/125 sec.
Radiant bride. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 100, f/2, 1/640 sec.
Sharing some laughs. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 100, f/2, 1/640 sec.
Guys being guys. Sony RX1 35mm f/2 @ ISO 100, f/4, 1/160 sec.
The first look. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 100, f/2, 1/1250 sec.
Taking it all in. Sony a7II, FE 28mm @ ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/640 sec.
The bride & groom. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 160, f/1.8, 1/1600 sec.
Hands to hold. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 160, f/1.8, 1/1600 sec.
Ring exchange. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 1000, f/2, 1/200 sec.
The bridal party. Sony a7II, FE 28mm @ ISO 400, f/3.5, 1/1000 sec.
Boys will be boys. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/160 sec.
A sweet moment. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 500, f/1.8, 1/2500 sec.
Dancing with dad. Sony a7II, FE 55mm @ ISO 1600, f/2, 1/125 sec.
Last dance. Sony a7II, FE 28mm f2 @ ISO 6400, f/4.5, 1/125 sec.
Conclusion
Just like when I first started shooting with my DSLR, my new all-mirrorless setup is just the beginning. I’m looking forward to adding a few more lenses in the mix throughout this year, like a 70-200mm f/4 and a wide-angle zoom like the 16-35mm f/4. I just picked up a Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro, which I am already liking a lot. And if the Zeiss 85mm f/1.8 becomes available again (it’s currently sold out and hard to find), I might get that along with the Sony/Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 too. I can’t wait to shoot again with my new setup, it’s reinvigorated my passion for photography and I can’t wait to share more images from future shoots. Stay tuned, that might come sooner than later!
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