Originally posted by ChallengedOne Trying to break into this and it's going very slow.... Getting frustrated actually.
If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
Originally posted by ChallengedOne I couldn't focus or freeze the motion like I would like to have done. Is my glass just not fast enough? I'm trying to break into portraiture and eventually weddings but I don't think I have the right equipment. My next purchases will be a 70-200mm f2.8 either the sigma or tamaron, a 5/1 reflector kit and possibly a 28-70mm 2.8 lens if finances allow.
First, weddings: If you want to "break into" such work, I*strongly* advise that you sign-on as an unpaid intern/gofer for a pro, see how it's actually done, and with what. Same for portraiture. Gaining experience and expertise is much better/easier if you've worked with someone who knows the tricks and troubles. Many books are available covering the techniques, but personal contact will teach you more.
Next, freezing and focus: Fast lenses are NOT easy to focus. And freezing motion takes more than a fast lens. For sharpness, stop-down. For motion, boost the ISO. Learn how to use light in these situations. Read all about it!
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PS: My father shot TLR's for decades. About 15 years with an Argoflex-E with 75/4.5 lens, another 15 with a Minolta Autocord with a 75/3.5 lens, before he broke down and got a SLR. He shot semi-pro work with both of those slow TLR's, using Verichrome Pan film with ASA (ISO) of 100. His secrets? Knowledge/experience, timing, care. Those slower lenses gave good sharpness and DOF. The slow film gave exquisite detail -- or sometimes he pushed the film to 250, for a bit better low-light performance. And he knew when to anticipate moves, how to *control* those moves, when to push the shutter. His training? Correspondence school, same way he learned to build electronics and do architectural drawing.