Twin- Lens Reflexes: For this type of output, reasonably good quality at a reasonably low price, the best equipment, all things considered, includes a twin- lens reflexeslens reflex Camera and a portable electronic speedlight. The Automatic Rolleiflex is the most convenient of cameras available at this writing but any other twin- lens reflexeslens reflex with a shutter synchronized for speedlights or flash can be made to suffice. A speedlight which will fire two tubes has a tremendous advantage over the single light unit and a three-light set is even better for shooting in your studio, although it becomes rather burdensome to transport when your work is shooting pictures in the child's home.
For the most adequate wedding coverage, it is almost a necessity to have your Camera equipped for synchronized flash and a portable speedlight is a wonderful aid. If you are to specialize in wedding pictures, you can make good use of two cameras, one a 4 x 5 press type for the posed pictures and some of the impromptu shots, and the other either a 35mm or twin- lens reflexeslens reflex, also equipped with flash, for the candid shots. You can get along nicely, however, with either a press type Camera or twin- lens reflexeslens reflex alone.
However, although a long focal length lens is mandatory, it need not be expensive. The utmost of critical sharpness in a portrait lens is not necessary, or even desired, since considerable diffusion can be tolerated in portrait negatives. Your lens needn't be in a shutter for strictly studio portraits, either. A lens in barrel is perfectly satisfactory, since you can provide yourself with a simple Packard shutter to use behind the lens. Many portrait men actually prefer the Packard to the more costly between-the-lens shutters.
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