lens advice please.

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bopins

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ben
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hi all thanks for reading.

My sister has asked me to take photo's at her wedding next year.
I was wondering if this lens was good enough?

Tamron SP AF 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD [IF] MACRO - Nikon Mount
or
Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Macro

this is brand new or should I try for a secondhand nikon lens.

has anyone used one of the tamron len's.

thanks Ben
 
If you are going to use a lens starting at 70mm on an APS-C body you're going to have to be stood a long way back from the action to get anything other than a head shot and I suspect that groups shots would be pretty much out of the question.

Are you sure you want to go for this length for use at a wedding? I'd have thought that a "standard" zoom (something like 17-50mm) would be far more useful for portrait, full body and group shots.
 
hi woof.

I have an 18-55 vr but for inside it only has a max of f5.6 at 55mm and f4 at 18mm.

looking at some other wedding togger's kit list they use a 70-200mm

any suggestions for a longer zoom for use inside? no flash is allowed so I thought the 2.8 would be useful.

thanks Ben.
 
Ben, I'm by no means a wedding shooter so please take everything I say with a pinch of salt...

I'd imagine that you're going to want to shoot wider than a head shot so that will mean standing well back or using a wider lens as well as boosting your ISO and using a wide aperture.

Would it be possible to do a quick recce of the church (or wedding venue) so that you can get an idea of what focal length, ISO, aperture and shutter speed you'll need?

Personally I think I'd want to have a 17-50mm f2.8 handy or failing that is there a relatively cheap Nikon prime of something like 30 or 50mm? Although even with a 50mm you're going to have to stand well back to get the bride and groom in shot in all their glory. Best option might just be a 17-50mm f2.8.
 
From what I have heard, the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 is an excellent lens let down by slow autofocus, although I have never used one. I personally have a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 (APO DG HSM, pre-macro) which I purchased used for under £400 and it is great, quick AF and good image quality.

I also have a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and it stays on my camera most of the time, it is fast and sharp, and great for indoors shots without flash.
 
bopins said:
hi all thanks for reading.

My sister has asked me to take photo's at her wedding next year.
I was wondering if this lens was good enough?

Tamron SP AF 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD [IF] MACRO - Nikon Mount
or
Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Macro

this is brand new or should I try for a secondhand nikon lens.

has anyone used one of the tamron len's.

thanks Ben
Click to expand...


You're going to be taking on a very difficult challenge. It depends what expectations she has of you as a photographer

Personally I don't thnk you'll get away with a kit lens and a zoom, especially for the indoor shots and I'm not sure your camera would be upto the challenge, especially for indoor shots, the D5000 isn't in the class of the D700 for ISO performance.

However if I was in the same boat, I would be looking to hire some equipment rather than buying it like a flash, extra body, and several lenses, preferable fast primes for the candid, group shots etc.

Would also find out about the venue and see what you can and can't do, and definitely scope out the venue for the best places to shot and check out the lighting conditions.
 
hi all and thanks for the replies.

I have told my sister that I am no where in the realms of pro or even semi pro talent, but she is adamant that I am to do the pictures.

The rooms that we can use are very well lit by natural light from huge side floor to ceiling windows.

I am looking at getting hold of an sb600 flash and a reflector.

So would it be better if I just get a 17-50mm f2.8 and use a 35mm f1.8 that I already have? I have used the d5000 in very low light and it does seem to handle it ok.

Ben.
 
Something like the 17-50 will enable you to get everything from group shots to couples. 2.8 will give you desired shutter speeds in the church (assuming stereotypicly low light in churches) It seems like a good choice, and the 35mm 1.8 you mention would be really good.
 
Hi will.

thanks for the reply.
would this lens be ok'ish?
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM

Ben.
 
That lens is well thought of but the f2.8 is only at the very widest end.

You could look at the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. These lenses are f2.8 throughout their zoom range all the way to 50mm.

I have the Tamron, but in reality these lenses are probably very very close to each others performance.
 
hi woof.
can I get sharp front to back pictures with this lens or will I get unfocused backgrounds all the time?
sorry if this sounds a stupid question.

Ben.
 
Ah! I see the confusion...

When we say that lenses have a constant f2.8 we mean that they are able to retain f2.8 throughout their zoom range (for example 17-50mm) if that's what you want to do.

You can of course select any aperture up to the minimum the lens is capable of at any zoom length.
 
will this lens have the hunting problem like the tamron 70-300 I have?

Ben.
 
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