Upgrading lenses for weddings

AndrewSt

AndrewSt

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Starting out with weddings. I know there are plenty of opinions around the whole Zoom/Prime debate.

I have a D750 with 35/50/85 1.8 primes and back up a D7000.

I am conscious of a few things:

1. Nothing longer than 85mm although I could put it on the crop if needed

2. Nothing wider than 35, do most of you have something wider,? a zoom that goes to 24 would surely cover this?

3. Only 1 lens at each focal
Length. If one goes put, then I may struggle.

4. Second body is a crop, different view field of view and ISO performance.

With this in mind I have around £1000 to spend improving my line up.

My thoughts are:

24-70 F2.8 Nikon or Tamron
70-200 F2.8 Nikon or Tamron
24-120 F4 or 24-85
20 or 24mm prime
Swap my Nikon 35 to Sigma
Second FF body

Obviously some of these vary in price and I may be able get more than 1 with my budget.

Any other suggestions? Comments?
 
I struggled a little with my 35/50 combo this weekend, but a lot of that was to do with only 1 body and the lack of anything wider.

I eventually stuck with the 35 for the most part, but it was too tight for certain shots so had to get creative. Its not long enough for portraits as really felt in the face of people.

I'm reverting back to the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 as I really enjoyed using that at a friends wedding and I used it literally from getting ready to the start of the evening.

My budget is super tight so 24-70 out of the question - but really couldnt fault the 28-75 and with ISO capabilities of the D750 it is a bargain buy!!

Also - might be worth waiting for reviews of the Tamron 35mm VC - initial shots look pretty good.

If I had £1000 i think I would go for the 70-200 f2.8 for sure.
 
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JJ! said:
I struggled a little with my 35/50 combo this weekend, but a lot of that was to do with only 1 body and the lack of anything wider.

I eventually stuck with the 35 for the most part, but it was too tight for certain shots so had to get creative. Its not long enough for portraits as really felt in the face of people.

I'm reverting back to the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 as I really enjoyed using that at a friends wedding and I used it literally from getting ready to the start of the evening.

My budget is super tight so 24-70 out of the question - but really couldnt fault the 28-75 and with ISO capabilities of the D750 it is a bargain buy!!

Also - might be worth waiting for reviews of the Tamron 35mm VC - initial shots look pretty good.

If I had £1000 i think I would go for the 70-200 f2.8 for sure.
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The 70-200 would be great but concerned a little that it is so big, obviously great for portraits and distant candids but my 85 is already a great portrait lens. It's on my list eventually but not sold on blowing my entire budget on it to begin with.
 
True, thinking back to the wedding i did, I never changed the 28-75. I did have the 70-300 in my bag, but the Tamron did everything I needed. A long lens is good for getting those candid shots from a distance though!
 
Add a 105 macro (£300?) and perhaps a 24-120 f4 (£400?) as a back up 'do it all' lens and then sell your 35 and put the rest to it and get the Siggy 35 if you really feel the need to. I kind of like the idea of having an aps-c back up body because it gives you the option of more reach should you feel the need for it. The Siggy would offer 157.5mm if needed which should be plenty for candids or speeches. Obviously the iso performance is completely different but if you can use flash then it's less important.

Must admit though that having had the 35/50/85 combo before, i much prefer my lazy 24-70 that i have now. :D but that depends on your style of shooting.
 
The 24-70 and 85 should cover a lot of your needs? The 2.8 of the 24-70 is far more useful than the 24-120 range at F4. Use the 24-70 as the workhorse and select when to use the 85. I've read numerous posts saying they've dropped the 70-200 for the 85. Sell the 50 as it neither here or there I find for events.
 
redlion said:
The 24-70 and 85 should cover a lot of your needs? The 2.8 of the 24-70 is far more useful than the 24-120 range at F4. Use the 24-70 as the workhorse and select when to use the 85. I've read numerous posts saying they've dropped the 70-200 for the 85. Sell the 50 as it neither here or there I find for events.
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This is probably the solution I am thinking about. Either the Nikon or Tamron 24-70 or my D750, leaving the 85 on my d7000 for reach, switching it to the D750 for the "formal" BG portraits.

I will keep my 50 as it's cheap and useful for travel and low light if pushed. Not sure if I should keep the 35. Selling would raise about £300, half of the Tamron or 1/3 the Nikon!
 
If you can afford it get the Nikon 24-70. It is built like a tank and find the zoom and focus arrangement better than the Tamron. The VC on the Tamron will hardly be used as can jerk a bit plus your shutter would be fast anyway to offset the VC.

Sell anything you won't use! Weddings or events in general can be a chore so have minimal kit to nail getting the event rather than faffing around with what lens and kit. 24-70 + 85 sounds ideal to blitz through the day as a solo shooter?
 
Pretty positive for the 24-70. It would serve as a good landscape and travel companion along with my 50 1.8
 
Assuming the 35 is a dx lens you definitely need something wider. Decide on a prime or a zoom depending on your own personal preference.

If it was me I would use the 1k to buy another D750 sell everything apart for the 85 and use the money to buy a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and a cheap 70-200 f/2.8
 
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minnnt said:
It's the FX version he is referring to. ;)
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In that case would keep the 35 and 85 use the 1k for another d750 sell the D7K and the 50 and buy a sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or a Nikon 80-200 f/2.8. 35mm is wide enough really on full frame. Pretty much any wedding we do is 99% shot on a 35-85 combo.
 
I'm going to keep the d7000. My wife also uses it for work and eventually a 3rd back up would be a good idea.
 
I'm not a wedding photographer, but I have shot a couple. One I did as second shooter when it was very useful for me to have the reach of the 70-200 for both Church images (the priest was very picky about no-go areas!) and also some candid stuff outside and at reception - plus I knew that the lead photographer was making considerable use of a Nikon 35mm for most of the group/posed shots. Then when I did one as lead, I made a lot of use of a Sigma 35mm Art that I'd picked up used for this very purpose (and subsequently and regrettably sold on... but that's another story!), both for most of the stuff in the bride's house and also the group stuff. Also made a lot of use of the 70-200 during the ceremony. I have a 24-70 and probably made relatively little use of it both days. Other lenses that stayed in the bag were 14-24mm (not surprisingly!) and 85mm.

However if I had to pick just one lens to shoot a wedding with (or just to own full stop) - it would be my 24-70. Nothing comes close for versatility.
 
f/2.8 said:
Assuming the 35 is a dx lens you definitely need something wider. Decide on a prime or a zoom depending on your own personal preference.

If it was me I would use the 1k to buy another D750 sell everything apart for the 85 and use the money to buy a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and a cheap 70-200 f/2.8
Click to expand...

I really do rate the Tamron - I don't think there is anything that comes close for quality to value.

100% crop from D600

crop28-75_zpse9npjhn6.jpg


Indoor action - no flash

DSC_3536_zps1fug4s1e.jpg
 
Tamron seems promising and can be had for around £500. £400 saving on the Nikon. I would prefer to buy locally and test out but the prices are much cheaper grey.

the VC issues with the Tamron might not be a big concern for me as I tend to shoot with at least 1/160th shutter most of the time at weddings.
 
Andrew the Tamron being mentioned by JJ! and F2.8 is the 28-75 and has no VC, which probably isn't needed at that length?

Loved my Tamron 28-75 on my then D7000 excellent value for money, they can be had for around £200 SH or £320 new, Wex have a SH one now for £224 >http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-used-tamron-sp-af-28-75mm-f2-8-xr-di-lens-nikon-fit/p1580695.

I would agree with @minnnt above for the Sigma 105 Macro. I have recently bought one after some recommendations on the D750 thread and it a very good lens which gives you the option of portrait and macro if needed, ideal for wedding ring photos and the brides Jimmy Choos.
 
Thanks. Will look into the Macro, not something I have tried before but it would also cover the 85 as a good length for portraits.
 
I am looking at the 24/70 2.8 for use at weddings. Hadn't really considered it but saw a photographer using it a few weeks back and his results were great. Had a look at some of the test results and reviews and it is certainly better than the 24/105 that I am using and the 24 /79 2.8 mki from canon. The MKii is clearly better but a lot more expensive
 
I shot a wedding last week and borrowed a 70-200mm and D3, I didn't think I would use it that much but ended up using it most of the say. Apart from that it was the 35mm f2 and 85mm f/1.8 on my D700..
 
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