Wedding Kit

Frobius · 15 Jan 2011

Hi,

Sorry for the 'yet another wedding kit thread' but I thought a new thread would help with some of the answers.

I'm getting married in Feb and a friend of mine who is also on here has agreed to do the wedding shoot for us.

I just have a query about kit and if we need to hire some more glass.

Between us, we have the following:

1x D300
1x D300s
2x Nikon 50mm 1.8 (1 of them is a D, one non D)
2x Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 DC HSM
1x Nikon 18-105 f3.5-5.6G VR (Kit Lens) (DX)
1x Nikon 16-85 f3.5-5.6G VR (DX)
1x Nikon 24-85 f2.8-4D (The one with Macro Mode)
1x Nikon 80-200 f2.8 AF-D (this version)
1x Nikon 300mm f4 AF-D

2x SB-600 Flashguns
2x Tripods if needs be

So.. we were thinking maybe hiring an 80-200 2.8 with VR just incase the light is poor, but it's £80 odd for the week. Sadly, my mate dropped his 80-200 recently too and broke the filter. Hopefully this is the only damage and he reckons it's still ok other than a bit more noise but if it does end up fubar, I think we might be forced to hire a replacement.

Anyone have any thoughts on this lot, which lenses to actually take? I'm thinking the 300mm prime is going to be as much use as a fart in a spacesuit!

pooley · 15 Jan 2011

Look to me like you might need a fast mid range zoom - if the lights poor it could be worth its weight in gold

StewartR · 15 Jan 2011

Frobius said:
So.. we were thinking maybe hiring an 80-200 2.8 with VR just incase the light is poor...

Not sure I follow your reasoning here. You do NEED to plan for the light being poor, unless you're prepared to risk not getting any decent pictures. But in that case I think you should have higher priorities than upgrading your 80-200 to a VR version, because after all it's already f/2.8 and most of your lenses aren't.

I'd say the thing which would make the biggest difference would be a fast mid-range zoom like a 17-55mm f2.8.

After that, a very fast prime. I think something like a 30mm /1.4 would be more use than a 50mm f/1.8, given that you have a DX sensor.

cambsno · 15 Jan 2011

Would agree with Stewart - your 3 mid range lenses are possibly too slow, bearing in mind Feb could see bad light. I would add a Nikon 24-70 or 17-55 to the mix, a 50mm 1.4 too?

Frobius · 15 Jan 2011

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll def hire a fast mid range. I'm veering towards the 17-55 as it's DX glass but what about the 24-70 2.8? That would come out at 38-105 on the D300, right?

I'm thinking we prob already have a lot if that range covered with the nifty fifty and the 80-200, but if anyone can further advise, that'd be grand. I suppose we already have 10-20 covered too.

As for lensesforhire.co.uk, how are they? If I go for a 3 day hire with it arriving Friday morning, do I send it back on the Monday? Has anyone used this company before? Their rates seem very reasonable.

cambsno · 16 Jan 2011

Not used them, but have only ever seen good feedback.

StewartR · 16 Jan 2011

Frobius said:
As for lensesforhire.co.uk, how are they?

Not for me to say...

Frobius said:
If I go for a 3 day hire with it arriving Friday morning, do I send it back on the Monday?

If you have a 3-day hire for Fri-Sat-Sun, we deliver it to you Thursday and you send it back Monday.

Frobius said:
Has anyone used this company before?

Over 5000 customers to date. (Not all of them are TP members though.) There are over 1000 reviews here.

Frobius said:
Their rates seem very reasonable.

I think so.

Frobius · 16 Jan 2011

Thanks for the info Stewart! Should have realised that there would be someone on here from there!

I'll give you guys a call tomorrow and hopefully square something away.