Best Wedding lenses to hire?

[mcflurry]

I am attending a wedding next month as a guest, and thought it would be a good opportunity to take some shots. I'm not the professional 'tog so have no expectations, just want to get a few nice ones to give as a gift and get some hobby practice

Just wondering which glass would be good to pair up on my Nikon D5000? It will be hired for the weekend so don't have the major restrictions or paying £1000 to keep one

(BTW the wedding will be a church and local hall reception type event)

Thanks in advance

[Gad-Westy]

I don't know what your hire budget is or what shots you fancy but if it were me, maybe either a 70-200 2.8 or a 50/85mm 1.4.

[ian in lancs]

On a crop camera? Hire a Nikon 24-70 f2.8. That'll take you from 36mm through to 105mm (full frame equivalent) so full length small people groups ish through to nice close up portraits and its a belter of a lens. A 70-200mm is too long on a crop camera, needs fast shutter to stop blur and focus is critical at large apertures. Takes a bit of effort to use well and a wedding isn't the place to practice whereas the 24-70mm is easy point & shoot. At all f stops its fantastic! If you haven't already got one get a 50mm f1.8 that's a great lens on a crop too. Lovely shallow depth of field portraits ( perfect 75mm full frame equivalent on a crop camera) or inside Church during ceremony at f1.8 where no flash is allowed. The 1.8 is sharper than the 1.4 wide open.

The 85mm is also a cracking lens but at 128 might be a bit long in the crowds.

Edited by ian in lancs on Friday 24th June 22:44

[RobDickinson]

I'd say try a nikon 17-55f2.8 or a fast prime, 35/1.4 would bet my vote.

[Frik]

I was going to post this exact thread! I need something for my D50 so the same options as above I guess. Thanks chaps.

[Simpo Two]

ian in lancs said:

On a crop camera? Hire a Nikon 24-70 f2.8. That'll take you from 36mm through to 105mm (full frame equivalent) so full length small people groups ish through to nice close up portraits and its a belter of a lens.

Actually if you can only have one lens that's not a bad idea.

[mcflurry]

Some great ideas there, thanks

Would a 24-70 give enough reach in a wedding setting, and does the 2.8 stop low enough to get that nice effect where only the target person is in focus?

ian in lancs said:

If you haven't already got one get a 50mm f1.8 that's a great lens on a crop too.

Unfortunately the nifty fifty doesn't autofocus on the D5000
The hire company do have a 50mm 1.4 though

[RobDickinson]

2.8 at 24-70 mm is enough to isolate the subject but IMO for a dark interior may not be quick enough without pushing the iso way up.

Pro's get away with it with full frame beasties. But its 2.8 or primes anyhow.

(BTW theres a new 50f1.8af-s out)

[Simpo Two]

RobDickinson said:

2.8 at 24-70 mm is enough to isolate the subject but IMO for a dark interior may not be quick enough without pushing the iso way up.

Pro's get away with it with full frame beasties. But its 2.8 or primes anyhow.

Church weddings are the darkest; for the worst I use a 50mm f1.4 set to f2.0 (though the lack of zoom hinders framing options and you can't move about much) but most times f2.8 on one of the zooms is OK; maybe ISO to 800; exceptionally 1000. Good technique here is essential.

If the OPs wedding is a civil ceremony then f2.8 is plenty.

[mcflurry]

Hiring the 50mm 1.4 is another £30 so maywell get both

Thanks for the feedback

[mcflurry]

After all that the wedding was cancelled, so no pictures

[Frik]

Did you still hire the lens?

I decided not to hire the 24-70 F2.8 in the end and made do with the 50mm. Glad I didn't because the focus has started playing up on my D50.