what lens to use for wedding dinner shots

[wuminlee]

if i going to shoot in wedding dinner or outdoor, what is the recommended lens to use??

i saw those photographer using some long lens but didnt know the range.

[knpan]

1 fast wide angle lens, Definitely 1 external flash if not all your shots are almost flat and boring, 1 fast medium telephoto, 1 fast telephoto for head shots.

[Phosphorus]

Originally Posted by knpan 1 fast wide angle lens, Definitely 1 external flash if not all your shots are almost flat and boring, 1 fast medium telephoto, 1 fast telephoto for head shots.

Hi, would like to ask. How fast is ur definition of "fast"??

[gradesm]

In a avg well lit room, u will prob need F2.8 to shoot 1/60 assuming u are ard ISO 400-800. Dinner functions in most hotels are nowhere near what i'd call well lit, and 1/60s certainly won't stop all subject movements.

Most ppl will recommend you get the fastest zooms which would be F2.8. Even if it means compromising quality to fit your budget. Next, do bear in mind what's the highest ISO you are willing to go without compromising too much on picture quality.

[Nenjia]

Originally Posted by Phosphorus Hi, would like to ask. How fast is ur definition of "fast"??

for zoom lens, fastest will be F2.8, prime lens can be F1

[Nenjia]

Originally Posted by wuminlee if i going to shoot in wedding dinner or outdoor, what is the recommended lens to use?? i saw those photographer using some long lens but didnt know the range.

for FX, 24/28-70/75/80 will be great, if DX than 17/18-35/55

[TheChef]

Originally Posted by wuminlee if i going to shoot in wedding dinner or outdoor, what is the recommended lens to use?? i saw those photographer using some long lens but didnt know the range.

Noted that you are using DX system. Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 or Nikkor 16-85 VR. Very good!

[Reportage]

depends on the amount of light available...in most cases the 18-200 VR is more then adequate. If the lighting is bad, may want to look for prime lens like maybe 50mm for starters and if you got some cash then Sigma 30mm f/1.4

[calebk]

Originally Posted by Reportage depends on the amount of light available...in most cases the 18-200 VR is more then adequate...

You must be shooting in a very well lit ballroom I guess. I haven't shot in too many of these, which is why I use f/2.8 glass (with fill in flash).

[wuminlee]

hmmmm thanks .
was thinking of getting a wide angle lens.

[Reportage]

Originally Posted by calebk You must be shooting in a very well lit ballroom I guess. I haven't shot in too many of these, which is why I use f/2.8 glass (with fill in flash).

really depends on the situation...so far my skill is using natural light for dinners since i find that unecessary flash kills the atmosphere of the picture which means really having to work the camera to the limits and some PP later on.

Originally Posted by wuminlee hmmmm thanks . was thinking of getting a wide angle lens.

You already have a 18-200 VR, for low light shots can rent a 30mm F1.4 or recommended F2.8 or better lenses since your crop camera will give a near normal eyesight range of view.
Take note that without VR, either need faster shutter speed, higher iso to reduce chance of blur.

[adamadam]

Flash only kills the atmosphere if you let it.

[Reportage]

Originally Posted by adamadam Flash only kills the atmosphere if you let it.

Unfortunately knowing when to use flash is only by trial and error. Not easy to resist the temptation to simply leave the flash on and how many users make a point to check the flash power level. My experience is a dark picture is better then an overbright picture since no way to rescue details from over bright pictures.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by Reportage Unfortunately knowing when to use flash is only by trial and error. Not easy to resist the temptation to simply leave the flash on and how many users make a point to check the flash power level. My experience is a dark picture is better then an overbright picture since no way to rescue details from over bright pictures.

You strongly believe in shooting with available light and yet recommend a slow lens like the 18-200?

Contrary to popular belief, slightly overexposing (not to the point of blown highlights) brings out better detail than an underexposed image, where bringing up exposure will increase the noise level also.

Knowing when to use flash is not a matter of trial and error; it is a matter of understanding light. Seeing as you do not quite understand light, it is no wonder you do not use flash. There is such a thing as TTL, which should give you well exposed images most, if not all, of the time, and there are such things as colour correction gels, if white balance is an issue.

There are also techniques and diffusers you can use to make your flash work invisible - that means to say, with the right technique and skill, you can shoot an image and make it look like it was shot on natural light.

[Snoweagle]

Originally Posted by wuminlee if i going to shoot in wedding dinner or outdoor, what is the recommended lens to use?? i saw those photographer using some long lens but didnt know the range.

I did a few wedding dinners before just by using the 17-40.

[wuminlee]

so to add all up, it is best to use a wide angle lens or some prime lens like 35mm. but have to be fast lens?

[Snoweagle]

Originally Posted by wuminlee so to add all up, it is best to use a wide angle lens or some prime lens like 35mm. but have to be fast lens?

An f/4 lens is more than fast enough.

[Reportage]

Originally Posted by wuminlee so to add all up, it is best to use a wide angle lens or some prime lens like 35mm. but have to be fast lens?

as i said it depends on the situation...only by firsthand experience more or less you know what to do.

what you can do is recce the venue and ask the people if can take a few test photos so that can check what lens and settings would be better.

[OnePiece]

ur setup is D90 & 18-200 now, right? if u just wan to help ur friend take wedding pics, not bcos of u wan become Pro, i suggest u buy a flash 1st cos flash is a must for wedding pics. D90+18-200+flash is ok for wedding pics, but sure cant compare to those pics wif a fast lens like 17-55 f/2.8...And if u use D90+18-200+flash, u better know how to use manual cos in some low light condition, 18-200 not work well in P mode...

[twisted illusion]

Originally Posted by wuminlee if i going to shoot in wedding dinner or outdoor, what is the recommended lens to use?? i saw those photographer using some long lens but didnt know the range.

2 sunday ago, i attended a wedding dinner, the photographer actually use a 70-200 with monopod n led lite pad or a 24-70 with flash thru out the time i see him...