Which lens for Full-day Wedding Shoots

[lsisaxon]

Hi Guys,

I have just gotten back from a long day meeting.
Seems like majority use the 17-55DX. I may try out wide angle ones too.
Thanks for the precious inputs.

To answer some, I am using the D70s with the lens kit. I found the lens kit is not too bad but lacking in terms of colour and contrast. THat's why the original thread.

One question-> Is it necessary to use a pro-body? My friend says my D70s is not good enough for serious full-day wedding event. We almost quarreled over dinner....
My arguement is that for wedding event, there's little occassions that you need the pro functions. But the emphasis should be on the colour vibrant of the picture itself. And D70s is not a bad body isn't it?

My friend says the S2Pro or D100 is better than the D70s....
I am still quite new to digital SLR. Can someone verify?

Thanks again!

Although I'm not a fan of the 18-70 kit lens, I think the colour and contrast are ok. Only the sharpness at 18mm is a bit far from my liking. Still, the pictures are useable for 4R prints, maybe even up to 6R should be ok.

Are you using a custom curve for your D70s? If not, I would recommend that you put in the sRealav2 curve. It will make quite a bit of difference for the tones.

 

[poh6702]

Interesting reading the discussion. :thumbsup:

I am a gadget person not an artistic person, from a normal person point of view, as the wedding couple or any event owner, what we want is clear, colorful pictures that capture the event and we want to look good in the pictures. Composition of shots is very important, flash should be used most of the time for indoor shots to ensure no mistake. Wide angle is also important becasue many times you have to take a group of people at short working range.

During my last year's company D&D, the photographer that provided by the event company was using Fuji S2Pro with Nikon 18-70mm lens and Nikon flash, almost everyshots were fired with flash, the pictures were well taken. When we look at the photos, we are trying to recap the event but not appreciating the piece of arts.

That is what I though: a general working range with wide enough angle like 17-35mm, 17-55mm or 18-70mm, you should bring a good portrait lens to take some photos of the couple, that is important because wedding couple want to look good on their big day.

 

[alvinpang]

Although I'm not a fan of the 18-70 kit lens, I think the colour and contrast are ok. Only the sharpness at 18mm is a bit far from my liking. Still, the pictures are useable for 4R prints, maybe even up to 6R should be ok.

Are you using a custom curve for your D70s? If not, I would recommend that you put in the sRealav2 curve. It will make quite a bit of difference for the tones.

This is great. Can you describe how I can do that? It's done on the camera setting? Or during NC?

 

[alvinpang]

Interesting reading the discussion. :thumbsup:

I am a gadget person not an artistic person, from a normal person point of view, as the wedding couple or any event owner, what we want is clear, colorful pictures that capture the event and we want to look good in the pictures. Composition of shots is very important, flash should be used most of the time for indoor shots to ensure no mistake. Wide angle is also important becasue many times you have to take a group of people at short working range.

During my last year's company D&D, the photographer that provided by the event company was using Fuji S2Pro with Nikon 18-70mm lens and Nikon flash, almost everyshots were fired with flash, the pictures were well taken. When we look at the photos, we are trying to recap the event but not appreciating the piece of arts.

That is what I though: a general working range with wide enough angle like 17-35mm, 17-55mm or 18-70mm, you should bring a good portrait lens to take some photos of the couple, that is important because wedding couple want to look good on their big day.

Point taken. Portrait lens would be the prime 85mm or 105mm I suppose?

 

[espn]

Sigh... why so concerned about the right glass to use? Be concerned about using the glass for right moments!

 

[alan1996]

Hi Guys,

I have just gotten back from a long day meeting.
Seems like majority use the 17-55DX. I may try out wide angle ones too.
Thanks for the precious inputs.

To answer some, I am using the D70s with the lens kit. I found the lens kit is not too bad but lacking in terms of colour and contrast. THat's why the original thread.

One question-> Is it necessary to use a pro-body? My friend says my D70s is not good enough for serious full-day wedding event. We almost quarreled over dinner....
My arguement is that for wedding event, there's little occassions that you need the pro functions. But the emphasis should be on the colour vibrant of the picture itself. And D70s is not a bad body isn't it?

My friend says the S2Pro or D100 is better than the D70s....
I am still quite new to digital SLR. Can someone verify?

Thanks again!

Take a few wedding with D70 and it's kit lens and SB-800. It is ok. At some wedding event, I sometime want to take a good shot but it happen so fast that it is over when my D70 is ready to fire. AF not fast. I think a DSRL with faster AF would be good (e.g. D200? or D2H/X).

 

[alvinpang]

Sigh... why so concerned about the right glass to use? Be concerned about using the glass for right moments!

Erh...not too sure what you are trying to say. Can you elaborate?
Are you saying any lens can be used? Meaning third party lens also ok? I thought Pro-lens does affect the quality of the picture? If not why pro goes for pro-lens and some insist only original nikkor? It's just for branding purposes?

As a newbie, I am concerned on everything that I can make the picture looked good and memorable. Of course composition and 'the right moment' have got to be from experience; this I know even the best equipment cannot help me.

 

[espn]

Erh...not too sure what you are trying to say. Can you elaborate?
Are you saying any lens can be used? Meaning third party lens also ok? I thought Pro-lens does affect the quality of the picture? If not why pro goes for pro-lens and some insist only original nikkor? It's just for branding purposes?

As a newbie, I am concerned on everything that I can make the picture looked good and memorable. Of course composition and 'the right moment' have got to be from experience; this I know even the best equipment cannot help me.

Well, definitely you pay for what you get. Many pros (me not pro though) do prefer Nikkors because of compatibility issues, specialised optics, performance & also last but not least - after sales support readily available. If you ask me, I can tell you where Canon & Nikon service centre is from the back of my hand, as for the others, I can't. I stick with Nikkors only because I believe in the performance and support from Nikon/Nikkors.

Nikon doesn't only do camera/glasses, they do specialise in imaging optics for commercial usages blah blah.

----

As for the right glass to use, there's no magical NOR the glass to use, it all depends on your usage, what you want to capture and how well you understand your equipment to use it to your advantage. If you're looking for a magical equation/forumla to use a single glass for an entire event, you're only out to kill creativity and perspectives in your images.

You can use any range, from 6mm FE to AI 1200-1700mm if you like for wedding/model/event/food/blah-blah shots. It depends on what you want to capture and how you capture it.

FE can be used if you know how and what to look out for. Eg:

AF 10.5 f/2.8G DX Fisheye for church sanctuary

No macro? Use the 50mm f/1.8 reversed!

50 f/1.8 Reversed @ handheld + manual exposure + manual flash exposure for macro

Different glasses gets you different perspectives and style of images, image quality is a very thin line, some can say (for eg) AF 18-35 f/3.5-4.5 is a good performer, but I would think other wise. It all boils down to how well you know the equipment, what it can do for you. Better, expensive glasses do not deny you better images out of the camera.

Understanding the characterstics of the glass + ample post-processing will aid you further in optimizing the image output.

I do not advocate using 3rd party of course ;p but if you want to I can't stop you, but don't limit yourself to a certain range of glass to use, 17-55 is an all rounder some might say, but how well you can push the glass to achieve the shots is another, a FE might add some nice effect, a 70-200VR might add perspective, shallower bokeh, subject isolation.

Think about it.

 

[Kho King]

18-70mm would be handy

 

[alvinpang]

Well, definitely you pay for what you get. Many pros (me not pro though) do prefer Nikkors because of compatibility issues, specialised optics, performance & also last but not least - after sales support readily available. If you ask me, I can tell you where Canon & Nikon service centre is from the back of my hand, as for the others, I can't. I stick with Nikkors only because I believe in the performance and support from Nikon/Nikkors.

Nikon doesn't only do camera/glasses, they do specialise in imaging optics for commercial usages blah blah.

----

As for the right glass to use, there's no magical NOR the glass to use, it all depends on your usage, what you want to capture and how well you understand your equipment to use it to your advantage. If you're looking for a magical equation/forumla to use a single glass for an entire event, you're only out to kill creativity and perspectives in your images.

You can use any range, from 6mm FE to AI 1200-1700mm if you like for wedding/model/event/food/blah-blah shots. It depends on what you want to capture and how you capture it.

FE can be used if you know how and what to look out for. Eg:

AF 10.5 f/2.8G DX Fisheye for church sanctuary

No macro? Use the 50mm f/1.8 reversed!

50 f/1.8 Reversed @ handheld + manual exposure + manual flash exposure for macro

Different glasses gets you different perspectives and style of images, image quality is a very thin line, some can say (for eg) AF 18-35 f/3.5-4.5 is a good performer, but I would think other wise. It all boils down to how well you know the equipment, what it can do for you. Better, expensive glasses do not deny you better images out of the camera.

Understanding the characterstics of the glass + ample post-processing will aid you further in optimizing the image output.

I do not advocate using 3rd party of course ;p but if you want to I can't stop you, but don't limit yourself to a certain range of glass to use, 17-55 is an all rounder some might say, but how well you can push the glass to achieve the shots is another, a FE might add some nice effect, a 70-200VR might add perspective, shallower bokeh, subject isolation.

Think about it.

Thanks for the invaluable info man. This is great. It does clarify things now.
Will continue to learn. This is a great forum. Appreciate it.

 

[brandonb]

I will think that 17-55 much suitable for wedding situation for me. 17-35 is still very wide, if shooting wedding environment and other thing rather then groom & bride face is ok. Using 17-35 shooting portrait in near distance is not encourage as people face might be out of shape (the couple will kill you if saw thier face out of shape ! ) unless focus them in the center of viewfinder. 17-55 set to 50-55 get a better portrait view, can focus in any place in view finder. 17-35 is design more to film camera where by 17-55 is for DX camera used, so it's also depend to whay camera you own to work with these len. If not wrong 17-35 might be heavy than 17-55. One more benefit is 17-55 cover all the 17-35 range, plus from 35-55mm. Will suggest you to bring 17-55 and another telezoom len (till 200mm) if you have any.

 

[catchlights]

....................

As for the right glass to use, there's no magical NOR the glass to use, it all depends on your usage, what you want to capture and how well you understand your equipment to use it to your advantage. If you're looking for a magical equation/forumla to use a single glass for an entire event, you're only out to kill creativity and perspectives in your images.
............................................

agreed with this..

 

[espn]

I will think that 17-55 much suitable for wedding situation for me. 17-35 is still very wide, if shooting wedding environment and other thing rather then groom & bride face is ok. Using 17-35 shooting portrait in near distance is not encourage as people face might be out of shape (the couple will kill you if saw thier face out of shape ! ) unless focus them in the center of viewfinder.

Who says WA cannot be used in portraits? Like I say, understand the characteristics of the glass and maximise it's usage! Not complain about it's shortcomings.

 

[catchlights]

.......

One question-> Is it necessary to use a pro-body? My friend says my D70s is not good enough for serious full-day wedding event. We almost quarreled over dinner.... .....

................. I thought Pro-lens does affect the quality of the picture? If not why pro goes for pro-lens and some insist only original nikkor? It's just for branding purposes?

Some Pros don't talk much about what equipments they use everyday, prefer to use the right tools for the right job.

They will tell you what they use if you would to ask them, but will not want to engage any long discussion or argument for why they use this or that.

As a newbie, I am concerned on everything that I can make the picture looked good and memorable. Of course composition and 'the right moment' have got to be from experience; this I know even the best equipment cannot help me.

Glad you understand this, that's why some Pros just use ordinary equipment, they trust their skills more than any other things.

 

[Luval]

some Pros will even help you to get the right shoot for you and help you abit with ur equipment.

I have seen some of them are humble and are very willing to teach the others and pass on their knowlege to help other to get better shot for themselves.

Many , I believe Doesnt mind explaining bit to you abt the optic but i believe too , Like me . I wouldnt go into this longwinged discussion on the con and Pro on Equipment.
It will save the day for the both of you .

 

[N-user]

Different glasses gets you different perspectives and style of images, image quality is a very thin line, some can say (for eg) AF 18-35 f/3.5-4.5 is a good performer, but I would think other wise. It all boils down to how well you know the equipment, what it can do for you. Better, expensive glasses do not deny you better images out of the camera.

Understanding the characterstics of the glass + ample post-processing will aid you further in optimizing the image output.

I do not advocate using 3rd party of course ;p but if you want to I can't stop you, but don't limit yourself to a certain range of glass to use, 17-55 is an all rounder some might say, but how well you can push the glass to achieve the shots is another, a FE might add some nice effect, a 70-200VR might add perspective, shallower bokeh, subject isolation.

Think about it.

Pro tio si Pro.... :thumbsup: :lovegrin: .......... One needle see blood........... :thumbsup: :lovegrin:

 

[brandonb]

Who says WA cannot be used in portraits? Like I say, understand the characteristics of the glass and maximise it's usage! Not complain about it's shortcomings.

Is not that cannot be use. But not everyone like the artistic way of how WA capture thier face. Unless as I said, always focus thier face on viewfinder at the same position. Then might end up most of the picture style about the same. For my case, I will rather to reduce the time I keep changing lens for the whole wedding event so I go for 2 in 1 len 17-55. (wide & standard len)

 

[markccm]

Is not that cannot be use. But not everyone like the artistic way of how WA capture thier face. Unless as I said, always focus thier face on viewfinder at the same position. Then might end up most of the picture style about the same. For my case, I will rather to reduce the time I keep changing lens for the whole wedding event so I go for 2 in 1 len 17-55. (wide & standard len)

there r quite a number of ppl here who use the 17-35 as their main lens for weddings.
no complaints still now.

it is essential to know the strengths & weakness of the equipment.
and it is a skill to bring out the advantages of the equipment & let it shine.

but of coz i will not disagree that the 17-55 has more coverage.

 

[Narsuitus]

I like the following lenses for shooting wedding candids with a 35mm:
35mm f/1.4 or f/2 (for available light shots)
85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 (for available light shots)
105mm f/2.8 macro (for close-ups and head & shoulder portraits)
180mm f/2.8 (for head and face portraits)
24mm f/2 (good for large group shots and interior shots of church)
35-70mm f/2.8 or 28-70mm f/2.8 (good for outdoor candids or as a backup lens)

If you don’t have more than one body, you should borrow one to use as a back-up. I carry extra bodies to use as backups and to cut down on the times I have to switch lenses.

If I were starting from scratch, I would use the following lenses:
17- 35mm f2.8
35-70mm f/2.8 or 28-70mm f/2.8
80-200mm f/2.8
50mm f/1.4 (for available light shots)

 

[lightning]

Screw the main photographer lah.. you got more "pro" gear than him. I think he see your setup he will begin to lose confidence..

Humm....will a secondary school kid with D2X be more pro? I came across one kid in my school having that setup. Frankly I think his pics look worst then another boy who use a canon A75.:think: