70-200 or 24-70 for Dance Portraits? Rent?

[iflynething]

Right now I only have a 18-135 as a semi wide angle lens. The mount is partially broken and I think we all know this lens is SSLLLLOOOW!!!

I have alot going on in May: 2 weddings, a portrait session for a dance studio, and a dance recital.

The main thing I am concerned about is the dance portraits. It will be an entire week of shooting and I would have enough room to shoot with my 70-200 and get entire groups framed (up to 30 dancers (ages 6-16)) but I also considered renting the Nikon 24-70 for like 45 days from lensrentals.com. It's about $150. I do not remember. But I was thinking about the 2.8 speed on this lens and it's super sharp and I figure it might come in handy during the wedding but am not sure how much use it would get during dance portraits. I also have a 28 2.8 which is amazingly sharp that I could use for the wedding but wouldn't have the versatility of a zoom.

What would you get? Just use the 70-200 since you would have enough room or just do both?

~Michael~

 

[D-B-J]

from what ive read, the 24-70 is an amazing lens. I'd rent it, just to wide your available focal range. The 70-200 might be a little too long for a full wide shot, without being rather far away.

Be careful. Ive seen many rent it, then buy it soon after.:mrgreen:

 

[iflynething]

Yes, the 24-70 is exceptional. I know someone who owns one and have had photos taken of my sister and I and they are super sharp, of course he was shooting a D3 also.

I haven't actaully experimented to see how far a back I would need to be, but as said, it would be too far.

I greatly lust for this lens but can't justify the price. Maybe if I did some more wedding I would consider it more, just not right now.

From LensRentals.com - Rent Canon, Nikon, Olympus, or Sony Lenses and Cameras it's $201 for 21 days (May 7-21st) and www.prophotorental.com it's $225. So I think I will do the 21 days since that will cover everything I would need it for

I need the speed

~Michael~

 

[IgsEMT]

70-200 is a GREAT LENS but not for what you need on a cropped body so then you're looking at 24-70. Few weeks ago I was doing an engagement shoot with 70-200 mounted on D300. I had to be over 20 feet away in order to smoothly use 70-200 (70-100mm). Plus the weight of that lens and all that on cropped body - isn't worth it.
Now my self, I rarely shoot people wider then f/5.6; details I'll shoot wider, people No (thats me and my style) so the "slow" lens you're referring to is actually a decent lens IF you know its weaknesses and how to go around them. I've shot weddings with "crappy" 18-105, 18-200 lenses and THANK G-D! haven't had any issue in terms of IQ or focus speed or whatever.

 

[iflynething]

Yes it is a great lens!

I have been able to shoot with my 18-135 that came with my D80 and they turned out nice but if I had the optioin, I would much rather have the 24-70 for sharpness and speed.

~Michael~

 

[IgsEMT]

Micheal,
By default Nikon is a bit soften then let's say Canon (I have a pleasure of working with various Nikon and Canon bodies and lenses). Lenses such as 18-200, 18-105, 18-135 are also soft by default. Little trick i was taught is to boost the sharpness up. On all of my Nikons in picture control my sharpness is set to 5-7. SPEED, that is a whole different story

 

[iflynething]

I have mine set to about 30 but I do most of my processing in camera raw

~Michael~

 

[max3k]

check out www.thelensdepot.com also. I've used them, they're awesome

 

[iflynething]

Thanks for the heads up on The Lens Depot.

They are reasonably priced, especially for that 17-55!

~Michael~