Hiring lenses for weddings?

photoclare · Mar 11, 2011

Hi all,

I have photographed a few weddings before - I have a Nikon D80, a SB600 flash and I use an 18-200mm lens. I am however beginning to find the limitations in my lens (or perhaps it's me?) but even using the lowest F-stops I'm finding it hard to get a noticeable depth of field and the quality of the images seem the degrade fast after ISO 100, than seems normal. I can't afford a new lens at the moment and I only have the one camera body so I'm thinking about hiring a lens or two. Could anyone please give me some suggestions on some lenses that will be suitable for shooting weddings with and enable to get a decent depth of field. This will also give me a better idea of what kit to upgrade to in the future?

Thanks in advance,
Clare

Robin Usagani · Mar 11, 2011

35mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

digital flower · Mar 11, 2011

I'd get a 50mm/1.8 right away. They are cheap.

AtlPikMan · Mar 11, 2011

Schwettylens said:
35mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

All the above will work nicely.

gsgary · Mar 11, 2011

If you can't afford equipment you are not charging enough or your photos are not good enough

Big Mike · Mar 11, 2011

and I only have the one camera body

Then you should be renting another camera as well.

For a Nikon camera like yours, a good wedding kit would be a 17-55mm F2.8 and a 70-200mm F2.8. Maybe add to that a wide angle, something in the 10-20mm range and maybe a 'fast' prime like a 50mm F1.8 or F1.4.

SpeedTrap · Mar 11, 2011

Mike is right, you should have at least 2 bodies with you and at least add a 50 mm prime lens.

imagemaker46 · Mar 11, 2011

Until you have the gear to do the job correctly you shouldn't even be shooting weddings, especialy if you are accepting money. Get yourself set up to do the job, until then all you are doing is taking jobs away from the professionals that have spent the money to do it right. I know too many full time wedding photographers that are fighting against the unskilled and unprepared amateurs that pretend they know what they are doing.

Joves · Mar 11, 2011

Well renting costs as well. You can always buy used from a place like Buy & Sell New & Used Cameras they are very reputable, and have use lenses at different grades. Their BGN or bargain lenses are actually what some called good. I have oredered the BGN lenses and found they are close to pristine.

Sobriquet · Mar 12, 2011

imagemaker46 said:
Until you have the gear to do the job correctly you shouldn't even be shooting weddings, especialy if you are accepting money. Get yourself set up to do the job, until then all you are doing is taking jobs away from the professionals that have spent the money to do it right. I know too many full time wedding photographers that are fighting against the unskilled and unprepared amateurs that pretend they know what they are doing.

Can't believe you would risk shooting a wedding without back up and nothing but a kit lens

xjoewhitex · Mar 12, 2011

Sobriquet said:
imagemaker46 said:

Until you have the gear to do the job correctly you shouldn't even be shooting weddings, especialy if you are accepting money. Get yourself set up to do the job, until then all you are doing is taking jobs away from the professionals that have spent the money to do it right. I know too many full time wedding photographers that are fighting against the unskilled and unprepared amateurs that pretend they know what they are doing.

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Can't believe you would risk shooting a wedding without back up and nothing but a kit lens

You know the truth ive done it. I got called one night, woman upset she lost her photographer and was trying to find a replacement so I agreed to shoot it. With having nothing more than a d40x with a kit lens and the 55-200. Went to the location a few days before and spotted it out, decided to overnight a sb-400 an a extra battery which is all I could afford. You know what I pulled it off, great turnout. 6 hours of shooting, 2 dead battery's later. I walked out with cash in hand.

RyanLilly · Mar 12, 2011

Not that it cannot be done with with one camera and a kit lens; you can also stand up on the seat of a motorcycle, doing 100mph the wrong way, in rush hour traffic. It can be done, but its not a good Idea.

Get a second body, and at least a couple of lenses mentioned above. My recommendation is a 17-50/55 2.8, 70-200 2.8, a 30 or 50mm 1.4, and a macro is nice for rings, and other details, bride and groom on the cake, etc. and at least 2 flashes.

Having several primes can make a good backup for your zooms. I do not shoot weddings, but I have at least one, if not two lenses that can backup each other. If you ever have equipment failure just go to your backup, and keep working. Never mention anything to the client, they don't need anymore stress, and if you have a backup, you won't have any more stress, either.

Gear does cost money, but if you are making money with the gear than paying for it should not be a problem. Either rent/hire gear until you can buy what you need, or look into financing. If you are working regularly, you can probably find 0% or very low interest financing options, and be able to pay them off quickly. Even using "bill me later" at B&H, can give you 6 months at 0%. That should give enough time to pay off the balance, or at least a good chunk of it, if you are working regularly.

As for finding the limitations of the 18-200, It doesn't take a lot to run into them, its slow, it distorts noticeable at the short and long end, and its fairly soft compared to pro glass. Don't get me wrong, its a nice lens for going to the zoo, casual photo outings, or a family vacation, but there are much better choices for a wedding. It will be night and day when you get a hold of of a good 2.8 zoom or a 1.4 prime.