Kit lens for weddings

[flea77]

LOL, thanks very much for helping our cause, I see 2.8, 2.8, 2.8, 2.8 and f4 for only the 400mm (still a $6000 lens!). Not a kit lens one in the bunch, not even close.

Allan

"Not a kit lens one in the bunch, not even close."

And Art Wolfe is no where close to being a beginner asking for advise on how to take better photos of the dog and the kids. "not even close"

Ummm, then I have to ask, why did you post his equipment list?

Next, if you check the OP's other post http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...lery/228931-shooting-wedding-8-days-help.html you would see she is getting paid "MAJOR money" which means she is holding herself out to be a pro, just like Art Wolfe. Once you take a paying gig you are no longer "a beginner asking for advise on how to take better photos of the dog and the kids" as you said, you are doing it for a job. As a pro, you should have pro equipment, just like Art Wolfe.

Allan

 

[Light Artisan]

Ahh, her... the self admitted chain jerker.

Makes complete sense now.

 

[bigtwinky]

Skimmed throughh most of this, always love seeing these internet debates...amusing really.

Can newer cameras give great high iso? Sure. A nikon D3s or Canon 1DIV do great at ISO 6400. Technically its true. But in reality someone shooting with a kit lens is probably not someone who shoots with a kit lens. So saying they can keep their kit lens and get a camera that does great high ISO is pointless IMO.

 

[flea77]

This was shot at ISO3200 300mm F2.8 1/125 you would have to more than double it

I could still do it! Instead of spending $4500 on that lens, I will just spend $7500 on a D3x and use a 70-300 VR!

Allan

Wait a sec, did I just spend more money than if I had just bought the lens and still wound up with low quality glass with distortion and abberations at 300mm? CRUD!:lmao:

 

[bigtwinky]

Does upping your camera's ISO help with the focus speed in low light of your lens as much as having a wide aperture does?

 

[flea77]

Does upping your camera's ISO help with the focus speed in low light of your lens as much as having a wide aperture does?

Aww now, quit trying to make sense! If you keep throwing out reasoned and logical questions like that you might hurt someone's feelings.

Allan

PS. For those who don't know, the answer is no. And no, your focus assist light will not reach that far either. :mrgreen:

 

[RyanLilly]

HaHaHa...this is a funny thread, but I think I'm now more stupid (stupider?) for reading the last 6 pages.

I have seen photos from several of my friends weddings shot with a kit lens(by "professionals") and quite frankly, the photos still would have sucked, if they had the top of the line gear. That does not mean that the gear cannot help make a better photo, they just need to learn how to use it.

 

[Robin Usagani]

It's 2011.. This forum is still like back in 2010 Drama... drama ... drama

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

This thread is more popular than erose.

 

[sobolik]

[quote


This was shot at ISO3200 300mm F2.8 1/125 you would have to more than double it[/quote]

ISO 3200 f2.8 1/125
= ISO 6400 f4 1/125 (doubled ISO to get the same exposure)

But since we now know (claimed anyway) that it was a 300mm lens then f4 is not the number to work with. Rather f5.6 is the typical kit lens aperture at 300mm.

therefore:
ISO 3200 f2.8 1/125
= ISO 12800 f5.6 1/125 (Doubled and doubled again)

If you reduced shutter speed to 1/60th (likely adequate) then you are roughly back to doubling ISO needing 6144 ISO to give equal exposure.

Since my Nikon D90 only goes to 6400 ISO I would obviously choose the 1/60 shutter speed.

Thus we see that this shot is far from "impossible" to get with a kit lens. Furtermore thanks to software an underexposed shot with a kit lens can often be rescued rather easily.

So the moral of the story is that the beginner has a lovely souvenir photo of a concert that was paid for with the $4000.00 dollars saved from not being talked into buying the fast glass. (300mm f4 vs 300mm f2.8 Digital Camera Lenses | Nikon Camera lenses | NIKKOR Optics)

If you are not an amateur beginner looking for souvenir photos but rather a pro expected to deliver the goods then this entire discussion is irrelevant as you will likely own the best made regardless of cost. Or an amateur who don't care about the costs of souvenir photos.

 

[Light Artisan]

What's the big deal using a kit lens if flash is allowed? I just don't get why people are so against using a kit lens for a wedding. I have a 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 that I'm gonna be using along with my sb600 speedlight (with a diffuser of course). I have a 35mm 1.8 but I'm probably not gonna use it, because I think it's unnecessary because again... flash is allowed. I guess ill use it for portrait type shots for a nice creamy blurred background. But is there something I'm not getting? If so please explain why a kit lens is bad for a wedding.

Is this you!?

 

[sobolik]

HaHaHa.........

I have seen photos from several of my friends weddings shot with a kit lens(by "professionals") and quite frankly, the photos still would have sucked, if they had the top of the line gear. That does not mean that the gear cannot help make a better photo, they just need to learn how to use it.

Exactly! Dead on bulls-eye.

 

[RyanLilly]

HaHaHa.........

I have seen photos from several of my friends weddings shot with a kit lens(by "professionals") and quite frankly, the photos still would have sucked, if they had the top of the line gear. That does not mean that the gear cannot help make a better photo, they just need to learn how to use it.

Exactly! Dead on bulls-eye.

Yes, but when a person understands the limits of their kit lenses, and has the experience to take advantage of better and faster lenses, they can archive superior results.

 

[sobolik]

What's the big deal using a kit lens if flash is allowed? I just don't get why people are so against using a kit lens for a wedding. I have a 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 that I'm gonna be using along with my sb600 speedlight (with a diffuser of course). I have a 35mm 1.8 but I'm probably not gonna use it, because I think it's unnecessary because again... flash is allowed. I guess ill use it for portrait type shots for a nice creamy blurred background. But is there something I'm not getting? If so please explain why a kit lens is bad for a wedding.

Is this you!?

\/quote]

See previous poster about the photos would still suck even if they used the best equipment. The moral of the story is that you can always find people that complain and want their money back. They just need an excuse and in this case they blamed the camera. If they would have used the best they would have had to blame something else - like talent? Apparently the Judge didn't like the talent either.

I wonder if the plaintiff insisted on keeping the "lousy ruined" photos? Hmmmmm?

 

[flea77]

Since my Nikon D90 only goes to 6400 ISO I would obviously choose the 1/60 shutter speed.

Thus we see that this shot is far from "impossible" to get with a kit lens. Furtermore thanks to software an underexposed shot with a kit lens can often be rescued rather easily.

I have a D90 (one of my backups) and I am here to say that even with the best software (which I believe is Topaz Denoise 5, which I have as well) and underexposed shot at 6400 iso has in my experience been a worthless blob of goo. I would love to see you rescue one of those and show me how.

If you are not an amateur beginner looking for souvenir photos but rather a pro expected to deliver the goods then this entire discussion is irrelevant as you will likely own the best made regardless of cost. Or an amateur who don't care about the costs of souvenir photos.

Then why did you jump in here and start berating us since the original poster was doing a PAID wedding, and was expected to deliver the goods yet wanted to use her kit lens.

As many here have stated, and I completely agree with, pro glass is essential, WHEN YOU NEED IT. If someone is being paid to deliver a pro product, then you need it. When someone posts a pro picture and says they want to take pictures like that, then they need it. No one here is suggesting buying thousands of dollars of glass to take better family photos or pictures of their dog to post on Facebook. No one here is suggesting that you need to buy thousands in a pro body, or thousands in pro glass to take pictures AS A GUEST AND NOT THE ACTUAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER at a friend's wedding.

Here is what can happen when you shoot for pay with kit lenses:lmao::




Allan