If I had to Pick One Lens for a wedding.....???

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:09 pm

I have done a few weddings now...and with the last one I did, I was changing lenses a bit.....But if I had to stick with one lens...what should it be?? I'm thinking my Sigma 50-150m f2.8...am I limiting myself with this kind of thinking??

thanks in advance....

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:30 am

You don't need one lens you need two camera bodies with glass attached. Much faster and more versaital then one lens or switching.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:10 pm

ChrisL wrote:

You don't need one lens you need two camera bodies with glass attached. Much faster and more versaital then one lens or switching.

Yeah...in an ideal world....and maybe in 12 months I might do that....but that still doesn't help me......

anyone else have any thoughts......:(

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:41 pm

You don't need top of the line here, a good used body will probably cost you what your looking to spend on the glass alone. Don't let the marketing hype steer you in the wrong direction, the older bodies are more then good enough to handle the job.

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:13 am

depends on how far are you shooting

AF-S 17-55 f/2.8 is a nice choice in the church or even AF-S 28-70 f/2.8

as ChrisL mention a 2nd body is a must for a wedding photographer in case something wrong happens in your primary Camera you will have a back up

if it were me 2 camera bodies with AF-S 28-70 f/2.8 on my main Camera and AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 on the back up Camera

throw it in a pouch that is attached to your waist and on it is a AF-S 12-24 wide angle lens in case you have no room to back up and you need to cover a wider area mostly group shot

I almost jump in the wedding I just back up in about 2 weeks prior to the date cause the guys is keep asking too much and for the budget he's offering I don't think it's worth it

gears I had ready when I say yes
2 Body D200 and D70s
4 lenses
AF-S 12-24 f/4 for wide angle coverage
AF-S 28-70 f/2.8 for normal use
AF-S 70-200 f/2.8VR for extra reach
TC-17E II in case I need an extra reach
AF 50mm f/1.4 for head shot and low light
SB-800
SB-600
12gb of Memory Card
Tripod and Monopod
Pouches for extra batteries
everything will be attached on my body for a quick grab

I think I don't even have a complete set of gear

but in the end I back out LOL

I've done a couple of event, Birthday Party and the AF-S 12-24 f/4 come handy when the place are so tight and I have no more room to back up

good luck on your search

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:30 am

I agree that 2 bodies will be ideal, and by most wedding photog's I've spoken to it's essential, but to awnser the one lens question, one of the more popular wedding photographers I know started out with a 17 - 55 f2.8 like adorski mentioned, on a 1.6 crop factor sensor it is behaves like a 27mm wide enough for most group shots except the largest (15 or more) if you have no space to backup and the 35mm equivalent at 88mm it's close enough for portrait style shots with out having to be right in the subjects face.
If I were you though I'd be trying to get to the 2 body situation, it will just give you that much more freedom and creative choice.

Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Boulder, Colorado

adorski wrote:

as ChrisL mention a 2nd body is a must for a wedding photographer in case something wrong happens in your primary Camera you will have a back up

Unless you're using Hasselblads....then you need 2 back up Hassies and another Backup Mamiya C330 TLR! lol One good thing about the digital age....no more Hassle-jams!

Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 82

Well what sort of wedding are you looking at? If it's one in a well lit venue I'd go with the tamron 18-250mm, biggest range available and outdoor photog gave it a great review, however it's not fast so low light may present a challange- I would still opt for that lens and a good flash on my stroboframe but the wedding party may object to being treated to the papparazi effect :)

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:36 pm

Well.....in an update.....I have a second body now....and having done a couple more weddings, I am working with a Tamron 28-75 2.8 on one body, and the other is sporting a Sigma 50-150 2.8. And because I can't help myself, I have in my bag, my 30mm Sigma Prime. 1.4. JOY!