A friend has a D5100 and wants to start getting into weddings/events. What nikon or third party lenses should she be researching? Price is an issue. Assume she has the kit lenses and the 50 1.8
Looking for lenses to use on a D5100 for Wedding/events
- Thread starter stayathomedad
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I agree - Nikkor 17-55mm F2.8. Find some way to afford it. Great zoom for DX. You have the 50mm 1.8 - Great for portraits. Pickup the 35mm F1.8 for low light and a little wider. Stay away from longer zooms with smaller apertures - use your feet to zoom in.
Best !
Best !
You need fast AF, so get the Nikon 17-55, and get the 35 and 85 also. Better add some light also, at least an SB-800 and SB-8A. The D5100 is good for events, and I've used it at weddings, but have backup gear also.
Is there a total budget in mind? Can your friend focus, or is it AF only? (Reception and impromptus stuff, AF is a must, but you could manual focus alter action)
For example, if we assume <$1k for all gear, I'd do a tammy 17-50 2.8 ($300), Nikon 35/1.8 or Sigma 30/1.4 ($200 or $300 respectively), SB-800/900 ($300-$400) plus some gels, light stands, bungee chords, remote triggers, etc for the remaining budget...
For example, if we assume <$1k for all gear, I'd do a tammy 17-50 2.8 ($300), Nikon 35/1.8 or Sigma 30/1.4 ($200 or $300 respectively), SB-800/900 ($300-$400) plus some gels, light stands, bungee chords, remote triggers, etc for the remaining budget...
I agree with that for the most part however I really think a zoom is good to have in the bag. There will be times at any wedding that your not going to be able to get in that close while being un-obtrusive. I think a zoom is a necessity.
+1.....clients do appreciate a photographer being unobtrusive
if she needs to ask a basic question like this, she's not ready to shoot weddings.
When I started shooting weddings, the 17-55 f/2.8 was the first lens I purchased. It's extremely sharp and the perfect focal length to start out. 70-200 f/2.8 VR was the second lens. For the first five years I invested every cent into gear, computers and training.
Please tell me this is as a second shooter, please. To be a lead you need at least 2 bodies and overlap from 24mm to at least around 100mm f4 or better so you are covered if something is not working right. Or at least like the old 18-70 / new 24-85 that are f3.5-4.5 which are decent with a good useful range. And 2-3 flashes.
I once worked with a guy that did not, I was second shooting. He spent 2-3 hours of an 8 hour day trying to figure out what was wrong with the only flash / body he brought. Then ended the night shooting completely manual flash to get anything. If something I have is not working it just goes back in the bag and I grab a backup. I might look at it if a get a break, but otherwise it waits till later.
I once worked with a guy that did not, I was second shooting. He spent 2-3 hours of an 8 hour day trying to figure out what was wrong with the only flash / body he brought. Then ended the night shooting completely manual flash to get anything. If something I have is not working it just goes back in the bag and I grab a backup. I might look at it if a get a break, but otherwise it waits till later.
I feel they need more than what is explained. I am not knocking anyone here, I have witnessed myself that gear is essential. I shoot weddings as a second shooter last year with D300, SB-600, Tamron 17-50 2.8 and Sigma 70-200 2.8. That gear was not up to par with the primary shooters D700. Weddings you need a high ISO monster that can handle the low light situations. Believe you me, there are many even in daytime weddings.
Overall, I used my Sigma 70-200 2.8 the most of the weddings I did second shoot for. You can find one of those used at a decent price.
Overall, I used my Sigma 70-200 2.8 the most of the weddings I did second shoot for. You can find one of those used at a decent price.
Medium range zoom (18-70 or pricier 17-55) if she can't afford anything else. If she can, then a 70-200. Fixed lenses are nice, but not necessary. And I agree, she needs backups of everything.
I bring a minimum of two bodies, two flashes and 5 lenses to a wedding.
I bring a minimum of two bodies, two flashes and 5 lenses to a wedding.
Matt brings up a good point if she is second shooting with a small DX look for Gen I or II of the Sigma 50-150 f2.8. They run 400-500 on eBay and might be just the ticket. They are only the size of the Nikon 70-300 and 180 AF-D and are better than most give them credit for being. That is the range a second is more often shooting.
Add a Tamron or Sigma in the 17-50/70 range (2.8 or 2.8-4.5) with a good flash and she should be set to assist / second.
50-150 samples:
http://www.blueberryphoto.com/Other/50-150/14413194_6hGB3R#!i=1068678841&k=wwfsX2r
Add a Tamron or Sigma in the 17-50/70 range (2.8 or 2.8-4.5) with a good flash and she should be set to assist / second.
50-150 samples:
http://www.blueberryphoto.com/Other/50-150/14413194_6hGB3R#!i=1068678841&k=wwfsX2r
+1
I did a couple of weddings last year and it made me really appreciate the pro's that do this for a living.
For the first one, my friend had the brilliant idea of making me the primary shooter so he can concentrate on video.
I told him he was a jack@ss for putting me in that position. I knew nothing!
I had no clue of the shooting conditions at the church, venue and or the prep sessions. Not a lick.
I used the 17-55 and 70-200 with my one and only body for the entire day.
It was extremely educational, but it wasn't fun.
The second wedding, I was a 2nd shooter.
I joined my friend at the grooms house for his prep shoot.
Guess what, he too wanted to concentrate on video and I ended up shooting primary.
Not wanting to disappoint (myself) I tried my best and came out with some decent pics.
At the ceremony, I mounted my 70-200 and was prepared to shoot as a 2nd.
Turns out I was shooting primary for the first 10 minutes of the ceremony because the other group (which included the primary photog) was late.
During the reception, I only had the 70-200 mounted, taking detail shots and close-up portraits.
I had my flash mounted and was bouncing it off the only white wall I could find because there was no ceiling.
I guess the highlight of the night was when the primary asked me what settings I was shooting at. :Curved:
So yeah, unless your friend is truly prepared and willing to dish out the dough to buy decent gear, it's not an easy thing to just jump right into.
I would suggest she shoots seconds a few times first to get a feel of the conditions.
It's a whole new monster that would eat you alive without a moments notice.
For the first one, my friend had the brilliant idea of making me the primary shooter so he can concentrate on video.
I told him he was a jack@ss for putting me in that position. I knew nothing!
I had no clue of the shooting conditions at the church, venue and or the prep sessions. Not a lick.
I used the 17-55 and 70-200 with my one and only body for the entire day.
It was extremely educational, but it wasn't fun.
The second wedding, I was a 2nd shooter.
I joined my friend at the grooms house for his prep shoot.
Guess what, he too wanted to concentrate on video and I ended up shooting primary.
Not wanting to disappoint (myself) I tried my best and came out with some decent pics.
At the ceremony, I mounted my 70-200 and was prepared to shoot as a 2nd.
Turns out I was shooting primary for the first 10 minutes of the ceremony because the other group (which included the primary photog) was late.
During the reception, I only had the 70-200 mounted, taking detail shots and close-up portraits.
I had my flash mounted and was bouncing it off the only white wall I could find because there was no ceiling.
I guess the highlight of the night was when the primary asked me what settings I was shooting at. :Curved:
So yeah, unless your friend is truly prepared and willing to dish out the dough to buy decent gear, it's not an easy thing to just jump right into.
I would suggest she shoots seconds a few times first to get a feel of the conditions.
It's a whole new monster that would eat you alive without a moments notice.
D
Deleted member 4116
Guest
I agree with this. People think it's simple to just take photos during a wedding but it's so much more. I just 2nd shot last weekend and that's about as far as i'd want to take any kind of wedding photography. Being the primary is tough work and I have 100% respect for those who do it professionally.
All of the suggestions given are valid but the one suggestion that really is of any value is the one below.
I realize we need to start somewhere but just deciding to shoot weddings & events because she owns a digital camera is just wrong. It takes a lot more than a body, lens & a flash to be a wedding photographer. There should be an apprenticeship program for wedding photographers...be required to be a second shooter for a certain # of weddings/events. That's a topic for another thread.
I realize we need to start somewhere but just deciding to shoot weddings & events because she owns a digital camera is just wrong. It takes a lot more than a body, lens & a flash to be a wedding photographer. There should be an apprenticeship program for wedding photographers...be required to be a second shooter for a certain # of weddings/events. That's a topic for another thread.
D
Deleted member 4116
Guest
Gear and a year!
+1 A carbon fiber hammer doesn't make me a carpenter. In a similar vein, building a bird house doesn't qualify me to build a residential house. There's a huge leap from shooting pictures at a party to being paid to capture someone's special moment/life event.
Her photos say otherwise... :smile:
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