Which lens should I rent for an upcoming wedding??

[stayathomedad]

I will be using a D700, 24-70, and a 70-200. I will have a D300 for back up and a few flashes if needed.

What would be the most useful in your opinion and why?

14-24mm f/2.8
24mm f/1.4
35mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4

I'm not a pro's pro by any means... I can get good shots but I don't have that artistic touch that makes a good wedding photographer a great wedding photographer...

Here's a quick look at two recent weddings I did -

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39659&id=126509097388433&l=517fbd951a

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28632&id=126509097388433&l=1bc6ee0dfa

 

[Patrick]

I'd say the 24 or 35mm since portraits for low-ambient-light only shots, most portraits can be fill-flashed ...

Just my €0.02 not having much experience...

 

[MurByrne]

Probably the 35 if I were you

 

[adaml]

I think that you've got it pretty well covered with the 24-70and 70-200.

You may want to consider the 85mm for close-up portraits.

 

[sylvesterii]

I would suggest the 85. I find that I rarely shoot truly fast wide-anlge shots at weddings, and 24 on the D700 is more than wide enough. A nice fast 85 is always nice.

If I could have any gear I wanted for weddings I would have a D700 with a 20-35 or 17-35 on one hip, and a D700 with an 85 or 135 on the other hip, basically all the time. I would swap in a 200 or 50 depending on the sitaution.

You don't really have anything that you can really get close for the rings, flowers, cake, centerpieces etc. though. Might want to think about that too.

 

[Ryan_T]

I'd say the 85mm too.

 

[jonh68]

Unless you are getting paid, you will do just fine with the lenses you have now. The more lenses you get, the more you think about what lens to use instead of getting the shot. Shooting at 200 mm on the D700 will give nice creamy backgrounds too.

 

[crazy]

personally, I would stick with the 24-70 and the 70-200

 

[Prettym1k3]

The 85 is going to give you the reach and isolation that makes almost any image dreamy, but it's got that large aperture to work in the lowest of light conditions and it's one of the newest lenses, it's fast to focus, and it's sharp.

Rent the 85.

 

[Anthony747]

Unless you are getting paid, you will do just fine with the lenses you have now. The more lenses you get, the more you think about what lens to use instead of getting the shot. Shooting at 200 mm on the D700 will give nice creamy backgrounds too.

Couldn't agree more...your are all set with what you have.

 

[IcemanYVR]

I will be using a D700, 24-70, and a 70-200. I will have a D300 for back up and a few flashes if needed.

What would be the most useful in your opinion and why?

14-24mm f/2.8
24mm f/1.4
35mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.4

I'm not a pro's pro by any means... I can get good shots but I don't have that artistic touch that makes a good wedding photographer a great wedding photographer...

Honestly, you have from 24-200mm covered. I wouldn't even worry about it. Don't worry about what lenses you need, and just concentrate on being creative or trying to emulate a wedding photographers work you respect.

Like a previous poster mentioned if you're not getting paid, and even if you are, save your money, and enjoy the day.

 

[jonh68]

Couldn't agree more...your are all set with what you have.

I know. If I were getting PAID I wouldn't be looking to cover it with other glass.

 

[sambo.]

my $0.02: never, EVER, take unfamiliar new gear on an important job without extensive testing and experiement with it first.

take the gear you have and use that.

 

[Ryan_T]

my $0.02: never, EVER, take unfamiliar new gear on an important job without extensive testing and experiement with it first.

take the gear you have and use that.

This is very true.

I covered an event once with a very familiar 35/2, and got better results than when I rented a 17-55/2.8 for its 'capabilities'. You're only as good as your experience, and they extend only as far as what you've used extensively. Unless you're a prodigy who can absorb a lens test and immediately decipher how to apply it in real life. :tongue:

 

[sambo.]

Unless you're a prodigy who can absorb a lens test and immediately decipher how to apply it in real life. :tongue:

lens tests tell you 2/3rds or sweet stuff all.

i just bought a 14-24. the widest lens i've owned previously was a 20mm.

the 14-24 is lovely and sharp and wonderful and all that jazz.

HOWEVER: actually using this lens isn't straight forward. you can't just bung a 14mm lens on and expect everything to suddenly become awesome. it requires a LOT of thought and creativity to get the best out of glass that wide.

 

[Takeda]

personally, I would stick with the 24-70 and the 70-200

+1

 

[Cope]

I have only done a couple of weddings, but I used an 18-50 Sigma for both. I think your 24-70 would do a great job.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

24-70 and 70-200. Lenses are fine, just make sure you're lighting is up-to-par!

 

[Debbie H]

I would say the the lenses you have as well. I've shot weddings with only my 28-70 and my 70-200 and covered everything.

 

[vicmac64]

14-24 without a question - you really are very well covered, problem with shooting at 1.4 is very narrow depth of field and also the softening that inevitably occurs. The 14-24 on the D700 could well give you something you wont get with any of your existing lenses. I love primes, but the 24-70 is an astounding lens and one that I gain respect for each and every time I use it.