Best nikon lenses for wedding photography

<p>ok, so i bit the bullet and bought a d300 and was wondering what are the best fast/sharp nikon lenses for doing wedding photography? </p>

<p><a href="http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00RqOf">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00RqOf</a><br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/wedding-photography-forum/00RqTY">http://www.photo.net/wedding-photography-forum/00RqTY</a><br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00HEWV">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00HEWV</a></p>

<p> </p>

<p>I would go with 24 2.0 or 2.8, 35 F2, 50 1.4. For longer shots 85 1.8</p>

<p>With the D300 I used a 17-55 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8 VR lens. Those two can take just about every shot. My weddings are too fast for primes unless you have several camera bodies and then its just hard to switch between them too especially if you are using flash.<br>

I have two D700s now and use the 17-35, 24-70 and 70-200 for the weddings. The 17-35 is a fun super wide lens. I just found a used copy of one a couple weeks ago. </p>

 

<p>The Holy Trinity of Lenses:<br>

14-24 f/2.8<br>

24-70 f/2.8<br>

70-200 f/2.8<br>

Add a fast prime suitable to your style and you are set. Plus, if you ever go full frame, you are covered!</p>

<p>Don't dismiss the Tokina, Sigma, Tamron choices of 16,17,18-50 and 50-135,150, all f/2.8, Sigma with HSM (fast auto focus). On a D300 they provide the classic professional focal range of 24-200 (on 2 bodies of course).</p>

<p>Forget the Tamron 17-50mm (built-in motor version). AF is just too slow - my 18-70 nikkon is much faster.</p>

<p>Mike's holy trinity is probably not the best choice for DX.</p>

<p>The 17-55 f2.8 from Nikon will, from what everybody who does this for a living says, get the lions share of the shots you need. A 70/80-200 would be nice, too, but an ultra-wide might be unnecessary for most wedding stuff. Wedding shooters I know and the ones who come through my church never shoot wider than 17 or 18. ymmv.</p>

<p>Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 - as well as the above comments, you should note that this lens can focus very close for detail of cake, jewellery etc.<br>

Personally I think a wider lens than this is not really very useful for a wedding. For formal portraits the 85mm f1.4 is fantastic, but as someone has said changing prime lenses is not very practical.</p>

<p>Colin, a few days ago you asked about whether to get the D200 or D90 for weddings: <a href="http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00SDJ7">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00SDJ7</a><br>

It sounds like you are new to wedding photography. I suggest you visit the following page and take a look at the various articles on wedding photography: <a href="http://www.photo.net/learn/wedding/">http://www.photo.net/learn/wedding/</a></p>

<p>The 17-55/2.8 period. It covers a ~25 to 82mm range equivalent. The 24-70/2.8 was suggested, although as nice as this lens is, it is not wide enough on the wide end (~=36mm) to get enough coverage in the DX format. Although you don't need ultra wide angles in most wedding situations, 36mm is not considered wide enough for big group shots.</p>

<p>When you eventually do get another body (you NEED another body, don't you?) you should get the 70-200/2.8VR. Don't worry about the gap between 55-70. Your feet can do the zooming for you in this range.</p>

<p>Of course if you plan on going to FX, the 24-70/2.8 might be a more suitable choice, however you can always sell the 17-55/2.8 when the time comes.</p>

<p>If you cannot afford to commit to the 17-55 nikkor, then try renting one. You really do need two bodies (back-up is essential). With two bodies, a long lens on the second body eliminates the need for lens switching (& shot missing). Ideally you need the same speedlight on each body (SB-800) - preferably with a flash bracket to keep the flash above the camera in portrait mode.<br>

Also, I'd say lens speed and focusing speed is more important than sharpness in my experience.</p>

 

<p>I'd use 24-70/2.8 as a main wedding lens on D300 body and other wider lens only as needed (any brand 10/11/12-16/20/24 will do, Tokina 11-16/2.8 being the favorite). For most situations (since you don't want to distort people anyway at wedding) you don't need wider than 24mm and with 70mm you'll cover most of the portraits on DX without switching and carrying another lens. And it's much better lens than 17-55/2.8 which has worse bokeh and is not that sharp).</p>