telephoto recomendations for portraits and weddings?

[david_le1]

So I'm on a super low budget. 600 max. i really dont want to go that high, but

if i have to,then i will. I want an f/2.8 zoom. I already have a 85mm f/1.8. I

generally shoot wide open unless flash is permitted, then i bump it to f/4. that

is with my mid range f/2.8. Any recomendations? anything like the 70-200 would

be great! hehe.

[michaelschrag]

Its hard to know what lens to recommend without knowing what you are shooting with. Are you shooting digital or full frame film?

[michaelschrag]

KEH has a bunch of 80-200mm f/2.8 lenses for less than $600. They (KEH) have a very good reputation and I have bought from them many times.

[ShunCheung]

Given the budget, which I assume is US$600, it pretty much limits you to a used 80-200mm/f2.8 that is not AF-S. I would try to get the AF-D version with a tripod collar. That is more a wedding play. For portraits, you already have the 85mm/f1.8 and hopefully other choices.

[steve_levine]

Use your feet to zoom, and that 85, it's a great lens!

[tim_knight]

You have the 85mm f/1.8 now for another $400 to $450 you can have these two lens, 50mm f/1.8, and the 24mm f/2.8,. If you want the zoom lens then at used prices get the 80-200 that Shun Cheung recomended.

[ShunCheung]

I am a bit surprised by the comment from a highly experience wedding photographer such as Steve Levine. The fact that 85mm and 200mm would give you quite different perspectives aside, a lot of churches require the photographers to stay at the very back (behind the last pew) and do not allow flash during the ceremony. That is why a 70-200mm/f2.8, especially with VR, is very useful for weddings. When I was shooting film, I once used a 300mm/f2.8 on a tripod to get close up shots at the altar, and that was a somewhat small church.