Need to borrow a lens, please

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by cajun angel

wish I had your confidence! LOL

Thats probably what you need to rent, instead of a lens!

Think about it. If you stand at the back of the church, and you can't use flash, your 80-200 2.8 is what you'll use.

For candid reception shots where you have the ability to physically walk closer, or back up from your subject, the 50mm is what you'll use.

Both of the lenses above should cover most of what you need to do.

In the event that you have to do the formal, large, family group pictures with the bride and groom in the church, and you can use flash after the ceremony, stick your two sb800's on light stands, use the Nikon CLS system and your done.

I'm sure I'll get reamed by the wedding folks, for 'discounting' the need for 'pro' equipment and 'pro' training and 'pro' expenses for shooting weddings, but I believe you already have everything you need to shoot a cousins wedding. Now I wouldn't go advertising that your a wedding photographer and start charging people out the ying-yang for services, but for a cousins wedding, who is on a budget, and just wants better pictures than uncle henry can take between swigs of his bud, you have what you need.

Just my opinion...

[bondarnes]

Oh man, as bad as I hate to do it, I have to agree with Chris on this one. Your 18-200 will cover everything you need. Just crank up the ISO and bounce a little fill flash in there. Use the 80-200 for the available light shots and you should be solid.

[lyncca]

I've shot 9 weddings (mostly as 2nd shooter) purely using my 35mm and 50mm primes. I finally broke down and bought the 24-70mm because sometimes I just couldn't back up, move in or change lenses fast enough. Overall, I did just fine as a 2nd, but moving into 1st shooter, I thought I needed to be able to have the flexibility of a zoom and my photos have improved for it.

I think if you are pretty familiar with your equipment you will be ok for what she is wanting. I understand people have budgets and sometimes it just IS NOT there to hire a pro. Good luck and hopefully you can have a good time! My first as even a tagalong I was a nervous wreck!

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Oh man, as bad as I hate to do it, I have to agree with Chris on this one. Your 18-200 will cover everything you need. Just crank up the ISO and bounce a little fill flash in there. Use the 80-200 for the available light shots and you should be solid.

I think I'm gonna frame this one Don...

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Diane,

This has nothing to do with what anyone else above has already said... you need to (at some point) buy the 50mm f/1.8 and the 85mm f/1.8. They're cheap, fast, and they should be in your bag at all times. They will save your A** when you need a very fast lens.

Eventually, you may want to jump up to the f/1.4 versions of those lenses but they are much more expensive and only 2/3 of a stop faster.

Oh, and the 24mm f/1.4 AF-S will be out this week (fingers crossed). That would be nice to have as well if you're going to shoot a lot of "event type" shots with several people in them... and you don't want to use flash. Glad I didn't spend $3000 on the old 28mm f/1.4 AF-D version last year!

Good luck!

- Wil

[ChristopherCoy]

Will,

She already owns a 50mm 1.8.

[cajun angel]

Gee, thanks ya'll! I'm planning to try to get to my home town a week early. The pastor at the church will let me in anytime I want - I plan on metering the light, they've made some renovations that will be more photographer friendly, and flash is allowed. I"m going to just give it my best with what I have - and don't worry, I don't plan on advertising wedding photography - I'd want to have a lot of experience being a 2nd or gopher, etc at weddings if that's in my future. So far, I haven't been able to do that.

[jcopes]

All you can do is your best. We all started somewhere. We all have been there. All I can say is relax and have fun. If you do that, then the pictures will be better.

I own 24-70, 28-70, 50mm, & 70-200 (plus a dozen more lens). For what you are doing, stick to what you have. You can use a tripod if you can not use flash for a little longer exposure. My 24-70 is my everyday lens, therefore it would be a great investment. But I would not purchase unless I wad going to use for other photography needs.

Good luck! You will do just fine. Let us know how it goes.

Jen

[cajun angel]

Thanks Jen! I'm planning to rent the 24-70 until I can afford a purchase. I know I'd use it because I shot high school band and football back in the fall and having that lens would have been a dream! Yep, I'm gonna kick back, have fun with it, shoot a lot and do my best. I even thought up a cute portrait but liability may keep that from happening - a photo of my cousin on her fiancee's tugboat! Oh well, it's a cute thought anyway! I'm already planning to get there a few days early, do some light metering at the church, do some early photography before the wedding - as much as I can - don't want the guests leaving the reception before the wedding party gets there! I"m trying to think like a pro, shoot like a maniac, and just give her my best!

[jcopes]

In the end, that is all you can do. Besides it is not the equipment, but the person behind the equipment.

I have seen pictures posted that wre taken with high-end professional level cameras that I would not have download from my card, let alone post for all to see.

[Davidtxs]

Originally Posted by jcopes

In the end, that is all you can do. Besides it is not the equipment, but the person behind the equipment.

I have seen pictures posted that wre taken with high-end professional level cameras that I would not have download from my card, let alone post for all to see.

I sure hope your NOT postin and drivin lol

[jcopes]

I'm posting on TPF, keeping Twitter updated, and driving in the rain.... Oh yeah and dugong on the road again for 18 flipp'n hours.

It is passing the time and keeping me awake.

:)

See you guys in a few days!

[cajun angel]

Just thought I'd update and say I should have my new 24-70 in my hot little hands on Wednesday. Yep, I ordered one!

[Some Idiot]

Originally Posted by cajun angel

Just thought I'd update and say I should have my new 24-70 in my hot little hands on Wednesday. Yep, I ordered one!

nice, you will love it

[cajun angel]

Originally Posted by Some Idiot

nice, you will love it

Thanks! What helped was when I went to Archinal Camera Repair, played with a D700, D300, the 24-70 and 18-55 - both 2.8 lenses. And after talking a bit, figured it would be worth the wait to see what Nikon comes out with - on a possible upgrade to the D200 = I had been thinking about upgrading the body to the D300s. Well, I decided on the lens, I need it for my first wedding coming up, a military event, and sure it will come in handy for high school football/band. I'm sure I'm going to enoy this lens, I know good lenses to help a bunch!