[IanCD]

I'm going to a friend's wedding next weekend... just as a guest not photographer but, of course, I will be taking the camera (D7000)

I don't want to carry a lot of weight, so I've ruled out 70-300mm (might be nice for candid, but slow & heavy).

I was thinking I'd take my 85mm 1.8D, and maybe the 16-85mm for some wider shots.

Now I'm wondering if 50mm 1.4G would be better to take than the 85mm? I also have 35mmm 1.8DX

What would others take - if just two of these?

...and if one more?! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Ian

[Guest]

85mm for outdoor shots and 35mm for indoors, that's about all what I would take <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Rainer]

I also found the 30+85 combination great on a crop-camera.



Since you're not "the photographer" you can afford to miss some

of the shoots that require a wider lens.

[joachim]

[quote name='IanCD' timestamp='1305919390' post='8698']

I'm going to a friend's wedding next weekend... just as a guest not photographer but, of course, I will be taking the camera (D7000)

I don't want to carry a lot of weight, so I've ruled out 70-300mm (might be nice for candid, but slow & heavy).

I was thinking I'd take my 85mm 1.8D, and maybe the 16-85mm for some wider shots.

Now I'm wondering if 50mm 1.4G would be better to take than the 85mm? I also have 35mmm 1.8DX

What would others take - if just two of these?

...and if one more?! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Ian

[/quote]



Hi Ian,



I assume you have those lenses. I did weddings in the past with two primes (35 and 90 for FF, proper film 35mm film camera). I would say on a APS-C the 85 (about 130 equiv) is likely to be to long. Also since this is non-VR you will need a short shutter which limits its usefulness in low light.



Since you are a guest an not doing a job, I would be tempted to bring the 16-85 only (perhaps also if I was doing a job here). Since this one has a VR and the D7000 is reputed to offer decent high ISO performance this should also serve well in lowish light. If you want to bring something else, how about a high powered flash gun? Considering weddings, I typically take those as an "F8 and be threre" matter.



I hope you will enjoy the day.

Joachim

[Rainer]

[quote name='joachim' timestamp='1305928815' post='8708'] I would say on a APS-C the 85 (about 130 equiv) is likely to be to long. [/quote]



This does not match my experience.

On the last wedding I had been as "not the photographer",

my best shots had been made with the 5D+135L combination (without flash).

The 5D+24-105L+430ex combination gave some good results too, also the

5D+24L was able to deliver. Nevertheless, the best stuff came from the 135L.



nevertheless, YMMV ... Rainer

[IanCD]

[quote name='Rainer' timestamp='1305971530' post='8716']

This does not match my experience.

On the last wedding I had been as "not the photographer",

my best shots had been made with the 5D+135L combination (without flash).

The 5D+24-105L+430ex combination gave some good results too, also the

5D+24L was able to deliver. Nevertheless, the best stuff came from the 135L.



nevertheless, YMMV ... Rainer

[/quote]

Great, thanks folks... I was fairly sure I wanted to take a fast 'portrait' lens... wasn't sure whether the 50/1.4 or 85/1.8 was going to be better, but I think I'm inclined to go with Rainer and Lomskij on this... I can use the 85mm for portraits in my kitchen, so I don't think it'll be too long. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> It'll probably stay on the camera most of the time, with the 35mm for some indoor and group shots.

Thanks again,

Ian

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='IanCD' timestamp='1305974874' post='8721']

Great, thanks folks... I was fairly sure I wanted to take a fast 'portrait' lens... wasn't sure whether the 50/1.4 or 85/1.8 was going to be better, but I think I'm inclined to go with Rainer and Lomskij on this... I can use the 85mm for portraits in my kitchen, so I don't think it'll be too long. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> It'll probably stay on the camera most of the time, with the 35mm for some indoor and group shots.

Thanks again,

Ian

[/quote]

I'd take the 16-85VR instead of the 35mm f1.8. Reasons:

Your D7000 can do ISO 800 and ISO 1600 without any problem, even ISO 3200 should be fine. So you don't need 35mm at f1.8 or even f2.8. The flexibility to go a bit wide angel will prove to be invaluable, though.



You can't make group shots with a normal lens... so, take the 16-85mm VR and the 85mm f1.8. Then you are set.

[bryan conner]

I agree with Brightcolors. The combo he suggested would be most useful and practical.



My wedding lens set-up consists of a 15-30mm, 28-75mm, 85mm, and 70-200mm. In my opinion, fast lenses are useful at a wedding because of the better low light auto-focus performance they offer, not narrow depth of field. The wide focal lengths can usually be hand-held in focus at a slower shutter speed and the depth of field of focus is generally very wide, so focus accuracy is not "as critical" with these lenses. I generally would rather shoot at a higher iso at f5.6 or f4 and make sure I have the shot in focus as opposed to shooting at f2.8 or wider.

[Steinar1]

I guess I am too late, but the 16-85 with a D7000 seems unbeatable in your case. You cover the whole spectrum and if you are not the official photographer, you can do very decent portraits with the long end of the 16-85! Why carry more than that one, if you are not going to take the 70-300? Maybe the 35mm in your pocket, if light gets really low! Still better the 16-85 with a flash! Make it simple <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[wojtt]

Depends on the location <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Dark church ? If you don't want to blind people with flash all the time you'd better have the a fast lens (lenses) handy. Besides, IMO the separation (DoF) and 3D effect with a f/1.8 85mm is really a winning combination for a wedding. As a second option the 16-85 for using as a wide angle and you are ready.. I think 35/50 mm primes don't really cut it - not wide enough, not long enough.. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />