lens for wedding reception

[shoeytennis]

helping my sister out by doing the wedding reception for her. camera and les i got ar ein my sig but i dont think any of them will be good for a wedding reception?
lens from cheap to exspensive ideas would be apreciated!

[pagnamenta]

I'm not a wedding photographer but I shoot a lot of dance parties and events. I shoot Canon but I don't think that's too important, you need a good lens. I simply use a kit lens (18-55) and bounce flash and get really great shots. Sometimes, depending on the availibility of the lens and the pay, I use a 24-105 f4 L. You might want somehting with superior optics but if you stop down your lens a bit and use flash, you'll be fine. If you don't have a flash, try to find something with f2.8, say a Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 or Sigma 18-50 f2.8. Combine that with your 50 1.8 and you'll have great shots.

[TNB]

lens from cheap to exspensive ideas would be apreciated!
Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8, 70-200mm F/2.8 VR, and might as well toss in a 50mm F/1.4. Oh wait, that's what's in my signature. ;)

[jcon]

As a wedding photographer myself, I would suggest you need something that will allow you to zoom in and out when needed. The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 does VERY well, I believe its around $400. I partner that with my SB-800 and get really good results. If you are looking for something to use without flash, you will have to look into primes with F1.8 or less and that is where the price goes up dramatically. Your 50mm prime will provide you with excellent results aswell, but might not be wide enough for some photos.

As I was about to post, I noticed TNB's reply, if you can afford the Nikon 17-55 F2.8, GET IT! Its in my very near future, but is a bit pricey at over a grand. The 70-200 VR is great for the ceremony, but might be too much for the reception.

Just my opinions with personal experience.

[shoeytennis]

would i be able to slip by with the kit lens and a sb600?
im thinking about buying the sb600 very soon.
and jcon i dont need anyhting for the ceremony she hired someone for that cuz im in the wedding, i figured i would get good shots with the 50m of her and her future husband but no good ones when i want pictures of tables of people and such!
thanxs for the info so far

edit-how much better is the sigma then the kit lens.

[jcon]

I havent shot with the kit lens you have but my guess would be it wouldnt be as fast focusing as the Sigma would be. I also cant comment on how the kit lens would perform in that setting with the SB-600. I know you wont be doing the ceremony, thats why I mentioned the 80-200 wouldnt be a good place to spend your money right now.

If its practical, go buy the flash and practice shooting with the kit lens in the same lighting condition the reception will be in. That way you will get a good idea. I still would suggest the 18-50 2.8 would be your best option.

[tcadwall]

The SB-600 and SB-800 both will assist with the low-light focusing. Typically, people won't expect you to shoot a reception without a flash. So IMO that is the most important part for the reception.

Bounce card so that you can get even lighting (bounce off ceiling, is great unless the ceiling is too high - actually if the ceiling is low and you are bouncing off of it, then your flash will not work as well for distant objects either..

Either of these flashes will zoom with your lens, and power according to the angle that you have them positioned in. Very nice.

So my recommendation would be use the lenses you have, and add one of those two flashes.

---edit---
Shoot raw. This environment will be susceptible to strange white balance results. The amount and temperature of available lighting in this situation can be difficult for auto white balance, and who wants to have to really think about that anyway. Since it is SOOOO easy to fix in post.

[shoeytennis]

yeah i always shoot in raw and can fix anyhting in raw. i actually mgiht buy the sigma cuz i love the kit lens but want a 2/8 and i need a flash so ill prolyl end up buying both since my sister is giving me 200 bucks so i can pay for the flash with that.