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Wedding lens advice.

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jaymz01

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Hi,

I'm spinning around in circles & hope I can get some good advice.

I'm primarily a wedding photographer.

I use:

S5 Main body Nikkor 18-200VR

D90 with Sigma 50-150 II 2.8

D50 with Nikkor 50 1.8

2x SB800s

I went through some of my first year wedding photographs & was surprised how much sharper my Nikkor 18-70 was. I've always sworn by the 18-200 as it has fantastic reach & has got me shots at the top end of the zoom that I would have missed with eg a prime.

This year I have been using a lot more natural light shooting at mainly F4 which blurs the background nicely (which is a limitation with 18-200).

I was all set on the Sigma 18-50 2.8 (good reviews & I have used 2 duff nikkor 17-55) until the recent Sigma 17-70 OS announcement.

I asked another question in another thread regarding how the lens might perform wide open at full zoom & saw some fine sharp shots (though from the old version).

The new 17-70 has OS + new design. Also at 70, at F4 it should be just long enough for a portrait where the 18-50 is probably a little short (I know I've got this covered with the 50-150 but I think it could be a bonus that they overlap to cut down from going from 1 camera to another too often).

I have a few winter weddings and was due to get the 18-50 for these though the new 17-70 is very appealing. Only problem is it's only released in January in the UK.

What are your thoughts with IQ with the new design? I'd hate to wish I'd gone with the 17-70 for the sake of a few weeks. Do I muddle along with the 18-200 for a few more weeks working around its limitations?

I know that either of these lenses will improve my IQ.

Any thoughts would be great at this very testing time (lol).

Thanks,

James Mason.
http://www.jamesmasonphotography.com
 
That 17-70 OS does look appealing. Nice range and decent aperture.

However so does the new Tamron 17-50 VC.

If I were you, I think that I would muddle along with what you have until the reviews come in unless you are seriously compromised by the 18-200 VRII.

BTW, I have the old Tamron 17-50 and the Tokina 50-135 - and shoot events quite often (no weddings).

--
Catallaxy
 
Hi the 18-50 is a nice lens IMO so nice I rarely if ever used the nikon 50 1.8 and now have opted for the sigma 50 1.4. I had the sigma 17-70 and if it was improved even a little it would be a hard call by the way I chose the 17-70 over the Tamron 17-50 and the sigma 18-50 2.8 hsm over both but the new lens sounds good.
 
I'd say of my lenses the 17-55 focuses most quickly on the D90 and renders color very very well. For long reach, probably the 105 or 135DC for excellent skintones.
 
Hi,

I left the Tamy out of the running after Tamron confirmed it was the same AF motor in the new lens as old, which far too many people complain about hunting in low light, which is a concern if Im trying to impliment more natural light into my work.

Choice is strictly down to 18-50 2.8 or new 17-70 OS.

Considering the trade offs if anyone has any input?

James.
http://www.jamesmasonphootography.com
 
If I were you (and we do the same thing) I'd be looking at a constant f2.8 standard zoom.

I've never been impressed by the 18-200mm to be honest. It's a consumer zoom and would struggle in a lot of UK weddings.
 
Found this thread whilst search for Tokina reviews (Nikon owners seem more amenable to Tokina products). I have the Canon mount of the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 EX Macro. I use it mostly for weddings and other events, in addition to an 85/1.8 on a second body. The combo covers just about everything I need during the pre-ceremony, ceremony, and portraits after.

The 18-50 is good but nothing to write home about. It's usable at f/2.8 but doesn't become very sharp until f/5.6. No surprise with a $400 mid level consumer zoom, but that doesn't help the wedding photographer in fading light before the flash comes out. The color is also a bit odd, IMO. Strange to say, it's almost a default light pastel before editing, and not super contrasty. I have to do a fair amount of post with this lens to make it really sing. The 85/1.8, as a comparison point, hardly needs any babysitting in post. And it's not a fault of the lens, but I also wish that it was a tad longer. 50mm run out of juice real quick when you're trying to get a close up from more than 7 feet away.

My photos speak louder than my post can. Check out the featured wedding in my signature. Most daytime photos are with the Sigma.

--

http://andymcelroy.smugmug.com
 
Hi,

Thanks for the responses so far.

I keep making a decision & then changing my mind.

It's a bit worrying that the Canon mount lens doesn't really sharpen up until 5.6 when I like to shoot around F4. Maybe this is solved by the new design of the 17-70 OS or simply sample variation as I'm sure others have sharper results below 5.6?

If anyone has any portraits with either the 18-50 2.8 or the 17-70 (old version) then I would love to see these & help me to make a choice....?

I have a wedding this Saturday & could get the 18-50 for it but at the same time I can't decide whther I should hold out for the 17-70 OS?

Many thanks (I'd love to see some pics)!

James.
http://www.jamesmasonphotography.com
 
Best wedding lens is the 17-55mm f2.8 which provides excellent IQ and a great mate for the Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 lens. At f2.8 you have sufficient lens speed to use shutter speeds of 1/80 or greater and minimize motion blur (processional, recessional, dancing) VR is of little use except for photographing the ceremony which is where the 70-200mm f2.8 VR is useful.
 
Hi,

Thank you all.

Any portrait samples please with the mentioned lenses?

I think that I may now get the 18-50 tomorrow but they've now listed the new 17-70 OS & it makes me think when I spend most of my time on F4 AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!

Some samples might make me go for it if anyone could be so kind?

Thanks,

James.
http://www.jamesmasonphotography.com
 
Was tempted this evening as my mind is swayed by the minute.

I did use 2 copies with an issue & it is pretty old tech by digi standards. Still a favourite no doubt but I have seen some great samples off the Sigys so can only wonder that the new lens design should be improved.

I may hang on for the 17-70 OS as someone said the old version has great corner to corner sharpness compared to the 18-50 2.8?

Thanks,

James.
http://www.jamesmasonphotography.com

PS any people samples?
 
Hi James,

Nice work. Any investment in better glass (your tools) will only help you get

the final image your strive for. The obvious pics for weddings are all of the fast Pro zooms, and Portrait Primes, for either DX or FX.

I hope you have been saving !

BTW, I don't think you should provide explanation (apologize) for the web quality "reductions" in your gallery.
--
Brooke
 
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