Help me decide pls

SebastianP · 12-17-2010, 02:35 PM

Hello!

I will try in the next year to shot some weddings. I did 2 for free last year.
I want a new lens thet has better - contrast
- faster AF
- sharpness
- colour

Right now I have the kit lens only to cover the 17-55 space (is the only AF lens I have excluded the MF lenses).

It must be as cheap as it can gets (i dont have a lot of maney)

Please tell me wat lens wod you pick from:

- pentax DA 35mm f2.4 (fast AF, terrible sharb, good contrast and colors and especialy cheap)
- tamron AF SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD IF
- sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC MACRO

thx!

Adam · 12-17-2010, 04:01 PM

Get the prime- you'll have the best IQ for the least money.

However, for portraits, you really should have something in the 70-90mm range, such as the bower 85mm f1.4 which is also cheap: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/614839-REG/Bower_SLY85P_85mm_f_1_4_Manual_Focus.html

paperbag846 · 12-17-2010, 04:16 PM

You will want the flexibility of the zoom for a wedding. I voted for the tamron because it has produced my favorite pictures of the two zooms you posted.

axl · 12-17-2010, 04:34 PM

If you only have one camera then zoom might be better option IMO. I did one wedding for my friend with prime setup but I had on camera with 43 + 77 and my wife (my muse and 2nd photog in one) had 2nd body with 31. It's doable if you know your lenses and your stuff. But with one body only I think zoom might be better and if I may suggest look at Tamron 28-75/2.8 or Sigma 24-70/2.8 older non HSM version or even 24-60/2.8. You won't need wider than 24 too often IMO and the flexibility up to 70ish range with f2.8 will come very handy IMO.

My 2p

Todd Adamson · 12-17-2010, 05:11 PM

Yeah, you almost have to have a zoom for wedding work. I had the Tamron 17-50 in F-mount long ago, and it's a reeeeally nice piece of glass for the money.

**Ash** · 12-17-2010, 05:13 PM

If I had just one lens to choose for weddings, it would be the Tamron 28-75. There are times when 50mm is not long enough, far more often than the times when you'll need the wide angle range. Later on, you may find the Tamron 10-24 a good addition to the 28-75 to cover the extra wide range particularly for venue shots. But from your list, it's the Tamron 17-50.

paperbag846 · 12-17-2010, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Tamron 28-75

I actually think this focal length would be much more useful. I also saw some tests that showed that this particular zoom was brighter than the 17-50 at equivalent apertures.

dgaies · 12-17-2010, 06:14 PM

I would also suggest the Tamron 28-75, it is an excellent lens. You can always keep the kit lens in case there is a specific shot you need below 28mm.

Frogfish · 12-17-2010, 11:24 PM

To give you an idea of what you may need I just put this together using my very first lense (for sale !) a Sigma 18-125.

I was a bit off on the focal lengths - I tried to get 75, 50, 35, 28, 24, 18 but you get the idea.

SebastianP · 12-18-2010, 01:53 AM

thx guys

**Lowell Goudge** · 12-18-2010, 02:24 AM

Why does it need to be AF?

There are a lot of people who shoot weddings here with MF lenses.

There are a lot of quality MF lenses out there, at much better prices.

dgaies · 12-18-2010, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

Why does it need to be AF?

There are a lot of people who shoot weddings here with MF lenses.

There are a lot of quality MF lenses out there, at much better prices.

Well, I think people are generally suggesting AF lenses to the OP because one of his requirements was "faster AF".

SebastianP · 12-18-2010, 02:48 PM

i have tryed MF lenses at 1 wedding. Is realy difficult to lock focus right on spot.
In my contry wedding go on realy fast. Evrything is in movement and is in low light environements (church).
So i need the fastest focusing lens to will be a big step forward from my kit lens.

How is tamron 28-75 as focusing speed and sound of focus?
How is tamron 17-50 as focusing speed?

Thx!

roentarre · 12-18-2010, 04:33 PM

Good old tamron zoom will do everything it is needed to do.

**Ash** · 12-18-2010, 04:53 PM

Both Tamrons sound the same and have similar AF speeds. Can't go wrong with either, really. All depends on your preferred focal range.

View Poll Results: Wath lens shod i get?
pentax DA 35 f2.4	4	25.00%
Tamron AF SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD IF	12	75.00%
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC MACRO	0	0%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

12-17-2010, 02:35 PM	#1
SebastianP Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Timisoara Photos: Albums Posts: 119	Help me decide pls Hello! I will try in the next year to shot some weddings. I did 2 for free last year. I want a new lens thet has better - contrast - faster AF - sharpness - colour Right now I have the kit lens only to cover the 17-55 space (is the only AF lens I have excluded the MF lenses). It must be as cheap as it can gets (i dont have a lot of maney) Please tell me wat lens wod you pick from: - pentax DA 35mm f2.4 (fast AF, terrible sharb, good contrast and colors and especialy cheap) - tamron AF SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD IF - sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC MACRO thx!

12-17-2010, 04:01 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Get the prime- you'll have the best IQ for the least money. However, for portraits, you really should have something in the 70-90mm range, such as the bower 85mm f1.4 which is also cheap: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/614839-REG/Bower_SLY85P_85mm_f_1_4_Manual_Focus.html Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

12-17-2010, 11:24 PM	#9
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	To give you an idea of what you may need I just put this together using my very first lense (for sale !) a Sigma 18-125. I was a bit off on the focal lengths - I tried to get 75, 50, 35, 28, 24, 18 but you get the idea. Attached Images

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12-17-2010, 04:16 PM	#3
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	You will want the flexibility of the zoom for a wedding. I voted for the tamron because it has produced my favorite pictures of the two zooms you posted.

12-17-2010, 04:34 PM	#4
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	If you only have one camera then zoom might be better option IMO. I did one wedding for my friend with prime setup but I had on camera with 43 + 77 and my wife (my muse and 2nd photog in one) had 2nd body with 31. It's doable if you know your lenses and your stuff. But with one body only I think zoom might be better and if I may suggest look at Tamron 28-75/2.8 or Sigma 24-70/2.8 older non HSM version or even 24-60/2.8. You won't need wider than 24 too often IMO and the flexibility up to 70ish range with f2.8 will come very handy IMO. My 2p

12-17-2010, 05:11 PM	#5
Todd Adamson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 722	Yeah, you almost have to have a zoom for wedding work. I had the Tamron 17-50 in F-mount long ago, and it's a reeeeally nice piece of glass for the money.

12-17-2010, 05:13 PM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	If I had just one lens to choose for weddings, it would be the Tamron 28-75. There are times when 50mm is not long enough, far more often than the times when you'll need the wide angle range. Later on, you may find the Tamron 10-24 a good addition to the 28-75 to cover the extra wide range particularly for venue shots. But from your list, it's the Tamron 17-50.

12-17-2010, 06:01 PM	#7
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	Originally posted by Ash Tamron 28-75 I actually think this focal length would be much more useful. I also saw some tests that showed that this particular zoom was brighter than the 17-50 at equivalent apertures.

12-17-2010, 06:14 PM	#8
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	I would also suggest the Tamron 28-75, it is an excellent lens. You can always keep the kit lens in case there is a specific shot you need below 28mm.

12-18-2010, 01:53 AM	#10
SebastianP Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Timisoara Photos: Albums Posts: 119 Original Poster	thx guys

12-18-2010, 02:24 AM	#11
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Why does it need to be AF? There are a lot of people who shoot weddings here with MF lenses. There are a lot of quality MF lenses out there, at much better prices.

12-18-2010, 07:01 AM	#12
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Why does it need to be AF? There are a lot of people who shoot weddings here with MF lenses. There are a lot of quality MF lenses out there, at much better prices. Well, I think people are generally suggesting AF lenses to the OP because one of his requirements was "faster AF".

12-18-2010, 02:48 PM	#13
SebastianP Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Timisoara Photos: Albums Posts: 119 Original Poster	i have tryed MF lenses at 1 wedding. Is realy difficult to lock focus right on spot. In my contry wedding go on realy fast. Evrything is in movement and is in low light environements (church). So i need the fastest focusing lens to will be a big step forward from my kit lens. How is tamron 28-75 as focusing speed and sound of focus? How is tamron 17-50 as focusing speed? Thx!

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12-18-2010, 04:33 PM	#14
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Good old tamron zoom will do everything it is needed to do.

12-18-2010, 04:53 PM	#15
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Both Tamrons sound the same and have similar AF speeds. Can't go wrong with either, really. All depends on your preferred focal range.