If you could only choose 3 lenses for a wedding, which would they be?

blockamon · 03-26-2011, 03:40 PM

16-50 f/2.8
50-135 f/2.8
55 f/1.4

Baktovis · 03-28-2011, 12:00 AM

A 35-70/4 for use with the flash and for super close-ups of the rings, cakes, etc
K 50/1.2 for low-light and dreamy blurriness
M 75-150/4 for when I can't get close

**Digitalis** · 03-28-2011, 01:01 AM

If I was so inclined to shoot weddings (who am I kidding, I hate weddings)

on a K7 I would have:
FA31mm f/1.8
SMCP-K 50mm f/1.2
FA77mm f/1.8

for my second camera I would have a Nikon D3s decked out with:
AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR

with no less than three flashes all set up with pocket wizards, and I would take my pentax AF160FC ringflash for fun.

axl · 03-28-2011, 01:47 AM

I'd go with FA*24, FA43 and FA77.
As a matter of fact I'll be doing friends wedding in August and I'm planning to fit K-x with 77 and alternate 24+43 on my K-7 as needed. 31 will be in bag ready for official portraits, poosed shots and tabe decor and such

KxBlaze · 03-28-2011, 01:56 AM

Originally posted by crossover37

I think I would go with the DA* 16-50mm f2.8. DA* 50-135mm f2.8, and SMC-P FA 50mm f1.4

I would keep both your zooms but instead of the 50 I would go with the 77 limited.

TOUGEFC · 03-28-2011, 02:03 AM

Im doing one next month,
2 bodies (K-5 and K200D)
and 4 Lenses (15/30/43/77)

axl · 03-28-2011, 04:00 AM

Looking at this thread I find it quite interesting just how many members are considering prime line up only...

ewig · 03-28-2011, 04:16 AM

1. pentax 12-24/f4
2. pentax 16-50 /2,8
3. limited 70/2,4

bdery · 03-28-2011, 04:41 AM

So far I've used DA21, F50 f1,7 and M150 f3,5 because that's what I have and I didn't want to use my flash (I was a guest, not the hired gun).

If I could use the flash, I'd use my Siggy 17-70 more often.

If I could purchase anything, I'd keep the 21 and 50 in my pockets, and use the 16-50 and 50-135 on two bodies. Again with a flash.

**Ash** · 03-28-2011, 06:40 AM

Most practical for me is the DA 12-24 f/4, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 on two bodies. I still always have the FA 43 f/1.9 Limited with me for staged portraits.

Best for IQ, but difficult to juggle, is the DA 15 Ltd, FA 31 Ltd and FA 77 Ltd.
And as others mentioned, another feasible combination is the DA* 16-50 and 50-135, then add something like a DA 12-24 for extra wide angle shots or a DA* 55 for low light and thin DoF.

GeneV · 03-28-2011, 07:02 AM

Originally posted by axl

Looking at this thread I find it quite interesting just how many members are considering prime line up only...

Some of us don't own the real wedding lineup in zooms, the DA* 16-50/ 50-135. However, if I did, they would be in my bag along with the primes.

As much as people diss SDM, shooting a niece's wedding is what led me to buy my first and only SDM lens.

alexeyga · 03-28-2011, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by axl

Looking at this thread I find it quite interesting just how many members are considering prime line up only...

That's because not many users actually ever had any wedding experience... Primes are the way to go for IQ, but at same time primes are royal PITA to work with if you want to keep up... No "super-duper-special micro-contrast of the FA31" is worth being stuck with a stupid face in front of the bride who wants that shot right now, but the lens currently attached to the camera is too long/short for the shot...

So in real world 2 bodies with the 16-50 and 50-135 are the way to go...

GeneV · 03-28-2011, 11:17 AM

In my real world, I've noticed that one body with the 17-70 and one with a fast portrait lens does just fine.

EricT · 03-28-2011, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by alexeyga

That's because not many users actually ever had any wedding experience... Primes are the way to go for IQ, but at same time primes are royal PITA to work with if you want to keep up... No "super-duper-special micro-contrast of the FA31" is worth being stuck with a stupid face in front of the bride who wants that shot right now, but the lens currently attached to the camera is too long/short for the shot...

So in real world 2 bodies with the 16-50 and 50-135 are the way to go...

I know several professional wedding photographers who shoot primes exclusively, so it can definitely work well. I even know one who only uses an 85mm f1.4 (on full frame), and he is very popular.

The photographer who shot my own wedding used only a 16-35mm and a 70-200mm (again, on full frame). I really liked the sweeping wide angle shots, so I would definitely take the Pentax 12-24mm if I ever were to do a wedding. For the short telephoto zoom the 50-135mm is the natural choice. For my final lens I would choose a faster lens, either the 55mm f1.4 or the 77mm ltd.

vespats · 03-28-2011, 02:49 PM

Will be main photograph in 6 weeks for the first time. Was already assisting twice.

So interesting question for me

Will go for the 50-135 as it should be the right balance between portrait and privacy. On the second body, there is always a second body for a wedding in case of (!), I am not sure what to use during the ceremony, yet. It is either going to be the DA 15 or the DA35 2.4 (or maybe the good old tamron 28-75).

In the bag will be more. After the ceremony it is ok to change lenses, if always one body is ready. So there will at least be my 50 1.7 for portraits. The da35 for close ups of flowers, etc. And my distance rings for the rings.

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03-26-2011, 03:40 PM	#16
blockamon Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 57	16-50 f/2.8 50-135 f/2.8 55 f/1.4

03-28-2011, 12:00 AM	#17
Baktovis New Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Yokohama Photos: Albums Posts: 1	A 35-70/4 for use with the flash and for super close-ups of the rings, cakes, etc K 50/1.2 for low-light and dreamy blurriness M 75-150/4 for when I can't get close

03-28-2011, 01:01 AM	#18
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	If I was so inclined to shoot weddings (who am I kidding, I hate weddings) on a K7 I would have: FA31mm f/1.8 SMCP-K 50mm f/1.2 FA77mm f/1.8 for my second camera I would have a Nikon D3s decked out with: AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR with no less than three flashes all set up with pocket wizards, and I would take my pentax AF160FC ringflash for fun.

03-28-2011, 01:47 AM	#19
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I'd go with FA*24, FA43 and FA77. As a matter of fact I'll be doing friends wedding in August and I'm planning to fit K-x with 77 and alternate 24+43 on my K-7 as needed. 31 will be in bag ready for official portraits, poosed shots and tabe decor and such

03-28-2011, 01:56 AM	#20
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	Originally posted by crossover37 I think I would go with the DA* 16-50mm f2.8. DA* 50-135mm f2.8, and SMC-P FA 50mm f1.4 I would keep both your zooms but instead of the 50 I would go with the 77 limited.

03-28-2011, 02:03 AM	#21
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Im doing one next month, 2 bodies (K-5 and K200D) and 4 Lenses (15/30/43/77)

03-28-2011, 04:00 AM	#22
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Looking at this thread I find it quite interesting just how many members are considering prime line up only...

03-28-2011, 04:16 AM	#23
ewig Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 312	1. pentax 12-24/f4 2. pentax 16-50 /2,8 3. limited 70/2,4

03-28-2011, 04:41 AM	#24
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	So far I've used DA21, F50 f1,7 and M150 f3,5 because that's what I have and I didn't want to use my flash (I was a guest, not the hired gun). If I could use the flash, I'd use my Siggy 17-70 more often. If I could purchase anything, I'd keep the 21 and 50 in my pockets, and use the 16-50 and 50-135 on two bodies. Again with a flash.

03-28-2011, 06:40 AM	#25
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Most practical for me is the DA 12-24 f/4, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 on two bodies. I still always have the FA 43 f/1.9 Limited with me for staged portraits. Best for IQ, but difficult to juggle, is the DA 15 Ltd, FA 31 Ltd and FA 77 Ltd. And as others mentioned, another feasible combination is the DA* 16-50 and 50-135, then add something like a DA 12-24 for extra wide angle shots or a DA* 55 for low light and thin DoF.

03-28-2011, 07:02 AM	#26
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by axl Looking at this thread I find it quite interesting just how many members are considering prime line up only... Some of us don't own the real wedding lineup in zooms, the DA* 16-50/ 50-135. However, if I did, they would be in my bag along with the primes. As much as people diss SDM, shooting a niece's wedding is what led me to buy my first and only SDM lens.

03-28-2011, 07:53 AM	#27
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838	Originally posted by axl Looking at this thread I find it quite interesting just how many members are considering prime line up only... That's because not many users actually ever had any wedding experience... Primes are the way to go for IQ, but at same time primes are royal PITA to work with if you want to keep up... No "super-duper-special micro-contrast of the FA31" is worth being stuck with a stupid face in front of the bride who wants that shot right now, but the lens currently attached to the camera is too long/short for the shot... So in real world 2 bodies with the 16-50 and 50-135 are the way to go...

03-28-2011, 11:17 AM	#28
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	In my real world, I've noticed that one body with the 17-70 and one with a fast portrait lens does just fine.

03-28-2011, 01:36 PM	#29
EricT Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 484	Originally posted by alexeyga That's because not many users actually ever had any wedding experience... Primes are the way to go for IQ, but at same time primes are royal PITA to work with if you want to keep up... No "super-duper-special micro-contrast of the FA31" is worth being stuck with a stupid face in front of the bride who wants that shot right now, but the lens currently attached to the camera is too long/short for the shot... So in real world 2 bodies with the 16-50 and 50-135 are the way to go... I know several professional wedding photographers who shoot primes exclusively, so it can definitely work well. I even know one who only uses an 85mm f1.4 (on full frame), and he is very popular. The photographer who shot my own wedding used only a 16-35mm and a 70-200mm (again, on full frame). I really liked the sweeping wide angle shots, so I would definitely take the Pentax 12-24mm if I ever were to do a wedding. For the short telephoto zoom the 50-135mm is the natural choice. For my final lens I would choose a faster lens, either the 55mm f1.4 or the 77mm ltd.

03-28-2011, 02:49 PM	#30
vespats Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 128	Will be main photograph in 6 weeks for the first time. Was already assisting twice. So interesting question for me Will go for the 50-135 as it should be the right balance between portrait and privacy. On the second body, there is always a second body for a wedding in case of (!), I am not sure what to use during the ceremony, yet. It is either going to be the DA 15 or the DA35 2.4 (or maybe the good old tamron 28-75). In the bag will be more. After the ceremony it is ok to change lenses, if always one body is ready. So there will at least be my 50 1.7 for portraits. The da35 for close ups of flowers, etc. And my distance rings for the rings.