[randyofsa]

I am new to photography. I have taken pictures for years but with a small personal camera. I now have the Pentax kx and I love it. I have the 18-55 and the 55-200 for lenses. I am wanting buy a lens that will allow more light being that I take photos at Wedding Receptions. So I am trying to figure out what would be the best choice.

[JinDesu]

Do you plan to take photos at weddings as a guest? Or are people asking you to help take pictures?

Do you know where you can take pictures from at the wedding? For example, will you get to choose your seat?

[L33tGreg]

Hot-shoe mounted flash will help a lot. It can be quite dim at wedding receptions and even with a 50/1.4 shooting without a flash can be difficult. For fast lenses, check out the DA50, DA35/2.4 and the FA Limiteds ($$$).

[DSims]

For fast lenses, check out the DA50, DA35/2.4 and the FA Limiteds ($$$).

Good advice. Also, if you're on a really limited budget, pick up an (used) A50/1.7 first. You'll have to deal with manual focus, but it'll show you just how much difference a "brighter" lens makes, and it has very nice image quality.

[ChooseAName]

How deep and filled are your pockets? I've heard that the 16-50 and the 50-135 are THE wedding lens duo for Pentax, but I have no personal experience with the two.

[L33tGreg]

I'll add the DA*55 and then the non-pentax fast primes: Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 50/1.4, Sigma 28/1.8, Sigma 24/1.8. There are more if you want to go wider or longer, or don't care about AF. If $$$ isn't an issue, I'd go with the FA31. If that is too pricey, try to splurge for the FA43 or one of the Sigma lenses.

[audiobomber]

I recommend a flash. People at a reception won't mind. Shooting at wide apertures without flash poses severe challenges:

• low shutter speeds can be compromised by hand shake and subject motion
• very shallow depth of field (difficult to get one subject in focus, more than one is unlikely)
• high ISO noise is unavoidable
• compromised lens performance wide open

Fast lenses are great and I highly recommend you get one, but a flash will provide superior results for what you're trying to do. A flash bracket is great for this purpose, but only if you don't mind looking like a pro. I've done three weddings as the main (only) photographer, but I'm no pro, and I can assure you, looking like a pro can be a bit uncomfortable.

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Last edited by audiobomber; 10-02-2012 at 10:01 AM.

[Lowell Goudge]

audiobomber has the right idea.

a flash may be less expensive as well., compared to a super fast lens, AND since you specifically mention pictures at receptions, and not the actual wedding (or as a wedding photographer) needing an ultra fast lens for artistic purposes is not required.

one additional point to mention about trying to get away with a fast lens and no flash is the white balance. receptions will be poorly lit, with different color balance bulbs, possibly odd colored spot lights for dances etc. a flash can help keep colors natural.

look for one that has a cable connection for the shoe as this can get the flash off the axis of the lens and reduce or eliminate red eye

[DaveHolmes]

Flash is good... Total game changer...
But glass can change the game too... Personally the move into prime lenses was the best thing for my photography...

My first prime was a fast fifty - But I'd go with a 35mm (FA35 f2 being my most used lens) DA35 2.4 gives more than enough speed with the K-x's sensor in my opinion...

[psychdoc]

I am new to photography............ I am wanting buy a lens that will allow more light being that I take photos at Wedding Receptions. So I am trying to figure out what would be the best choice.

Assuming that you are not the official wedding photographer, using a flash will get the official photographer upset and using a prime lens will be awkward as you will need to be somewhat candid.

The Tamron 28-75 f2.8 lens is sometimes called 'the wedding photographers lens'. Its reasonably fast, constant aperture and relatively inexpensive. If I were new to photography, its what I would get.