Lens advice for Nikon D7000 - wedding photography

for head and shoulders I use the 50mm f1.8D
for mid shot use 35mm DX 1.8 G

both very sharp

I will attempt to attach my fave portrait shot - shot with my kit lens (before my son mangled it)

30467155@N07
 
Dang that didn't work. It's on Flickr - and I copied the URL . Wonder where I have gone wrong?
 
I am not against new gear. I just upgraded from d40x to d7k. I wanted a focus motor in the camera and better iso performance and commander mode on the flash to try all sorts of experiments with new techniques for me. Bt it is important to gain a perspective. It is rare for me to get a sharper and more attractive image than The one above, but my average rate is better as I learn more technique. If I was still using my d40x then I would have to manually focus my free 50mm 1.8d from my friend. When I took that image I wasn't thinking about stopping the lens down for sharpness, but now I might. I was lucky on the day that P mode chose a mid range aperture so the image is sharp. Kit lenses can rock! A luckily good day at the office!
 
MIKEROPHONICS said:
I am not against new gear. I just upgraded from d40x to d7k. I wanted a focus motor in the camera and better iso performance and commander mode on the flash to try all sorts of experiments with new techniques for me. Bt it is important to gain a perspective. It is rare for me to get a sharper and more attractive image than The one above, but my average rate is better as I learn more technique. If I was still using my d40x then I would have to manually focus my free 50mm 1.8d from my friend. When I took that image I wasn't thinking about stopping the lens down for sharpness, but now I might. I was lucky on the day that P mode chose a mid range aperture so the image is sharp. Kit lenses can rock! A luckily good day at the office!
Click to expand...

So is photography a hobby for you or a business?
 
don't get hung up on 50mm, get 1.8g, and set more money aside for 70-200 and 17-55 (or 24-70mm) f/2.8's. The zooms should see a lot more action
The prime is nice for creative stuff, when there is time to set up a shot, or when light is that bad... Otherwise zooms are much more useful and convenient.

you also need a 2nd body, a d700 perhaps?
 
Last edited:
Sound is my profession. Photography is a hobby. I was trained in the basics of all fields in the BBC, so have shot and lit 16mm films and pro video. I spent a great three months on a location drama as a trainee with a pig of a sound recordist, and got adopted by John McGlashan (?) who was the top BBC film lighting cameraman who really was quite inspirational and a very nice man as well as a legend.

I am now saving for a 70-200 VR....long wait
 
Most people seem to go for the 50mm f/1.4G, 24-70 f/2.8G and/or the 70-200 f/2.8G.

But on the D7000 with the crop sensor you might be better off with the 35mm f/1.4G or even the 35mm f/1.8G, do you really need that extra light?
 
daugirdas said:
don't get hung up on 50mm, get 1.8g, and set more money aside for 70-200 and 17-55 (or 24-70mm) f/2.8's. The zooms should see a lot more action
The prime is nice for creative stuff, when there is time to set up a shot, or when light is that bad... Otherwise zooms are much more useful and convenient.

you also need a 2nd body, a d700 perhaps?
Click to expand...

You are right and now I agree that a zoom should probably be my first buy, as it will get more action. The 50mm 1.4 is more for creative or low light situations and will use a lot less.

At the moment I am earning an income as I am only doing shadow work. Therefore, I will need to spend wisely with the lens. I am happy with my Nikon D7k now and need to learn my skills now!
 
MIKEROPHONICS said:
Sound is my profession. Photography is a hobby. I was trained in the basics of all fields in the BBC, so have shot and lit 16mm films and pro video. I spent a great three months on a location drama as a trainee with a pig of a sound recordist, and got adopted by John McGlashan (?) who was the top BBC film lighting cameraman who really was quite inspirational and a very nice man as well as a legend.

I am now saving for a 70-200 VR....long wait
Click to expand...

I can't wait until I buy mine! A lot of saving to do...
 
Mr. Photographer said:
Most people seem to go for the 50mm f/1.4G, 24-70 f/2.8G and/or the 70-200 f/2.8G.

But on the D7000 with the crop sensor you might be better off with the 35mm f/1.4G or even the 35mm f/1.8G, do you really need that extra light?
Click to expand...

Common sense is telling me to buy the 35mm f1.8, save money and learn to master that lens. Whenever I can afford a full frame, I will progress onto a 50mm 1.4 /1.8.
 
the 18-105VR is reasonable. Coupled with (old) 60mm 2.8a and 50mm 1.4 & the 70-300

The elephant in the room is "what is your second camera" I shoot a combination of 2 FF an 1 crop, so the lenses I use need to work on all cameras I shoot with

The D7000 is a competent camera, but I would never walk into any job (esp. weddings) with one camera. I find D7000's soft on focus (you really need to fine tune a lens on it). Saying that while I normally shoot a D3s (x2) I use a D7000 to flex the lens options. A D7000 is my first choice of camera to go running out of the door with (personal stuff) . On a D7000, the 18-105 VR is a very good all-round lens choice. Yes it has problems, but most of them are fixable in PP. If you are equipment challenged, it is a good replacement for a "kit lens". As I said, for anything unimportant, I run out the door with a D7000 and a 18-105VR, and as a standalone set up, it is pretty damn good
 
Richard King said:
the 18-105VR is reasonable. Coupled with (old) 60mm 2.8a and 50mm 1.4 & the 70-300

The elephant in the room is "what is your second camera" I shoot a combination of 2 FF an 1 crop, so the lenses I use need to work on all cameras I shoot with

The D7000 is a competent camera, but I would never walk into any job (esp. weddings) with one camera. I find D7000's soft on focus (you really need to fine tune a lens on it). Saying that while I normally shoot a D3s (x2) I use a D7000 to flex the lens options. A D7000 is my first choice of camera to go running out of the door with (personal stuff) . On a D7000, the 18-105 VR is a very good all-round lens choice. Yes it has problems, but most of them are fixable in PP. If you are equipment challenged, it is a good replacement for a "kit lens". As I said, for anything unimportant, I run out the door with a D7000 and a 18-105VR, and as a standalone set up, it is pretty damn good
Click to expand...

Hey, I am saving up for a second body and other bits of kit. I am only doing shadow work at the moment with a full time wedding photographer, who also uses a second shooter. Therefore, I want to buy my kit slowly whilst I am learning at the weddings. Apart from carrying bagful of kits and assisting with flashes, the tog allows me to practice my shooting here and there.

So maybe I should buy a zoom lens and concentrate on candid shots during he wedding...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top