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I am doing a bit of wedding photography and at present only using the lens off of my F70 35 -80 mm. I am looking to buy a VR zoom to use on my D70. Which do you recomend?

murf59

There is only one VR zoom in what I guess your wedding range is, 24-120 VR, though many wedding pros here use the 17-55 2.8. Good luck in your choice.

Thanks Glen

Glen I reckon you could use the 70-200VR and a 17-55DX on two seperate bodies. At 4-8M the 70MM focal length produces pretty good portraits. Well I thought they did at the F1GP, but I guess it's a little bit obtrusive.

Kipper, the 70-200 makes excellent portraits, but if I was only taking one lens to a wedding it would be the 17-55 or murf's original 35-80, or kit etc. If you only took the 70-200, when it came to do the classic happy couple with both sets of parents photo, you would be standing across the road

yes, if it was a one lens wedding then the 17-55DX is the go (or the 28-70/2.8 if you have the cash!)
also a 50/1.4 is damn handy for when the night wears on and the lights go dim

Glen wrote:Kipper, the 70-200 makes excellent portraits, but if I was only taking one lens to a wedding it would be the 17-55 or murf's original 35-80, or kit etc. If you only took the 70-200, when it came to do the classic happy couple with both sets of parents photo, you would be standing across the road

Glen,
Can I correct please? Not across the road but the distance should be from one side of Harbour Bridge to other side.
And remember please! he only has one DSLR body.
He asked for the VR lens btw.

the 24-120 vr here is only about 750 canadian, probably similar in oz, so I would think this would be a good bet as it is so useful and not costy. A little lacking in the wide end, but a great lens nonetheless. I want it so I don't have to change lenses as often requiring cleaning etc. the 70-200 and 17-55 are probably better lenses, but the cost is so high. It's your dollars and situation so you can crunch the numbers. If I was in your shoes I'd get the 24-120 and throw the 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 (1.8 is so cheap it's criminal not to buy it) on another body for portraits etc. Then you're good to go. One opinion of course, but a friggin good one if you ask me. Okay I'll stop.

Nah you wouldn't need to be on the other side of the road at 70MM. Remember the recommended portait primes are 50MM and 85MM, with the 80MM being given the thumbs up by lots here. But I agree you need wide angle for Weddings, so the 24-120VR is the one if only sticking to VR. Otherwise the 18-55DX.

Who made the 18-55DX, is it under kipper brand and trademark?

the 17-35 is my liking to shoot with, and I was using this lens as my butter and bread, before the 17-55 came. I tested and would like to change my use to the 17-55 just because of its better length coverage but did not like it much due to my shooting habbit is to shoot into bright sun or spotlights, while the 17-55 exhibits ghosting and flare under blacklit condition so I reversed and keep my 17-35 instead of.

murf59

Welcome- You'll find plenty of good advice here from the experts above.

I have a Nikon 35-80mm that came as the kit lens with my N70 camera. It has always disappointed me. It does not have the mechanical or optical quality of the D70 kit lens or any of the other quality lenses recommended above. If that's the only lens you've been using, you've been working with one hand tied behind your back. Retire that old lens and get one of these good ones and your pictures will jump up in quality.

If VR is a must then the range of the 24-120 has to take the cake for a wedding.

If VR isn't a must then its a different ballgame.

As Craig said.........

I don't think you will get a VR in a range that is suitable for weddings yet. Nikon might have a wideangle VR up it's sleeve in the future, but who knows???

I would recommend the 17-55DX. You'll rarely take it off the camera during the wedding. The 85mm 1.4 is also great but you might find the 50mm 1.4 better as you can get closer to your subjects.