Advice on equipment

[ABG]

Here we go. Another bloody "what do I buy next thread"

I've been asked to shoot a wedding for a friend in September. My current, rather non-extensive list of equipment is as follows: D70, kit lens, 5Gb worth of cards (2 x 2Gb, 1 x 1 Gb), sturdy (but heavy) tripod, F70 (back-up camera w/ 35-80 lens).

A few questions:
1. Do I have enough memory if I take my laptop along and get someone (suitably trained) to d/load images from the cards?
2. What would be the most essential piece of equipment you would purchase with the princely sum of $600? I was considering buying either a second hand 80-200, a Sigma 10-20, or an SB-800. Quite a diverse list, I know. I regularly find myself wishing I had a wider lens when taking landscape/cityscape/seascape photos. I also regularly find myself wishing I had a longer lens for portraits and motorsport photos.

I've thoroughly read all the wedding photography posts here and have picked up a veritable wealth of information and am cuurently in the process of putting together a check list so I don't leave anything to chance. I know I'm not giving you much to work with (such is the state of my savings account at the moment), but would really appreciate your advice.

Thanks

[losfp]

If you could only get ONE THING, it would be an external flash unit. Absolutely essential for anything indoors, and very helpful outdoors too.

IMO you can perform wonders with just the kit lens. I have been to a wedding where the photographer pretty much shot exclusively with an 18-70. A longer lens might be nice, but IMO you won't need an ultrawide for weddings.

[Raskill]

I agree with the speedlight, but do you REALLY need a SB800? Why not the SB600? It's a good $200 - $300 less, you could then pick up a second hand wide angle lens.... Just a thought!

[ozczecho]

Andrew, I never have done a wedding so take anything I say with a grain of salt.

I reckon you would definately need an ext. flash plus a telezoom 70-200 or 80-200. Even if you have to rent one of the items. The telezoom will give great portraits and bokeh. I use mine a lot to produce great portraits for family.

Mike

[gstark]

Andrew,

Look at the flash, but not directly, or you will go blind.

600 or 800; the 800 offers some extra features that you may find useful furthe down the track.

[ABG]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Andrew,

Look at the flash, but not directly, or you will go blind.

600 or 800; the 800 offers some extra features that you may find useful furthe down the track.

My mum always told me it was something else that would make me go blind Gary Would you buy the flash before additional lenses?

[owen]

I would get the SB-600 sooner rather than later and learn how to use it.

I just got one and it opens up so much more opportunity, but requires you to learn a lot about it.

[gstark]

Andrew,

Yes I would. Your built-in unit will not be good enough for this gig, and will likely lead to underexposed images, and thus major heartache and disappointment.

And the bride will probably be majorly pissed off too.

And as Owen suggests, getting it sooner, rather than later, is good advice, so that you can learn to use it.

And rather than the F70 as a second body, see if you can rustle up a loaner digital body as your backup.

[DaveB]

I agree with the speedlight, but do you REALLY need a SB800? Why not the SB600? It's a good $200 - $300 less, you could then pick up a second hand wide angle lens.... Just a thought!

One thing I found with the weddings I've shot (especially one in a fairly dark chapel with dark roof) is that you sometimes rely on your flash A LOT. One of the advantages of the SB800 over the 600 is the higher power (unless I'm mistaken, it's over one stop of extra light).

Actually now that I have multiple flash units, if I was doing a job in that particular dark chapel again I would put a wireless slave (with external power pack) on a rafter at the front of the church (it was a small chapel).

[PiroStitch]

Go for the SB600 and a 50mm 1.8 The extra stops you gain from having the wider aperture will help a lot as well. also don't be afraid to increase the iso to 800 when you're in the church.

[MCWB]

Depends how long the day goes for, but I reckon you have anough memory. Even if you're shooting NEFs, that's a good 8-900 photos; you shouldn't need to take more than that.

Would you buy the flash before additional lenses?

Definitely. If the scene is dark, it doesn't matter how good your lens is, you'll have to use flash. An external flash unit will give you much more flexibility with light. You can shoot direct with less red eye, bounce it off walls, ceiling etc. Get a flash and practise with it, get to know the settings that work.

An ultra-wide lens is useful at a wedding, but only really for novelty shots and getting the atmosphere of the place. I doubt you'll take most of your pics at a wedding with an ultra-wide. A fast tele with pleasing bokeh is nice for portrait shots, but this will blow your budget considerable. I'd grab a SB600 and LSIIPJ + dome, as this will come in handy for more shots than any other bit of gear.

Edit: Dave, IIRC the SB600 is only 2/3 of a stop less powerful at max power.

[BullcreekBob]

I would get the SB-600 sooner rather than later and learn how to use it.

I just got one and it opens up so much more opportunity, but requires you to learn a lot about it.

Yup, get the flash as the NEXT bit of equipment off the rank. And get it as soon as possible. I can't believe how long it's taking me to learn how to use it. I thought it would be a bit like the inbuilt but only better.

However I must sadly admit that it's a bit of equipment I NEED but I can't yet use even adequately. I need to go through many more recharges of the batteries to get the hang of it's idiosyncracies and benefits.

Cheers
Bob in Bull Creek

[johnd]

Andrew, I'd go for the SB800. It will be the best lens investment you ever made . I'd go for it over the SB600 for the fast cycle time that the 5th battery gives you plus the extra features. If you went for a 2nd flash further down the road, then I'd consider a SB600. The next thing I would go for is a 50 1.4 (should be mandatory for all Nikon cameras).

Cheers
John

[obzelite]

i'll add my comment for whats its worth.

get a flash, an external flash will make an amzing amount of difference even if your shooting outdoors.

[kalkadan]

Andrew

I've had non-digital Nikons since the early 1970s. Got my first digital - a D200 - two weeks ago. Sister asked me to do her wedding. It was last weekend. My first attempt, ever, at being the 'only' official photographer. Sweated blood getting up to speed on the D200. Did not want to buy the SB800 or 600 or any DX lenses until I gave it a good try on the old Nikkors.

Did the wedding with the pop-up flash on the D200 + 35mm f2 AF Nikkor + 70-210 f4-5.6 AF Nikkor (these used to be on my old F801, early generation AF lenses).

A fair bit of it was indoors, in a converted church! Heartily endorse what has been said about how inadequate a pop-up flash is in that situation. Had to work like hell on some of them in Aperture 1.1.2 (yeah, I'm on a Mac). The background was severely underexposed. Thank god the info was there however and most of them came up ok by increasing exposure on the slider bar.

But the old AF Nikkors are tops on the D200. You can check some selections from the shoot here: http://homepage.mac.com/danryan48/Noela ... index.html

However the 35mm became 52mm on the D200 and nearly drove me mad at times! I tried the Ernst Haas advice about what to do if you needed a wide-angle: step back a couple of paces! that might be ok in Wyoming, but try it in a crowded church. I would have killed for the 18-200 DX VR Nikkor that is now on back order. The old 70-210 f4-5.6 Nikkor AF is the one praised to the heavens (justifiably I think) by Ken Rockwell on his site, but it was a bummer having to change back and forth from the 35mm to the tele zoom.

Hope this helps. It has been a steep learning curve for me over the last few weeks. And I've just started!!!

Dan
P.S. my old AIS Nikkors - 28mm f3.5, 55mm f3.5 micro, 85mm f2 and 135mm f3.5 work without any problems on the D200 - if you can call manual focussing while you're in a sweat "no problem"!

[Colcam]

Okay guys. I am looking ahead for the new system. I wish to know if there is an easy access list somewhere for the model names/codes for the pro grade lenses for Nikon. Just to tell the good glass from the ordinary stuff. All of my lenses are manual and as of the end of the year I will be seriously looking for some good stuff.
Thanks
Col

[gstark]

Col,

Just see how many acronyms are in the lens's name. Exclude G and DX, AF-S will have better performance than just plain AF, but otherwise, the more of them that the lens wears, the <strike>longer the price tag will be.</strike> better the glass should be.

[Colcam]

Col,

Just see how many acronyms are in the lens's name. Exclude G and DX, AF-S will have better performance than just plain AF, but otherwise, the more of them that the lens wears, the <strike>longer the price tag will be.</strike> better the glass should be.

Thanks Gary
Actually, I meant to put this in the Nikon category direct, but pressed the wrong button. My lenses are all AIS. I will be keeping the good ones, but I really should be selling off some of the stuff I don't use much any more.

I will count the letters after the name of any new lenses & be suitably impressed according to the number.
Col

[LOZ]

Andrew
If it would help their is a spare 50-1.8 and 70-210 f4-5.6 Nikkor AF in my bag that you are welcome to use before they go up for sale .
LOZ

[smac]

Andrew
If it would help their is a spare 50-1.8 and 70-210 f4-5.6 Nikkor AF in my bag that you are welcome to use before they go up for sale .
LOZ

Laurie,

You're not selling the 24-120??

Stuart

[LOZ]

Andrew
If it would help their is a spare 50-1.8 and 70-210 f4-5.6 Nikkor AF in my bag that you are welcome to use before they go up for sale .
LOZ

Laurie,

You're not selling the 24-120??

Stuart

Who would buy it ??

[ABG]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Greatly appreciated. I must also say that I've been blown away by extremely generous offers of loaning equipment as well as offers to assist me for the day. Thank you to all concerned.

It appears the overwhelming consensus here is to buy the SB-600 or SB-800. I'll do a little research here before making a decision which way to go.

[gstark]

Andrew
If it would help their is a spare 50-1.8 and 70-210 f4-5.6 Nikkor AF in my bag that you are welcome to use before they go up for sale .
LOZ

Laurie,

You're not selling the 24-120??

Stuart

Who would buy it ??

Quite clearly Stuart's expressing an interest in this.

[LOZ]

Andrew
If it would help their is a spare 50-1.8 and 70-210 f4-5.6 Nikkor AF in my bag that you are welcome to use before they go up for sale .
LOZ

Laurie,

You're not selling the 24-120??

Stuart

Who would buy it ??

Quite clearly Stuart's expressing an interest in this.

WOW this then would make Stuart the only private owner in the world with 2 of these beautiful lens LOZ

[ABG]

Just wanted to say a public thank you to Loz for his very kind extended loan of various lenses and the SB-800. I've just downloaded the dreaded manual for the flash and have a few hours bedtime reading in front of me. If anyone can point me in the direction of any good additional resources, I'd be very grateful.

[gstark]

and the SB-800. I've just downloaded the dreaded manual for the flash and have a few hours bedtime reading in front of me.

Point of order, Mr Speaker.

You'll be asleep within 15 minutes, or you'll have a massive headache. The SB800 manual is incomprehensible, and any resemblance between the instructions provided and the use of an SB800 is purely coincidental, and certainly unintended.

This tome is best consumed with a large bottle of something containing alcohol.

Take four shots and call me in the morning.

[MATT]

and the SB-800. I've just downloaded the dreaded manual for the flash and have a few hours bedtime reading in front of me.

Point of order, Mr Speaker.

You'll be asleep within 15 minutes, or you'll have a massive headache. The SB800 manual is incomprehensible, and any resemblance between the instructions provided and the use of an SB800 is purely coincidental, and certainly unintended.

This tome is best consumed with a large bottle of something containing alcohol.

Take four shots and call me in the morning.

And i thought it was just me

[MCWB]

If anyone can point me in the direction of any good additional resources, I'd be very grateful.

As others have said, forget the manual.

http://dslrusers.com/viewtopic.php?t=14932

[xorl]

Hmmm, I guess I'm the odd one out - I never had any issues with the manual. It's a little dense and maybe it didn't answer 1 or 2 obscure questions, but overall it made sense to me .

[gstark]

Mark,

Are you perhaps a lawyer? That might explain it.

[Steffen]

Hmmm, I guess I'm the odd one out - I never had any issues with the manual. It's a little dense and maybe it didn't answer 1 or 2 obscure questions, but overall it made sense to me .

Same here. I have no issues with the manual, other than it being a bit small in format (it is easier to read as PDF on the screen). It's not a guide to flash photography, just a user manual. I think I've read most of it, and haven't found anything that confused me.

If anyone has a specific question, I'll try my best to interpret the manual for them

Cheers
Steffen.

[xorl]

Are you perhaps a lawyer? That might explain it.

Fortunately not - I'm a programmer/systems type instead. However, in some social situations that's considered only slightly less evil..

[ABG]

and the SB-800. I've just downloaded the dreaded manual for the flash and have a few hours bedtime reading in front of me.

Point of order, Mr Speaker.

You'll be asleep within 15 minutes, or you'll have a massive headache. The SB800 manual is incomprehensible, and any resemblance between the instructions provided and the use of an SB800 is purely coincidental, and certainly unintended.

This tome is best consumed with a large bottle of something containing alcohol.

Take four shots and call me in the morning.

Thank you Doctor

Apart from a headache caused by consuming too many of Mr Boag's finest lagers, I have actually learnt how to operate the flash at its most basic level in TTL-BL and TTL modes, both on camera and off camera. And all this just from reading the afore-mentioned tome. Clearly it's been written by an engineer at the end of a long, tiring day. I just loved the first instructions, "Press the on/off button for approximately 0.3 sec." Luckily I had a calibrated stopwatch on hand and overcame that hurdle.

[ABG]

If anyone can point me in the direction of any good additional resources, I'd be very grateful.

As others have said, forget the manual.

http://dslrusers.com/viewtopic.php?t=14932

Thanks Trent. Any idea where I can buy one of those nifty hats? I didn't see any last time I was at Nikon on Belmore

[Critter]

WOW this then would make Stuart the only private owner in the world with 2 of these beautiful lens LOZ

sorry to necro post, but is this lens (24-120 VR) no good?

[gstark]

The 24-120VR is a very nice lens.

Loz always complained about his, but never produced any evidence that it was poor. There are plenty of shots here that demonstrate the capabilites of this lens, and for the price, it represents very good value.