BetterPhoto Q&A
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Marina Brisco		Wedding Photography I am using my Nikon D1X (and D1) for a wedding and normally use my 24-120 lens as well as my 80-200. What lense would you suggest other than the 24-120 for a wedding. I know it is difficult to use only one lens and so I want one that will be able to get the wide shots as well as close ups without always using the tripod. Any suggestions? Obviously, I will have my 80-200 on the tripod. It gets to heavy to hand hold. Thanks! To love this question, log in above June 02, 2004

John A. Lind		In 35mm film format I generally don't go wider than 35mm focal length unless it's deliberately for some very special effects and it's quite unsual to do them . . . something unique about the venue must play into it well. Wider than that can run into unnatural perspective issues, especially with architectural background (e.g. church interior/exterior) and with people's heads near the edges or corners. I have done a few weddings with no more than a fixed standard focal length (50mm lens for 35mm film and 80mm for medium format). Not that I don't feel constricted doing it, but it can be done successfully. Normally I use a fast f/2.8 35-105mm and may have on hand a fast 135mm or 200mm if I anticipate a few distant shots from the back of a church during a ceremony. The long glass is mounted on a second body and is set up where those will be shot beforehand. Keeps from having to change lenses . . . an activity I loathe doing during a ceremony or reception when fumbling around with changing lenses can too easily result in missing a critical photograph. A question comes to mind . . . Do you have a spare lens for general work??? I'd worry about that first before buying a lens in a different focal length range for specialty shots. It appears you have a spare body . . . put a spare lens on it too. If you were using manual focus lenses which are mechanically much simpler, without any electro-mechanicals or electronics, I wouldn't worry as much except about possibly dropping one (another reason to avoid changing lenses much). However, AF lenses have motors and electronics . . . more things to fail. I recommend getting a suitable spare lens first . . . one you can use if the 24-120 fails. Doesn't have to be another 24-120 . . . but should be an optically good one you can do the general and critical "must have" shots with. You didn't say anything about flash . . . but if you don't have a spare of that, cover it with a spare too. Then worry about the "extras." Shoot enough weddings over a long enough period of time and something will eventually quit working properly during a shoot. Murphy's Law is alive and well . . . it will also happen at the worst possible time. I haven't suffered a disaster . . . but I know of several other photographers around me who have because they didn't have backups of the critical gear with them . . . and their tales about what happened are told with great pain. -- John Lind To love this comment, log in above June 02, 2004

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