D70 lenses for a specific job - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

08/01/2004 04:48:52 PM · #1

Hi again. I have been thinking in getting a "real camera", since I've been getting some invitations to do some works, like weddings and stuff like that.

My mind is almout set on the Nikon D70 (but I am listening you more experienced ones). I have basically 2 questions about it:

1Âº) Should I buy (if there is one) a "all around" lense that can work right in indoors (church, ect.) and outdoors, or a specific one for each? Which ones do you advise? I think the kit lense should work good for portrats (correct me if I'm wrong).

2Âº) I will need more material. What matterial? Which brands?

Sorry for all the questions but I never owned a SRL and don't have any experience with this tipe of camera and equipment. Please all comments are wellcome form people ho have this camera or does this tipe of work.

thank's in advance.

Message edited by author 2004-08-01 17:37:37.

dhare

Nikon D7000

08/01/2004 06:03:00 PM · #2

Hi Nuno,

If you will be doing a lot of indoor work, It would be a good idea to get a wide angle or fisheye lens. There is a 12-24mm lens for the D70 which would be great for indoor photography. There is one made by Nikon, and one made by Sigma. I'm not sure what the difference is between the two, but they are both costly. There is a Nikon fisheye lens that grigrigirl uses to good effect in wedding photography, for shots like these:

It's also fairly costly.

Keep in mind that the links I posted are Australian links, and Australian prices.

Message edited by author 2004-08-01 18:03:51.

Flash

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/01/2004 07:00:53 PM · #3

Nuno,

If you are planning to make money with your camera......and you CHOOSE a D70, then plan on around $1000 US on the body and another 3-6000 US on lenses and a flash unit. Include a solid support (tripod) and a good head with detachable plates. A second body would also be a good idea. Camera case, flash cards, and possibly a portable data storage unit.

$8-10,000 US should get you started on a good foundation for wedding photography. If you move into doing portraits, then lights, stands and studio overhead would be required.

Good luck with your decisions.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/01/2004 07:03:41 PM · #4

thank's for the help guys. I'm a bit lost in all the things avaiable and I feel I need a lilte guidance.

Ecce_Signum

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/01/2004 07:09:48 PM · #5

Best of luck on your wedding shoots nomatter what cam you choose. If you are doing weddings or other paid for work, a second cam is a requirement not a nice to have.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/01/2004 07:18:17 PM · #6

And how about the prints? Do you do your own or you shift it to a lab? I was thinking in getting a specific printer to do the proofs (a termic on I thought) 6x4 an then take the final work to a lab to do the final prints, because of th emassive printing that it requires. Any oppinions about this?

skylen

Nikon D200

08/01/2004 08:17:36 PM · #7

Originally posted by Nuno:

Definitely get final prints done at a lab, using a real PHOTOCHEMICAL process. Not an inkjet or dye-sublimation, or whatever kind of printer some places use. Top-quality and lasting prints will come from projecting the digital image onto genuine photographic light-sensitive paper (Fuji, Kodak, etc.). Wal-Mart does this, but I didn't find their quality that great. Costco was quite acceptable. But the prints I've had from Dotphoto (//www.dotphoto.com) have been absolutely superb. I know there are others (Ofoto, etc.) as well.

jxpfeer

Nikon D70

08/01/2004 09:09:00 PM · #8

If you get the d70, i highly recommend you get the kit which comes with the 18-70DX lense. it's a GREAT lense all around, from wide to moderate telephoto. that lense should cover most of your indoor needs.. if you find you need to wider, there are several great wideangles out there like the sigma 12-24. Also a 50mm/1.8 is a great lense ($100) for indoor work as well, very sharp and clear. it's pretty good for portraits, so is the kit lense. If you feel you need longer range, then you can also look at some of the other great telephotos and zooms out there.

coming from a Fuji cam, the controls on the d70 will be pretty familiar to you. It's a great camera, and I think you'll love it. good luck!

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/01/2004 11:29:38 PM · #9

Pretty much the standard all-purpose wedding lens has to be a 24-70 f2.8 zoom. They are usually pretty heavy and expensive, but the wedding pros that I know that shoot with them wouldn't trade them for anything.

A couple of f2 or faster primes can come in handy too if the light is really dim.

DarkRider

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/02/2004 01:00:06 AM · #10

Hi Nuno,

I purchased the D70 for myself itâ��s the first SLR that I have owned. I took Candids at two weddings with it, one for my cousin and one for good friends. Both had pros there and I just kind stood back and did my thing and trying to keep out of the way and pick up a trick or two. In both instances the pros were very interested in my D70 and took good looks at it. I asked the same question you did to one of them and here was his reply â��some people are into photography for the toys, and some people are into it for the pictures. The trick is to take what you have and make the best pictures you can out of it.â�� We went on to talk about equipment for almost an hour and once you understand what it is you want to achieve you will be able to find the equipment right for the job. He also suggested setting aside time to rent a lens and give it good test drive before you purchase one. You may not be able to rent the exact one you are looking into but it should give you a really good idea.

I hope this helps you, it did for me.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/02/2004 11:02:40 AM · #11

Renting a lense before buying? Very nice thought. Never tought it myself. I don't know if around here - Portugal - they do so but I will discover. And you people that have more experiense: at the church do you use a lense with the biggest apperture possible, like the 50mm/f1.8 like, or do you take control with the flash?

tank you all for your colaboration!

Spork99

OM System OM-1

08/02/2004 11:09:31 AM · #12

Originally posted by Nuno:

And you people that have more experiense: at the church do you use a lense with the biggest apperture possible, like the 50mm/f1.8 like, or do you take control with the flash?

tank you all for your colaboration!

Usually during the ceremenoy, flash is a big no-no, but each church has different policies on flash use. It's always best to ask the officiant before the ceremony about it, since each one will interpret the policy somewhat differently.

flip89

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR

08/02/2004 11:47:33 AM · #13

Originally posted by Nuno:

Hi, just got my first wedding 'assignment' last week-end. My niece and now her husband decided to have a do it yourself wedding last Saturday with family and friends volunteering for the preparation from wedding gown to flowers to photography. My brother and I were tasked to do the photography. It was certainly a learning experience. I don't have much for equipment etc. but I know now what my next purchases will be just in case I will have this experience again.

I pretty much used my 24-120mm lens and sometimes my 80-400mm. I used the kit lens once but I thought that that was not adequate especially for the long shots. I found out that you need to take long shots so as not to be obtrusive to the wedding ceremony itself (some priests or pastors may not like you close or coming in there and firing your flash), the 24-120mm was more than enough for this for the most part. I had to use the longer lens when I wanted a shot of the altar where the ceremony was from the door of the church.

You pretty much need an external flash if you need to use one (for example at the reception etc.). The built in flash of the D70 may not suffice - an external is now in my list of must purchase (I borrowed one from a friend for this time). Tripod is an absolute must especially for those formal shots and even a monopod may help when you're roving around. Don't need to have that camera shake destroying your results.

To get your shots to look glamorous, lighting of course is very imporant and I didn't have this luxury of owning equipment (yet). Much of our formal shots were kind of 'snap shotty' especially the indoor ones. We had to be creative for this, we took the wedding party outside to make use of natural light especially the light during the twilight (20 mins before and after sunset is the best period I think) - the golden light was gorgeous. But the next time around if I get a chance to do this again, I probably would invest in some kind of 'professional' lighting equipment like a flash unit, stand and umbrella. Of course I have to read on their uses first before purchasing them.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/02/2004 04:51:40 PM · #14

Thanks flip89, it shure sounds you have had a lot of fun. And I hope not to be nervous so I can enjoy my work.

ganders

Canon EOS-40D

08/02/2004 05:10:54 PM · #15

Have to second jxpeer, the 18-70 kit lens is a marvellous bit of kit. We also got a cheap 70-300 D-series lens which frankly struggles sometimes - but then again at Â£70 it's hard to complain.

I'd dearly love to have that 12-24 Nikon, but at a list price of Â£900 it might be a while!

08/02/2004 05:31:01 PM · #16

and how abou flash, what do you use? SB-800, SB-80DX? other?

MotoCycleBoi

Nikon D70

08/02/2004 05:49:08 PM · #17

Originally posted by Nuno:

and how abou flash, what do you use? SB-800, SB-80DX? other?

SB-800