Lens choice for a wedding

I have been roped into taking some pictures at my brothers wedding as they are on a tight budget.
They do have a pro booked for few hrs to cover the church and a little while after, but I have said I will attempt the bride getting ready and reception (and the next day's picnic) photos.

I am going to hire from http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/hire/ and was thinking about the Pentax DA* 16-50mm F2.8 SDM Lens will this be suitable? (To use with a K-5 IIs)

Thankyou

Yes, it's the photographer's skills though that will make the difference. I've shot weddings with just a 16-45mm, although a longer zoom as well can be useful.

hello,
what lens do you currently own?
if you already have a wide angle (or kit lens), i would suggest renting the 50-135 instead, great coverage for portraits! if you want to go with one single lens i would probably go with the 17-70, maybe not as good quality but i think the 50-70 range is key, with the 16-50 you might get frustrated at times.
congrats to your bro.

i just came back from a wedding where i shot with the 15mm and tamron 28-75 f2.8 (which i had bought specifically for the event, great coverage), but my favourite is to take pics at the party with fisheye and flash

Another vote for the 50 135

Great lens for weddings

Here are a few images I took with the DA* 16-50mm for my friend at his wedding:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/a-few-wedding-images-53820

The DA* 50-135 is next on my list!

For "offical" and group shots the DA*16-50 is lovely.
The DA17-70 is a very good second best - very useful range, especially for an only lens.

But for candid shots and picking out details, for speeches etc, the DA*50-135 is an absolute stunner.

I've just shot a few at my stepson's wedding and used the 16-50 throughout. I had a longer lens with me, but in the end the wide angle was much more useful than a bit of extra reach. That could be a result of the number of people and the venue, but for me the 16-50 was ideal. It was the first time I have ever shot at a wedding, other than 'snaps', but I was asked to give another view to those of the professional (who was excellent!)

Here's a couple of my results.







Phil

You need various focal lengths. Despite the recommendations you'll struggle with group shots with the 50-135. Just like you'll struggle with headshots with the 16-50. If using a single lens, you might get away with a 17-70, 18-135, or the new 16-85. But then you lose the ability to shoot at f2.8 in low light.

Shot a friend's daughter's wedding last year using the 16-50 on one body and the 50-135 on another. That's what I'd recommend. https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/first-wedding-for-20-years-51795/p-0

Thanks for the suggestions

I do have a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 but it's heavy and I don't want to be lugging it around all day!

Ideally I just want one lens. I wont be doing the group shots (because I will have to been in them) so it will just be for the candid type bride getting ready and reception shots

For me you already have the most flexible lens with the sigma, but if the weight is a problem then the 50-135 is superb.......
i'd probably have my Sigma 17-50 in my pocket just in case i wanted wider.....more compact than the Pentax 16-50...

Best solution for weddings is two bodies really. The getting ready shots will look cluttered and uninteresting if you can't isolate the subject with a fast or long lens. You'll also need to get close for the details. I often have a 35 macro on one body for the getting ready and a 50-135 on the other. General wide shots can be accomplished very well with the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 - it will also get pretty close and works fine wide open for portraits at the long end (if you don't have a portrait lens handy).
Another vote for the fisheye for the evening; it's flippin' brilliant and you can produce some really intimate and quirky, fun shots if you get in amongst the guests!
If you're hiring, then don't forget the sublime 77 Ltd. The images from this will knock all the others into a cocked hat, but you'll have to zoom with your feet! Lovely and small.

But here's the fisheye in fun mode

I bought the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 with this application in mind, having taken my camera (K-01 at the time) to a couple of weddings its a PITA to change between primes.
The Tamron has a equivalent range of 42mm to 112mm which is odd, but covers enough at the wide angle for most shots of people (without the WA distortion) and more than long enough for portraits / subject isolation.