Which wide & fast lens...?
I am also open to using a manual lens and even an M42 lens if I have to (I have the adapter)
Sigma 30mm f1.4
Seconded. Although if you want really wide the DA 14mm/f2.8 is a good 'un
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
The part of an Indian wedding that takes place at home is chaotic - the rellies will all be crowding around and much of the 'feel' of it will be in the general chaos. The room itself may be very small, and everybody will try to be in there.
Personally I'd go for a fast zoom like the Tamron 17-50 2.8 to give flexibility while keeping the speed.
If the bride is going to have mehndi (henna patterns on her hands) before the ceremony then that can be good for pictures too, although that part may be an all-girl thing.
The general chaos extends to the main ceremony as well so flexibility is the key. The 50mm will be fine for the couple sitting in their finery.
Yes - I've had an Indian wedding
I think I may go for the Tamron, just looking around for a 2nd hand one but they seem pretty rare.
If you are not already proficient with flash photography then note you can use your on-camera flash but make sure you diffuse it. When I have to use it I have a little cloth diffuser that slips over it and does a great job creating much softer light. You are definitely going to need flash as not only is f2.8 not enough for light challenged interiors but you want greater DoF than than for group shots so you don't end up with one or two faces in focus and the others OOF. The Pro I work with insists on f8 for group shots - and always shoot wider than is necessary to allow for cropping.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
I have started another thread here
The flash I use is the Pentax 360AF, how would you personally use it in the small environment I am going to be in - would you bounce it from the ceiling with camera on auto? Or would you use some sort of diffuser on it?
Your 50/1.4 is more like a short tele on a crop and as others have said you definitely need wider. I have both the Tamron 17/50 /2.8 and the Sigma 30/1.4 and although the Sigma is wide enough for small groups in confined spaces I'd take the Tamron any day of the week for it's flexibility - it's a very sharp lense too.
If you are not already proficient with flash photography then note you can use your on-camera flash but make sure you diffuse it. When I have to use it I have a little cloth diffuser that slips over it and does a great job creating much softer light. You are definitely going to need flash as not only is f2.8 not enough for light challenged interiors but you want greater DoF than than for group shots so you don't end up with one or two faces in focus and the others OOF. The Pro I work with insists on f8 for group shots - and always shoot wider than is necessary to allow for cropping.
Great advice.
I have made a small bubble wrap diffuser that velcros over my inbuilt camera flashes. Works a treat. Cost £0.00
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
What's the consensus on Sigma or Tammy 17-50/18-50 2.8?
Not the old Sigma (18-50) but the new one ; 17-50/2.8 probably edges the Tamron 17-50/2.8 but at a price premium.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
No issues with my choice all shots as expected, and loved by the happy couple.
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150 posts
13 years
Had the room been larger I'd have used my 50mm 1.4 but there's no chance in such a small room on my crop sensor (K20D)
I reckon I need something around the 30mm mark but the obvious choice there is the 31mm 1.8 which I cannot afford to buy at the moment (although rental is an option if in stock.)
What other lenses are about that I could look at? I love my FA 50mm 1.4 and it's hardly ever off my camera, is there a wider version of it?
Thanks in advance