$1500 and a wedding to shoot...What to buy?

[Free]

Hi All,

So a friend of my wife has asked my to shoot her wedding (she is well aware of the risks involved!!!)

While I'm keen, I'm not sure my gear is up to scratch for the rigours of a wedding, Currently I've got the following gear:

• 1 Nikon 60
• kit 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 G
• kit 55-200mm f4-5.6 G
• Nikkor 35mm f1.8D
• Nikkor 50mm f1.8D (doesn't auto focus on the D60)
• SB-26 speedlight (doesn't ttl)
• $1500ish to spend on goodies (Australian dollars and prices here)

As I see it, my main issues are going to be lighting and decent(ish) long zoom, so I'm thinking that I'd need an SB-600 (approx $450) and some better glass. The lenses I'm considering are:
AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR - $949
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G - $989
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II - $1119
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G Nikkor ED VR - $575

The 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 VR is looking like the winner to me (although it's really pushing the budget very tight with the flash) and the reviews look great however the bokeh looks pretty nasty, which isn't optimal for weddings.

So what flash/lens combo would you recommend?

Another possibility I've considered is not worry about a new lens and get the flash and a D90 body? Then I could use the D60 with the 55-200 kit for the longer shots and the D90 with the 50mm (which would auto focus ) for everything else.

What do you think... Better glass or a second better body?

Or do you have an even better suggestion?

[wannabephotographer]

Get the SB-900 it is much better than the SB-600. This will be your best value addition. For a decent lens upgrade, I would get the Tamaron 17-50 2.8. The lenses you've listed won't really be that much of an improvement over what you have.

[OsmosisStudios]

Do yourself a favour: Rent.

If you're happy with your equipment otherwise, there's no need to change, especially not to ANOTHER slow zoom.

Go out and rent a 70-200 f/2.8, an SB-900 (you could purchase this or a 600, instead) and that should do it.

[sk66]

What are your long term goals? Do you plan to do more of this type of work? If so, a second body makes sense.
Also, I'm with OS on the renting a fast lens and I like the 70-200 f/2.8 option. You could consider purchasing the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 and an SB800 (I don't really think the additional features of the SB900 justify the cost).

[Free]

Thanks for the replies.

I've been wanting a decent fast(ish) long lens for a while as I take a lot of kids on the run and also getting into motorsports. I have a lot of friends at marrying age that want cheaper photos, so will probably get hassled a few more times, so owning the gear would be good, plus I get more time to practice before hand.

That Sigma looks like the perfect lens for this and everything else I need a longer lens for And it's in my price range too.

Although I'd love an SB-900, I'm not sure it would give me as much "bang for my buck" as the SB-600 and a faster lens which I wouldn't be able to afford if I got the 900. If I need it, I can get the 900 down the track and control the 600 off camera anyway

BTW OS, I can't really say I'm happy with the D60, I found the limits after only a few months and have been wanting a better focusing system, auto bracketing, better controls and lots of other goodness for a while now. I'm also quite rough on gear so I'm really after something a bit more "pro" tough than the D90 (at the moment dreaming of a D700).

Thanks heaps for all your input
Free

[SuperDan]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Do yourself a favour: Rent.

If you're happy with your equipment otherwise, there's no need to change, especially not to ANOTHER slow zoom.

Go out and rent a 70-200 f/2.8, an SB-900 (you could purchase this or a 600, instead) and that should do it.

I was thinking the same thing... to just rent...
then you would get the idea if you really wanted to keep it and if it did what you wanted it to do!

thanks Osmosis