Which Zuiko lens should I buy?

[Buttercup]

Hello, All.
I'm new to this forum.

I want a new lens for my Oly E-510 but don't know which way to go. I shoot small to medium size weddings, showers, portraits, nature and macro. I also do candid shots for my church.
(Presently I just have the 2 lenses which came in my kit.)

I'm looking at the "Olympus - Zuiko 18-180mm f/3.5-6.3 Digital Zoom Lens",
also the "Olympus - Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital Zoom Lens",
and finally, the "Olympus - Zuiko Digital 50mm f/2 Macro Lens".

They all look good and have their own merits so it's hard to decide and I'm torn. I can only get ONE right now.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Elleah]

I'm a total newbie (just got my 510 in Feb.), but if I were going to get something besides the kit lenses it would probably be the Zuiko Digital 50mm f/2 Macro Lens. Larger apertures would be better for your wedding situations probably?

[djc1026]

I'm a relative newbie as well, but of your choices and given the preferences you listed I would probably go with the 50 or 14-54mm before the 18-180. To give you some more to think about, I've also heard good reviews of the Sigma 18-50 2.8 through the range.

[Buttercup]

djc1026, please explain why you suggested the 2 Oly lenses.

Elleah, same thing, please explain your reasoning.

I need a clear understanding of why you chose these particular lenses.

I'm trying to make the BEST choice I can, especially since these are so expensive.

I don't think I want to go outside of the Olympus lenses though.

Thanks so much to both of you.

[GEli]

Do you already have a pretty good flash system? Shooting weddings with lenses that slow will be quite impossible if you don't. If you do want to shoot naturally lit weddings, you'll need faster lenses. I'd start by getting the Zuiko 11-22mm f/2.8-3.5. It's still pretty slow but might do if you push the ISO and is in a handy wide-normal range. Next up I'd start looking at the Zuiko 35-100mm f/2.0 for your medium telezoom. After that you'd have a workable wedding kit.

This is my wedding lenses advice, as weddings are the only thing on that list that can't be done with cheaper glass and therefore I'm assuming are going to take precedent in your lense purchasing queue.

[djc1026]

Of your choices, I ranked them by speed as GEli above mentioned. I threw in the Sigma for it's standard zoom range and the relative speed throughout the range, plus it has a decent close focusing range, not true macro but still decent with .33x magnificiation. I also considered throwing the 11-22 and the 35-100, but figured you were on a budget with the one's you listed. But if you have the money, I would look to those and still consider the 50 f2.

[Buttercup]

I just ordered the FL-50 flash, so guess I will wait a little while for the new lens.

Thanks everyone for your help. I really appreciate it.

[glyphon]

just throwing options out, what about this lens?

Sigma Normal 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens

its fast enough for low light weddings, but is the quality of the glass up to snuff?