New Lens primarily for weddings long term

[lynweber]

So I am looking for a new lens I have a few in mind. I know these are not probably the ideal wedding glass but I'm just a second shooter for now.

Let me know which you think would be my best approach.

24-70mm Nikon/Sigma or Tamron similar
85mm
60mm Tamron Macro capable
Nikon 50mm AF-S

Most of these are the price range I'm looking to spend but I'm open to ideas. I really have wondered about the wide angle and so I was told by others the 24-70mm would be a good one.

As always thank you!

[OsmosisStudios]

The 24-70 is a good choice... on full frame. On your D5000, it's a 36-105, which isn't wide at all.

The other three are mild telephotos (50 = 75, 60 = 90, 85 = 130).

For weddings you'll likely want the 70-200 range, which means the 70-200 f/2.8 VR.

[lynweber]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The 24-70 is a good choice... on full frame. On your D5000, it's a 36-105, which isn't wide at all.

The other three are mild telephotos (50 = 75, 60 = 90, 85 = 130).

For weddings you'll likely want the 70-200 range, which means the 70-200 f/2.8 VR.

Do you have a way to explain the difference on my crop body? I already have a 70-300 which I love but my 35mm is just a little short. Would getting the 60mm be a better choice?

[OsmosisStudios]

Your cropped sensor D5000 has a focal length equivalent to 1.5x that of the marked one. So a 24-70 is a 24*1.5=36 and 70*1.5=105, so you end up with an equivalent field of view of a 36-105 lens.

Your 70-300 is actually a 105-450 equivalent.

The 50 might be a better option, as it's faster (larger aperture) than the 60, though the 60 is a macro, which opens up an entirely different world.

Honestly, based on what you have, you need fast-aperture lenses more than anything else. Depending on how you shoot, you may find the 24-70 a better option than anything else. That being said, though, you can get a 50/1.4 AND a 105/2 or 180/2.8 for the same price as the 24-70, and still have some money left over.

[Flea77]

I have two that I love for this kind of thing, a 24-70 2.8 and a 80-200 2.8. Both have the speed, both are reasonably priced. Unfortunately the 80-200 wont work on your camera (it is a D series) so you will have to go to a AFS or 70-200. In close quarters (think bride's bathroom as she puts on makeup) I use a 12-24 f4.

Sigma makes a good 24-70 2.8 if you get a good copy, I got lucky with mine. I got a little scared of their 70-200 and went for the Nikon 80-200 two ring 2.8D and absolutely love it.

Allan

[lynweber]

See I want a fast lense for the low light which has been happening a lot with the cloudy days and such. I want something a little better than my 35mm so I'm really looking at the 50mm 1.8 its cheaper but do want the 85mm as well. what to do what to do. If I can find a good 24-70 cheap that would be nice too.
I find myself changing lenses alot too which gets annoying I want to have say two and be done with it. But thats unlikely.

[OsmosisStudios]

The only downside you have right now is that the D5000 doesnt have a focus motor, so a lot of the primes are AF-D lenses that don't AF on the D5000.

Flea77: The 80-200 f/2.8 AF-D will WORK on the D5000, but it won;t autofocus. Everything else is good, including the focus confirmation dot.

[lynweber]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The only downside you have right now is that the D5000 doesnt have a focus motor, so a lot of the primes are AF-D lenses that don't AF on the D5000.

Flea77: The 80-200 f/2.8 AF-D will WORK on the D5000, but it won;t autofocus. Everything else is good, including the focus confirmation dot.

Yeah I know I can't decide weather to upgrade now with a new lense or what? I never thought about it before when I bought the camera about lenses but now i wish i would have gotten at least the D90. pondering...

[mattdm]

Since your plan is to be the second shooter, one of the things you can do is observe and document little details that are going on around the "main stage", where the primary photographer will have to devote a lot of focus. To me that suggests a much longer focal length than the normal to short-tele lenses you've got listed.