Nikon Lens - Wedding stuff

[Dareos]

Im just back from hols, where I was chatting to a Tog there. Was taking photos in a dimly lit room with a couple of bright lights dotted around (think pool hall...cos thats pretty much where we were).

Now, the photos I was taking were basically of a bunch of guys grabbing the trophy we had just won and hoisting it above their heads, drinking wine out of it and pretty much having as good a time as a bunch of drunken Scots who have just beaten a bunch of mainly english ex pats can. The local tog pointed out that you wont really get a great deal of that "in the moment" capture using my camera (nikon D3100 with 18-55mm lens that came with it). That it was fine for geometrical stuff as such, but the time to focus means that the instant capture side of things is gone.

Now, thats pretty basic as i'm sure most of you are aware (bearing in mind I am new to this and still havent done anything worthy of posting on our PAD thread) but what do I do to change this, is it a case of a full body upgrade (not willing to do this till I am better) or will switching to another lens help here? I was thinking along the lines of a fixed 50mm or 35mm lens as I imagine the time to focus on these will be a lot shorter. I have several weddings to go to in the next year or so (including my best friends) where I would like to be on the ball for those in the moment moments (theres probably a technical term for this I am unaware of).

any help appreciated as always

[kalniel]

He's right if you aren't expecting to take a photo, or are suddenly changing focal distances. But you are a fixed distance away from the action, so aside from the initial focussing you shouldn't really have a problem in that respect (and kudos to him if he can react faster than even a kit lens autofocus).

You will have a problem with light though with that camera/lens combination.. but that only really affects indoor stuff without flash. If that's what you want to do, then you can either get a more sensitive camera, or get a lens that lets more light in. The 35/1.8 is ideal - great focal length for indoors, fast, cheap. The best flash you can afford will probably do more to creating nicer photos in that situation, but it's less discrete, obviously

[Dareos]

I think that was the lens I was looking at but there are others, out of the 3 on this amazon page (first 3), which should I be looking at?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_abn...%2Cp_4%3ANikon

[Flibb]

I would get the
Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G

actually have the non motored version already.

[redddraggon]

The DX 35mm F/1.8 is pretty cheap feeling lens, however it is pretty optically amazing. I love mine, but I have a 17-55mm F/2.8 and 50 F/1.4 too so doesn't get used as much as it deserves.

IMO For the money it's definitely a must have for something like the D3100.

[Dareos]

any suggestions on flash to accompany this lens?

[kalniel]

any suggestions on flash to accompany this lens?

I know nothing about Nikon branded flashes, but I'm considering a Metz 50 AF-1 for indoor work myself - should be a Nikon version that works great with your camera as well. Like most bigger flashes it has a more discrete autofocus assist lamp as well, so I guess you could use it as an AF aid in low light even if you didn't want the flash.

[Bobster]

leave your camera at home and enjoy the days..

[Dareos]

been asked to bring it for at least 1 Bob, but it will only be out for a short time, no way I would miss much of that day

[Dareos]

ordered http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-AF-S-D...0451255&sr=1-1

lets hope I can put it to use

[kalniel]

Smart choice. Let us know how you get on.

[redddraggon]

ordered http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-AF-S-D...0451255&sr=1-1

lets hope I can put it to use

It's a fine lens, very very sharp, AF is fast and accurate, I just sold mine but I won't miss it, just far too short or far too long for what I shoot.

I did just pick up a 85mm F/1.4 instead though

[Syd]

It's a fine lens, very very sharp, AF is fast and accurate, I just sold mine but I won't miss it, just far too short or far too long for what I shoot.

I did just pick up a 85mm F/1.4 instead though

Nice choice - did you go D or G ? And how are you getting on with it?

[redddraggon]

Nice choice - did you go D or G ? And how are you getting on with it?

I got the D. I had been holding out for the 85mm 1.8 AF-S, but when it came out I was less than impressed with it considering the price, so I paid a little more and got the 1.4D s/h.

It's probably my favourite lens, albeit my least used one at the moment. As long as you aren't pixel peeping in the corners (on FX) at wide apertures it's awesome - but who expects the things in the corners to be in focus at f/1.4 anyway?