Camera Labs

I am in need of finding out which super wide angle lens would be right for my Nikon D90 or D200 to film in low light and to shoot large groups. I want to take pictures at weddings with no flash, yet still be able to maintain crisp clear pictures and with plenty of light. Would the Nikon 17-55MM Wide angle 2.8 be the right choice? Also, I would like if the lens had the VR feature. Thanks

Jeff

The range 17-55 is not really "wide angle"... it's referred to as "Standard Zoom".

In low light conditions (which most to all wedding are), you want as large an aperture as you can can get. 2.8 is the largest that apertures get on "zoomable" lenses (or thats as biggest as I've seen it). The range you quoted is perhaps the most common range that most photos are taken in. Having said all that, an external flash can go a long way. Any reason why you want to stay way from this?

Trevor

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Trevor Harris

Nikon D200
SB-600
YN-560 II
YN RF 603 x 4
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8

Hi Trevor,

It just seems as though the flash creates some hot spots on people's foreheads. I am getting better at reducing the shine as I move back a little further. Additionally, sometimes the Pastor will make a request to not have flash photography. I will usually re-pose the couple after the ceremony is completed so I can get better shots.

I wanted a bigger Aperature 2.8 so I can film without the flash. I see many other photographers who use no flash yet they still get great shots. Granted, these other photographers are using cameras such as the Nikon D3 or the D7000 etc. I am trying to stay away from turning my ISO to high as well, to keep the noise out of the picture. Is the 1.8 or 1.4 bigger than the 2.8? Have you heard or read reviews on the D800?

Thanks for the advice.

Where are you located?

I am in New Mexico.

Jeff Stark

I don't use indoor flash but tried as an experiment, as the exposure compensation has +/- EV, the flash has a similar compensation and on my test reducing the level of flash gave me a balanced photo. Standing back will give similar results and welcome to the forum.

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

Aiming the flash toward a reflective surface, such as a white ceiling or wall, if available, and/or moving the flash unit (flashgun) away from the camera will mitigate many of the undesirable effects of flash. I am going to be reading the responses here regarding wide-angle lenses for Nikons; my only current wide-angle zoom is a Canon 10-22mm EF-S, which I really do like.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

If you want good performance in low light, the 35/1.8 is excellent for your cameras, but it's not wide angle (the 50/1.4 and 50/1.8 are similar, though longer still).

However, the 35/1.8 is sharp and f1.8 lets in more than twice as much light as f2.8, and the lens performs relatively better closer to its maximum aperture than zooms generally do.

For zooms, the 17-55 is pretty well the only Nikon WA zoom for DX with a bright aperture (though other brands have models too).

For FX, you have a much better selection of WA lenses (zooms and single focal length) of wider aperture.

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HCC
Nikon DSLRs, film cameras from Leica to Linhof

i use the Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX f2.8 11-16mm om my D90
its widely reguarded as one of the best, and it doesnt disapoint

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Nikon D90, nikon 18-105vr, nikon 70-300vr, sigma 105 macro, nikon 50 1.8, Tokina 11-16 2.8