MF lens for wedding?

Has anyone used mf lens(es) for wedding ceremony/reception? What are your advices if using one? I'm just curious because i have a wedding coming this Sat, and really want to try the Zeiss distagon 2/35. I'm quite comfortable with the still object but not really sure how does this lens perform with subject is in motion.

I have never done a wedding MF, but I just did a concert. It's a bit of a gamble. You need to be sure that you can nail your focus in low light. For those key shots I would just hold the shutter until the buffer is full while slightly adjusting the focus in both directions, to guarantee yourself that you got the shot. Luckily the 35 even wide open is forgiving on focus accuracy when you're a little bit further away. I would also look into a focusing screen and viewfinder magnifier to help your eyes.

Dasani wrote in post #15069467
Has anyone used mf lens(es) for wedding ceremony/reception? What are your advices if using one? I'm just curious because i have a wedding coming this Sat, and really want to try the Zeiss distagon 2/35. I'm quite comfortable with the still object but not really sure how does this lens perform with subject is in motion.

I would imagine it performs pretty much like any other manual focus lens that requires operator involvement in the focusing process.

If you've never used MF lenses in any situation I'd suggest practicing your focusing skills a bit before venturing out with one to shoot something as important as a wedding. Actually, if it were me, I would never take a new, untested, or unfamiliar piece of gear out to shoot something as fast moving and one-shot critical as a wedding. Use that lens for stuff you can play around with it on, and use the gear you're completely familiar and comfortable with to photograph the once-in-a-lifetime event like a wedding.

Just my two cents, for what its worth.

I have a MF lens that I would not have a problem with using for a wedding. I have not used it to date, but I would not use it for anyone or anything in motion. There are plenty of opportunities to use it on a subject that is still, but during a wedding, I prefer to play it safe when the subject is moving.

zerovision wrote in post #15069585
I have a MF lens that I would not have a problem with using for a wedding. I have not used it to date, but I would not use it for anyone or anything in motion. There are plenty of opportunities to use it on a subject that is still, but during a wedding, I prefer to play it safe when the subject is moving.

I guess what I meant was revisiting an old personal rule I had when I shot weddings. I never, never took a piece of gear out on a job that I was not completely familiar and comfortable with. Weddings are stressful and fast-moving enough that the last thing you want to be doing is trying to figure out how a lens, camera, or flash works during the heat of battle.

When I shot weddings, it was ALL manual focus lenses, that's all we had. So, yes its quite possible to do so, but if you're not familiar with the techniques those lenses are best left to other less demanding tasks.

Go to a park or busy road and practice manual focusing on moving object. Even if you decide not to use it at the wedding will still be better at manual focusing it

Dasani wrote in post #15069467
.... I'm quite comfortable with the still object but not really sure how does this lens perform with subject is in motion.

I think this sentence is the key: You have no experience with this lens and moving subjects. Please don´t try this at a wedding

I think same as others: Use only gear you are very familiar with at a wedding.
For me AF lenses could be a problem at a wedding, because I >95% use manual lenses.
Manual lenses are ok for a wedding for me, but I photograph my children with those lenses as well.

Thanks everyone for throwing in your advices, its my pleasure to learn from you all. It was just a thought and wondering if someone did it and had great results. I know its can be a very stressful wedding if you're not that lucky . This couple i'll be working with is very laid back therefore i thought about switching them out for a bit to try and see.... and yes, i know when to switch so i wont miss their first kiss or cake cutting part