Guest at a wedding- what lens to bring?

Some back story- my wife and I are 35, and my wife will be the matron of honor. I've been asked to bring my gear so I can take the groom getting ready shots, so I'll have my typical kit.

Since this is probably the last time either my wife or I are standing up in a wedding, I'd like to rent some glass to bring along- something I don't typically shoot with or have. I'll be bringing the D700, 35mm, 50mm, 80-200, and 28-70 and flash gear, so I have reasonable coverage for what I need to provide. Looking for something fun or different to add to the mix.

What's a fun lens to add to the mix for candids/reception? I was considering the zeiss 100mm milvus or 14-24- but am open to suggestions. Do I go whole hog and bring a 200mm f/2 or otus?

Thanks!

Do you see the wedding as an opportunity to enjoy an event fully with your wife and other guests? Or do you see it as an opportunity to play around with a new toy? I tend to think that the two are to a great degree mutually exclusive. Your kit looks fine to me for the groom shots that you accepted to do. My advice would be to put away everything but the 28-70 and flash after that and (1) enjoy the day with your wife and (2) avoid the risk of being perceived by the contracted photographer as another Uncle Ned with a fancy camera whom he/she has to keep an eye on for the potential of ruining shots. That's just my opinion. Sorry I can't advise you on a lens. You seem to have everything covered.

I'm not worried about interfering with the professional photographer- I won't be taking shots during the ceremony, posed formals, cake cutting, first dance, etc that he is providing. In fact, I've already talked with him since I'm covering the groom and offered to allow him to use my work for the album, which he accepted.

Since I'll have down time before the ceremony and at the beginning of the reception while my wife is tending to the bride and formals are being shot, I'll probably capture some moments the hired photographer won't be around for. I'll take some shots of my wife during her speech from my seat. After dinner, the camera goes away and my wife and I will enjoy ourselves.

This is an out of town wedding for us- the only people I'll know are the bride, groom, and my wife. So in answer to your question- I'm looking to play around with a new toy for a couple of hours, and then enjoy the event with my wife when her matron of honor duties are done.

fun and different? try a lens baby.

Doing the groom prep doesn't require anything more than you have. Honestly using this as an excuse to rent a new toy brings up a couple concerns. A) you'll be tempted to shoot more than is probably wise simply to justify the new toy and B) its a waste of resources to rent gear you don't need for a job ypou should shoot low key. I know you don't intend to interfere with the main photog but your enthusiasm is a warning sign.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17884383
Doing the groom prep doesn't require anything more than you have. Honestly using this as an excuse to rent a new toy brings up a couple concerns. A) you'll be tempted to shoot more than is probably wise simply to justify the new toy and B) its a waste of resources to rent gear you don't need for a job ypou should shoot low key. I know you don't intend to interfere with the main photog but your enthusiasm is a warning sign.

You be the angel on one shoulder and ill be the devil on the other.

BlakeC wrote in post #17884390
You be the angel on one shoulder and ill be the devil on the other.

I'm not against him getting a new toy to play with. Just wait til you get home to do it.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17884392
I'm not against him getting a new toy to play with. Just wait til you get home to do it.

Im with you. No need to rent. Just keep it simple, all you really need is the 35mm for the groom shoots and maybe a flash to use if needed. Other than that, no real reason to rent or take anything else unless your planning to shoot more during the wedding, which sounds like your not.

Do what you want. Rent a toy, have fun at the wedding, take pictures and enjoy yourself. A professional photog doing a wedding should be able to deal with guests that 'gasp' brought a camera. Sorry, I don't see any warning signs. All I see from the OP is a good guy willing to help out and take some pictures.

The rental is just for fun- I'll spend less on renting the lens for a week than my wife will on her hair and makeup. I know I won't need it for what I'm shooting. We'll also be in Chicago for 5 days, so I'll have plenty of time to play with a new toy besides the wedding.

Maybe I titled the thread wrong- should have been what would lens would you like to play with for a few days renting that you don't typically carry as part of your kit. While I may use what I rent on the wedding day, it wouldn't be necessary.

you live in the NE, while you are travelling, it isn't for an island wedding, so this is an indoor winter type thing?


Idea 1
Wide and fast
- 24 1.4 type or 28F2 type lenses
- you are shooting guys getting ready in tight spaces in a poorly lit hotel, thus you could do some pretty good b&w wide angle type stuff


Idea 2
K.I.S.S -> 24-105 F4 IS with a very good flash for bouncing
- most 24-105 F4 are 'semi' decent at macro so this will allow the closeup cufflinks / tie / watch / etc
- also IS would allow you to grab some stabilized video

as a person that shoots weddings, a combo of these two would be my recommendation
- fast wide prime + swiss army knife 24-105 with a flash


Idea 3
Buy the latest greatest cell phone, if you don't already own it,
- bring a $40 very portable handheld video LED light
- with good lighting, the latest cellphones have good enough cameras
- you can think of your self appointed job as providing entertainment / live FB feed of the boys getting ready
- many wedding parties now set up apps or other to track all the pictures taken during the day - if they haven't maybe you can help them do this


Idea 4
Machine Gun to a knife fight - 300F2.8
- figure out how many ways and different shots you can take in a hotel room, hallway, middle of the street playing soccer in suits at 300mm
- you never know until you try


Idea 4
Rent a Sony A7Rii and 28F2
- forget about photography - 4K video everything
- Fullframe mode and Super 35 mode with give you both 28mm and 45mm FL
- the 28F2 is a tiny lens, the package will be extremely small - you can take plenty of pictures also

Qlayer2 wrote in post #17884464
The rental is just for fun- I'll spend less on renting the lens for a week than my wife will on her hair and makeup. I know I won't need it for what I'm shooting. We'll also be in Chicago for 5 days, so I'll have plenty of time to play with a new toy besides the wedding.

Maybe I titled the thread wrong- should have been what would lens would you like to play with for a few days renting that you don't typically carry as part of your kit. While I may use what I rent on the wedding day, it wouldn't be necessary.

That would have been better. Your description of the wedding sounds almost as of you had appointed yourself assistant photographer.

pigpile34 wrote in post #17884461
Do what you want. Rent a toy, have fun at the wedding, take pictures and enjoy yourself. A professional photog doing a wedding should be able to deal with guests that 'gasp' brought a camera. Sorry, I don't see any warning signs. All I see from the OP is a good guy willing to help out and take some pictures.

Do you do weddings? Did the pro ask for help or grudgingly agree to it. Not wanting to be a killjoy or dump in the OP as his heart is in the right place but nobody starts put thinking they will be a distraction but it happens.

Qlayer2 wrote in post #17884464
We'll also be in Chicago for 5 days, so I'll have plenty of time to play with a new toy besides the wedding.

Missed this post before I wrote my post.

I looked over my Chicago trip pictures where I brought my 24-70F2.8 II.

Most of the pictures were at 24mm while walking around and then zoomed into 50-60mm when taking people environmental portraits.

For a walk around town like Chicago, a prime would be a mistake - you want wide - and F2.8, while not necessary, is very helpful when you get into darker areas.

I see the list of lenses you posted and your widest is 28mm on your 28-70. Given you are a Nikon user, leave all you lenses home and rent the new 24-70 F2.8 VR - that is all you need.

The other thing you might consider is renting a higher pixel density 810 and leave your 12 megapixel d700 at home - this with a 24-70 would allow you to heavily crop for added zoom - you would have wider at 24 vs your 28 and 70 cropped on a 810 would effectively give you 200mm from you zoom.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17884546
Do you do weddings? Did the pro ask for help or grudgingly agree to it. Not wanting to be a killjoy or dump in the OP as his heart is in the right place but nobody starts put thinking they will be a distraction but it happens.

I have attended at, and worked at, literally hundreds of weddings. At each occurrence there has been at least one guest with his camera (most weddings there are at least half a dozen people with cameras). It simply is part of being a professional as this is one of the things that happens 100% of the time. You either learn to deal with it or just get riled up about it, or I guess voice displeasure on a message board.