Choosing a lens, part 3

Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 DC OS

I think I have also made up my mind that I will not buy the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8.  It is an excellent lens, just not for me, not for a DX camera body.  The 70-200mm on the DX body would be like a 105-300mm on a FX body.  If I were using it in a wedding shoot, I would be missing a fairly important range.

I already have a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 VC.  It is a great lens.  The vibration compensation mechanism is not as good as Nikon's but then again, the Nikkor 17-55mm DX does not have any VR.  I ran some handheld tests today and like I said before, VR is a big deal.

What about the upper focal range?  I'm thinking the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 DC OS would fill this gap really well.  I have seen only great reviews of this lens and by the way, this is the "DC" version. This lens is sharp throughout the range, even wide open.  I would use it in combination with the Tamron 17-50mm for wedding shoots.  Together, they are similar to the 24-70mm and 70-200mm combination on FX bodies.

Now, where am I going to find this lens?  I'm very hesitant to pay the retail price of about $1200.  The purpose of this lens for me would really be for the occasional weddings and conferences.  I see using it for mostly indoor shoots, and even then, I would use my all purpose 18-200mm for parties.  I would not use the Sigma 50-150mm or the Tamron 17-50mm for hiking, camping, traveling, and nature photography either.  For that, I use my Nikkor 18-200mm and Sigma 10-20mm lenses.  In these types of photography, there is less of a need for the f/2.8 aperture.

So, I'm looking for a second hand version from someone upgrading to an FX body.  I don't see it anywhere yet.

20 Tips for Wedding Photographers

I was searching on Google for some tips on wedding photography.  I found something that was very helpful (www.digital-photography-school.com).  There is nothing complicated about this list but it is a good reminder.  I just want to summarize it here, for myself really.

1. Create a shot list--who, what groups, what poses to shoot
2. Designate a family member to help coordinate family photo shoots
3. Survey the location before the wedding
4. Prepare for the day--not just photo gears but also the venue and program
5. Manage expectations--show previous work before the wedding
6. Turn off the sound on the camera--ok, I am not sure how one would go about doing this but I agree
7. Shoot small details
8. Bring two cameras with different lens focal lengths
9. Two photographers--much easier than one
10. "Be bold but not obtrusive"
11. Use diffused or bounced light
12. Shoot in RAW
13. Display photos during reception
14. Avoid distracting backgrounds
15. Do not discard "mistake" shots
16. Use different perspectives and angles
17. Use fill flash outdoors
18. Use continuous shooting mode
19. Prepare for the unexpected
20. Have fun!