Best Nikon for Wedding Photography?
I have been doing photography for about 5 years now and currently own a Nikon d90. I sort of "accidentally" grew a business that it making me quite a bit of money, but now I'm getting asked to do many weddings. I have done about 15 just this year so far (paid at $150 per hour). I'm wanting to upgrade all of my equipment, so I want to ask what dslr would you recommend for wedding photography? I would like to get it in the upcoming month before any of my other weddings and am thinking of the Nikon d3. Price is not a problem… So throw out whatever you would recommend!
Thanks.
Added (1). I have a 55-200mm VR & sb600 flash as well! Some other lenses, but nothing fancy.
There's NOTHING wrong with using your D90
What you need are some lenses and other accessories
24-70 mm f/2.8
50 mm f/1.4
SB-700 electronic flash
Flash bracket
Flash diffuser.
That should get you started.
Later add a Nikon D7000 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 and you will be pretty much set.
After you see what it costs for those tools, you will be better able to set fees that will keep you in business and provide you with the budget to expand your camera system
A full frame camera body. (The D700 or D3) Two fast zooms, the 17-55 f/2.8 if you're using a crop sensor body, or the 24-70 f/2.8 for a full frame, and the 70-200 f/2.8 Another flash. If you don't have a 50mm I'd get one. Good portrait lens on a crop sensor. For a full frame, you'd want something a little longer. Good luck and congratulations on your growing business.
The minimum gear you should have to shoot a wedding is as follows
- one main DSLR (7D, 5DMkII, MkII, 1D-X… 2500$ - 8000$ )
- one backup DSLR (same as above or a bit lower like a T3i or 60D anywhere from 1400$ - 8000$)
- one 24-70 f2.8 L (1600$)
- one 70-200 f2.8 L (2600$)
- on 50mm f1.4 (350$)
- couple of junk lenses as backups (70-300, 18-55, 24-105 f4, 50mm f1.8… )
- two 580EXII shoe mount flashes (1200$ total)
- 3 batteries per camera (90$ per battery so around 600$ for 6 batteries)
- tons of small memory cards (4 and 8 gig cards)
I know I quoted Canon stuff but you can get the equivalent in Nikon.
I f money is no object then a D3 or D700 for your main and keep your D90 as your secondary body / backup.
I'd agree with the first answer. Get yourself a great lens. The D800 is a fantastic next camera.
You said you wanted to upgrade all your equipment and price is not an option. So get a pair of D3s or D4 bodies, a 24 1.4, a 35 1.4, a 50 1.4, an 85 1.4, and a 135 f2.
If that's not realistic, get a pair of used d700 bodies and outfit one with a 24-70 f/2.8 and outfit the other with a 70-200 f/2.8.
if that's not realistic, get one used d700 body and keep your d90 as a backup. Get a 24-70 f.2.8 and a 70-200 f2.8.
the d3 is a great camera but it's heavy, and for wedding photography the image quality isn't any better than the d700. The only real advantage is the higher frame rate and dual card slots, and at least for wedding photography, the only REAL real advantage is the dual card slots.reduncany=good.