is this a good lens for a very first try at wedding photography? I have a Nikon D5000, if that help's you.
360247
For a first try at a wedding? Possibly. I, myself, would prefer to use a large aperture zoom (like a 17-55mm f2.8 or 24-70mm f2.8) for the ceremony and many other activities of the wedding and reception. This is due to not having to move as much compared to a fixed lens like the 50mm. For portraits and the like the 50mm f1.4 is absolutely brilliant.
360248
Jade this is a wonderful lens. Perfect for close ups and portrait shots. It's a tack sharp lens. Just remember when shooting up close at 1.4 have their face(s) parallel to you or you may get some slight blurring. If you have them tilted focus on the eye closest to you. My friend is a professional wedding photographer and loves this lens. I shoot with the Sigma 85mm 1.4 and love it. Good luck with your wedding.
360249
If you are talking about the formal shots of the couple and parents, etc. then yes. I hope you also have a decent normal zoom lens for the walk around and reception as well. But the Sigma will yield clean, accurate, sharp images for both full frame and APS-C. Your D5000 has a crop sensor so the Sigma will perform as a long focal length portrait style lens. If the light is good (garden settings and the like) you'll be able to take advantage of the aperture range you have available to capture desired in-focus (depth of field) elements of your photographs. Slower lenses wouldn't offer that flexible range like a f/1.4 lens can. Watch your DOF and be sure of your shutter speed since you don't have IS (if light levels are low). I'd say "Go for it!".
360250
you can get some exceptional candid close up shots with this lens the blur out the back well! I say try it. Not for the whole wedding though, you might want another lens.
1002098
I'm currently using this lens with Nikon D5200, just get the nikon mount and you're sorted. Very sharp results if you do your part :)
824636
This is a very nice lens and will work very well for all of your shooting. Just understand, it will feel a bit heavy hanging around your neck. Though the quality of your photos will be worth it.
294920
This is one of the best Lens for nikon, and it works well indoor. But if you are a beginner, I suggest you to get more practice with a 50mm f1.4 first...
1125278
Definitely not! This, by far, has been my best lens purchase. I bought this for my D3100, & it works wonders. I've used it for a wedding & several shoots. It's never let me down. I use it witH my d7100 & it does just as well. Great first glass purchase.
1801933
This is a great lens, particularly at this price. It is tack sharp even at 500mm. You can compensate for the "smaller" aperture by either slower shutter speed (in which case a tripod may be required), or higher ISO. For tripod use I suggest a gimbal head that is designed to accept the built in arca swiss mounting plate on the lens collar. ISO up to 3200 should be OK on modern (last 5-7 years) DSLRs unless you're making really big prints.
501356
I don't think this is a good question. For a number of reasons. First of all, no wedding is the same. Second of all, weddings are one of the more important events that a photographer can shoot (important to the couple getting married, maybe not so much important to the general public). So you don't want to get caught with "the best wedding lens." You want to be prepared with the best arsenal of camera lenses. Third, you're putting a lot of faith in one individual piece of equipment when more than likely it will fail at the precise moment you don't want it to do so. So, here are some lenses you might want to consider: Canon 24-70 f/2.8 USM L Canon 70-200 f/2.8 USM IS (I or II) L Canon 16-35 /2.8 USM L Canon 85 /1.2 USM L Canon 50 f/1.2 or 1.4 USM L or non-L (respectively) These all have different functions and they ALL come in hand in different circumstances. I mean, some might even say that the Canon 300 f/2.8 IS USM L is their most needed lens for a wedding. It all depends on the client's needs, the characteristics of the wedding, and your style. Don't pigeon hole yourself.
1938142
Very! But the shots taken by it are worth the effort. As the other commenters said, you should slow down and set it up properly...... this is not your regular point and shoot to go type of lens. And it's extremely bulbous and heavy with a lot of knobs...... good luck!
1784427
The 24-70 is great for family portraits on the wider end. For individual portraits, and this may sound counter-intuitive, a 70-200 is better for the bokeh and getting in tight on your subject, but that's if you're shooting full frame. If you're using it on a DX body like the D5000, I think the range is ideal. As for the lens, it is an incredibly high image quality optic that can potentially stay with you forever as you upgrade from camera to camera. Good lenses are an investment. Mediocre lenses get replaced as your skills improve, pretty much like dslr bodies. I bought this to replace a Nikon 28-105, which I've happily retired. So, in short, buy this great lens if you plan to stay with Nikon bodies.
858187
For the money it's a decent lens. For a little more money you can get a Tamron 17-50 2.8, which I think is a much better lens. Also look at the nikon 35mm 1.8 dx lens.
1247238
Yes, I would definitely recommend this lens. I have all the high end lens and shoot wedding photography. But this is still one of my favorite lens. So sharp and clean and great boca.
362404
Thank you for your interest in our bundle deal! In regards to your inquiry, this lens is compatible in manual focus only with the D5000. It connects to the camera using the t-mount adapter for Nikon included in the bundle. Please let us know if we maybe of further assistance.
867743
Neal, that lens is not real that optically good for that body (although it's fully compatible). I own a D300 and it deserves better lenses...like a fixed f2.8 zoom (e.g. from Sigma or Tamron), not very expensive.This kit lens was very good on a D50, but just so so on the D300!
1908366
Should be no problem on the D5000. I'm using it on the D7100. Just remember the enlargement factor of 1.4 (1.5?) turns it into a 119mm lens.
1125761
It's an amazing wedding lens but not necessarily the best since that can depend on many factors. If you're looking for a long focal length like this then it's hard to beat the price and weight. But if you're willing to lug around some more heft the 70-200 2.8 with IS is a great wedding lens and versatile. I used my 135 exclusively at a wedding a few weekends ago and the photos came out tremendously but the long focal length meant I did miss some shots
1119155
Dear Lawrence, I have this lens... it is perfect to some of my needs. My camera is a Nikon D5100. I checked in this forum and it seems to be compatible with D5000 either. I don't know about D200. http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum;=312&topic;_id=37I hope it can be useful for you. Regards, Jansen Sena
1239597
Mindy, so far the pictures I've taken have been good, crisp and clear pictures. I'm sure it would depend a lot on various factors especially light and distance. I have this lens on my Nikon 5000 all the time. It has replaced my 18-55 kit lens. I brought it with me walking around in a recent vacation to Maine and when we went sailing. It is a little heavier than the kit 18-55 lens but not as heavy as the 55-200 lens. It is so much more versatile. It has a wide angle and zoom. I'm no pro. Just an amateur who takes pictures of family and sights when on vacation. I love this lens. I hope this helps. Good luck. Mindy, so far the pictures I've taken have been good, crisp and clear pictures. I'm sure it would depend a lot on various factors especially light and distance. I have this lens on my Nikon 5000 all the time. It has replaced my 18-55 kit lens. I brought it with me walking around in a recent vacation to Maine and when we went sailing. It is a little heavier than the kit 18-55 lens but not as heavy as the 55-200 lens. It is so much more versatile. It has a wide angle and zoom. I'm no pro. Just an amateur who takes pictures of family and sights when on vacation. I love this lens. I hope this... » Read More Mindy, so far the pictures I've taken have been good, crisp and clear pictures. I'm sure it would depend a lot on various factors especially light and distance. I have this lens on my Nikon 5000 all the time. It has replaced my 18-55 kit lens. I brought it with me walking around in a recent vacation to Maine and when we went sailing. It is a little heavier than the kit 18-55 lens but not as heavy as the 55-200 lens. It is so much more versatile. It has a wide angle and zoom. I'm no pro. Just an amateur who takes pictures of family and sights when on vacation. I love this lens. I hope this helps. Good luck. « Show Less