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.
1649132
Depends on what you want to shoot - close-ups of the bride or groom or group shots of people. If it's close-ups, this would work but not so much for group shots. For those, you need a wider angle lens - maybe an 18-55mm for example.
75252
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question, I ended up buying the Sigma lens and I agree with you when you say that is a great value for the price.So far I'm very happy with this lens, I have used it in both daylight and night time (with external flash) and the results have been excellent with my D5000, the OS is great and focusing is very fast indeed.Again, thank's !George
599074
Do almost everything hand held. No IS is not a problem as long as your above 180 range but ideally you want to be in good light above 500 IMO. Depending on your camera low light can be decent with ISO cranked up. Overall great lens but not ideal for low light.
1379524
I'm using it on my D7100 and it's a great lens. It is heavy but it's solid ~ I've taken it on a few trips now and I love it.
367475
Not only will it work but it will be the best investment you will make. It's an incredible lens. I use it almost exclusively. Go for it...
986588
I think it would be a good choice. I use it on a D-700 (full frame), and it's a nice sharp lens with minimal perspective distortion.
1119150
I have this lens mounted on my D5100 and it works fine. I'm an amateur photographer (for what it's worth) but this lens is the sharpest I've used! Nice lens!
1746182
I don't have experience with those other lenses but I can tell you it is an amazing lens and worth every penny. I use it to shoot weddings and also do a lot of artistic shooting with it of flowers and stuff like that. The background blur is incredible.
143452
It is a really nice lens. Though if you want portrait or medium telephoto, the 135 f/2 or the 70-200 f/2.8 are both fantastic as well, and maybe better suited.
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.
1649133
If you're doing an indoor wedding, something like an 18-200 or 28-135 might serve you better. This lens would be good for outdoor weddings probably, especially if you're going for candid, un-posed shots.
536020
I sold it to someone that has a D5000. Frankly I did not like that lens at all that's why I sold it. I used it on my D300 and D5100 as you are moving along all of a sudden every 7-10 shots it will be a blank photo. I am a wedding photographer you cannot have that. I don't recommend that lens at all. The best lens I've ever owned was the Nikkor 18-200... the 18-300 is in my wish list. You can purchase the Nikon 18-200 for 650.00 these days. That is cheap I purchased mine at 1500.00. I don't regret it I don't ever interchange lenses since I purchased it.
2124216
It sure is. If you're planning on getting this lens buy it! I've been shooting with it on my D5300 for the last month and is phenomenal
1813090
I may be the wrong person to answer since I don't do weddings nor much in the way of people images, but it would seem to me that this lens might be a bit slow for use with people unless you are using flash. Otherwise, it is a fine lens and has the expect Nikon quality.
725612
Hello, this is a great lens. I shoot weddings with it but outdoors or in a big church since it is 70mm. If you need group shots or wider shots you'll need a backup wide lens. But the quality of this glass is excellent. I have never used the canon version but I researched it and they both are close with the cannon having a slight edge.I decided to go with the sigma due to the price difference.
606484
I'm so glad there's something posted here - this is one of the lenses I'm considering getting my husband for Christmas. He has the Sigma 50-200mm lens right now and in my experience with it, it hasn't been too bad. Should he be happy with the 18-200?