Im getting super stressed out because my sisters wedding is coming up in about three weeks and my old kit lens just died on me. I have a Nikon D5600 and honestly I feel like Im flying blind here. My budget is pretty tight, like 200 bucks max, maybe a tiny bit more if its really worth it, but I just cant justify spending a fortune right now since I just bought a new laptop.
I have been doing way too much googling and now Im just more confused than when I started. Everyone keeps talking about the 35mm f/1.8 DX lens and saying its the holy grail for DX cameras because its sharp and cheap, which sounds perfect. But then I read a bunch of threads where people say its way too tight for indoor group shots or receptions. Then I looked at the 50mm f/1.8 G, but the crop factor on my D5600 makes that feel like a portrait lens only and I need something more versatile for the dance floor and stuff. Does that make sense? My logic was that a prime would be better quality for the money than a cheap zoom, but now Im worried about being stuck in a corner with a prime lens while everyone is moving around.
I live in a super small apartment in Chicago so I dont have room to back up if I need a wider angle, which is making me lean toward something a bit wider, but the zooms in my price range seem to have really bad reviews about build quality. Is the 35mm actually wide enough for a wedding or am I gonna regret not having a zoom? I keep going back and forth between just buying the 35mm and hoping for the best or trying to find a used 18-55mm kit lens again, but that feels like a downgrade. Seriously, what would you guys do if you were in my spot?
Regarding what #1 said, I would be careful with just a prime lens. Indoor weddings are tricky. You might want to consider adding a used Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G for versatility.
Look, shooting a wedding with only one prime is risky if you're not used to it. In my experience, you should prioritize reliability over fancy glass right now. If you want a cheap, versatile backup that works, just get a used Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR.
- It is cheap and covers all focal lengths.
- The VR helps with dim reception lighting. Don't stress, just keep it simple so you dont miss the shots.
Honestly, grab the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G right now and dont look back! I shot my cousins wedding with that exact setup on a D5500 and the low-light performance is night and day compared to those junky plastic kit zooms. You are totally right about the crop factor, but that 35mm becomes basically a 50mm equivalent on your D5600, which is just a super natural focal length for documentary-style shooting. When people are dancing, you dont want to be fiddling with a slow zoom anyway. You want that fast f/1.8 aperture so you can keep your shutter speed up and actually freeze the motion without cranking your ISO into noisy garbage territory. Here is the move: use your feet to zoom. If a group shot feels tight, just step back a few extra paces. For the really cramped dance floor stuff, you can always stitch a quick panorama in post if you really need the extra width. Seriously, the sharpness you get from the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G at this price point is just ridiculous. Dont waste money on another 18-55mm lens when you could have pro-level clarity. Just keep the lens wide open or maybe stop it down to f/2.8 if you need a little more depth of field for groups. Youll crush it, just get that prime and start practicing before the big day!
