so my sisters wedding is literally this saturday in brooklyn and i just bought a sony a7 camera because everyone said it was the best but the pictures im taking of my cat right now look kinda fuzzy? like they arent crisp at all and i think its because of the lens that came in the box. i was told i need a prime lens because they make things look sharper but i have no idea what that even means or which one to get. i went to the store and the guy was talking about 35mm and 50mm and 85mm and my head was spinning. i have about 900 dollars left in my budget and i really need the sharpest one possible so the wedding photos dont look like a mess. i dont have time to learn all the technical stuff i just need to know which one to buy today so i can practice before the ceremony starts on saturday morning.
im basically confused about:
- what brand is actually the best for sony
- which number makes the faces look sharp
- if i can get a good one for under 1000 bucks
sorry if this is a really stupid question i just really dont want to ruin her big day and i feel like i spent all this money for nothing if the pictures are gonna be blurry. does the brand matter? like do i have to buy a sony one or are others okay too? i just want the sharpest one for that e-mount thing the box says...
Just saw the other replies and i totally agree with the direction. Re: "Honestly, ive been shooting with the Sony system..." - sticking with the same brand as the camera really saved me when i was starting out. I remember being so stressed before my cousins graduation because my photos were coming out blurry too. It turns out i just needed a lens that could keep up with the autofocus. Since everyone is suggesting Sony, here are the two i use most:
- Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is great because you can fit more of the room in the shot without backing into a wall.
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is what i use for the pretty, blurry backgrounds but you have to stand pretty far back from people. The 35mm is probably the most versatile choice for a wedding in Brooklyn. I have been very happy with how fast it focuses. It just works well and takes the stress out of the day. Good luck on Saturday!
Honestly, ive been shooting with the Sony system for years and i am very satisfied with their native glass. For a wedding where you cant afford to miss focus, staying with Sony brand lenses is the safest move for a beginner. I highly recommend the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 because it is incredibly sharp and works well for those professional looking portraits.
- Focal length: The 85mm is the standard for faces. It compresses features in a way that is very flattering, while a 35mm might make things look a bit distorted if you are close. It helps you get that blurry background everyone loves.
- Reliability: Since its a native Sony lens, the autofocus will be fast and snappy. I have no complaints about the hit rate on my a7 series cameras even in dim light.
- Budget: This lens is usually around 600 bucks, so you stay well under that 900 dollar limit. If you think the 85mm is too zoomed in for the venue, look at the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*. It is legendary for its sharpness and is a bit wider. Most fuzzy photos happen because the kit lens doesnt let in enough light, which makes the camera struggle. A prime lens with a low f-stop like 1.8 lets you keep your shutter speed high to freeze motion. Stick to these and you should be happy with the photos on saturday... just make sure to practice focusing on the cat one more time today.
Building on the earlier suggestion, Sony is the way to go for weddings. In my experience, native glass gives the best autofocus.
- Buy Sony primes
- Stick to native glass You wont go wrong!
