Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

I've been asked to shoot a wedding reception but I'm not sure I have the necessary lens to do a good job catching movement without blur, no matter what shutter speed/ISO I set at. My main bodies are D300S and D60 (backup), and I have the following Nikon lenses in my kit: 18-55, 18-200, 70-300, and 105mm. I do not own an attachable flash but my D300's ISO range should be sufficient indoors, but I'm concerned about noise and especially blurred action shots. Would a Nikon 50mm F1.4G AF-S lens handle the job?

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

If you are going to be shooting indoors, I would opt for a flash attachment. There is nothing wrong with your lenses, as the flash will freeze the action and keep your ISO down. The 18-55 would be nice for wide angle indoors and one of my favorite's is the 105mm lens. Bring them all, but you should be fine. Take some test shots and have fun!
The flash will solve most all your problems. Good luck.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

On a full frame, a 24-70 f/2.8 lens would be best for general use in a relatively crowded environment. Your 18-55 is the equivalent focal length using a cropped sensor although the max aperture is not as wide. The external flash and practice using it a better suggestion than another lens.

balexander101 Loc: Occoquan VA

No question about it....invest in a flash!

djtravels Loc: Georgia boy now

If you're not used to a flash, or uncomfortable using one in a situation like a wedding reception, you might be safer using the 50mm f/1.4 Might mean more moving around, but that's part of the job. jmho

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

The easy way out would be to tell whoever asked you, that you do not have the necessary equipment to cover the job.
Show him/her that you know more about photograpy than they do.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Take a little time to test your camera and lenses at varying ISO, aperture and shutter speed settings, and you will have the exact answer to every question you have asked.

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

Think, I'd rake the flash and the 18-200. Then don't spend much time worrying about the lens you have but get the shot's you want.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I shot my son's wedding reception with ancient 55/1.2 AI Nikkor on a new DF that I had only practiced with for a month -- no flash. Worked very well. Had a few blurred shots, but even some of those were interesting. My biggest learning was to check the white balance that you have selected. It was easy enough to fix the color casts, but somewhat time consuming, since there were several kinds of lights used in the venue. Used a 24-86 to shoot the wedding and was very pleased with the results. Worked around the hired pros and stayed out of their way. Interesting to note, both families and selected guests had my photos nearly two months prior to the pro shots!

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Agree.

Haydon

Agree with you CHG

FF

90%= 24-70 2.8
10%= 70-200 2.8

Ideally, you need to bodies with both these lenses mounted if you're working the event yourself.

dsp Loc: Denver, Colorado

Your lenses are fine/adequate. You'll definitely want/need a flash unit, plus a diffusion system to accompany it. May I presume to recommend a "system" that I have found to work very well -- a Yongnuo 568EX flash. plus a Lumiquest Wedding/Event Kit. Links below:

http://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-Professional-Speedlight-YN-568EX-Nikon/dp/B009CQKGSO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441203914&sr=8-1&keywords=yongnuo+yn568ex+nikon

http://www.amazon.com/LumiQuest-Wedding-Event-Kit-LQ-134/dp/B0085JFLQ6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1441203362&sr=8-8&keywords=lumiquest

jcboy3

You don't have the lenses for an indoor available light shoot. Here's my recommendation:

Get a good powerful TTL flash. Nikon is expensive but good, SB-700 or SB-800. Or the Nissin Di866 (or Di622), or Yongnuo 465, or Metz 50 AF-1.

Without much practice time, I suggest getting a Gary Fong Collapsible Lightsphere, watch some videos, and use it. Works okay indoors balancing direct and bounce.

Instead of the 50mm f/1.4 (expensive), get both the 35mm f/1.8 DX and 50mm f/1.8 G lenses. The 35mm will work for groups, the 50mm will work as a portrait lens. Both are fast enough for available light (if the lights are up).

Use the 18-200mm lens with the flash. The main reason I pick that lens is because, while it is a 3.5-5.6 lens like the 18-55, it doesn't hit 5.6 until well past the 55mm limit of the other lens, so it will be better for low light shooting. You should not need to go past 100mm with that lens.

Put the 18-200 plus flash on the D300s, use the D60 with 35/50mm primes. You won't need to change lenses often.

Finally, get a white balance target and set custom white balance on both cameras. White balance will be different with the flash on or off, so just use the flash with the D300s and shoot ambient with the D60. That way, you won't have to remember to change WB while in the middle of the shoot.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

You need a flash with the lenses you have. Buy/rent/borrow one, but get one.. Practice using before the reception. Indoors the 18-55 will do best.

jcboy3

The 18-200mm lens is f/4.8 at 55mm, while the 18-55 is f/5.6. That's a 1/2 stop difference.