K_Man wrote in message <637um7$i9i$1@neogeo.pacific.net.sg>...

>I have just upgraded from the Minolta MD system to the Nikon AF system. At
>the moment, I had only managed to buy myself an N90S w/MB10. I do not have
>any lenses or speedlights yet. But I have decided on an SB26 very soon. The
>problem now is my choice of lenses, which I have narrowed down to the
>following 2 combinations:
>
>#1:
>- Tokina AF28-70 f2.6-2.8 ATXPRO
>- Nikkor AF80-200 f2.8D
>#2:
>- Nikkor AF24mm f2.8D
>- Nikkor AF50mm f1.8
>- Nikkor AF85mm f1.8D
>- Nikkor AF180mm f2.8D
>
>I will be using my new system primarily for wedding functions. However, I
>will also occasionally be shooting sport events, personal family
>activities(indoor&outdoor) and my holiday trips. Sharpness is a very
>important factor to me and if compromised, I am willing to forgo the
>convenience(for zooms).
>
>I will appreciate it if you can advise me on these. Although cost is not a
>serious issue, I am not a millionaire.


For wedding work, the main consideration is whether or not you will shoot
primarily with available light or with flash. If flash, zooms work fine, but if with
available light, you need speed and high quality wide-aperture performance.
That means primes (and the 80-200mm f2.8 - good wide open), and the best
primes at that... That narrows the list of lenses that are good at relatively wide
stops to: Nikkor 16mm f3.5 fisheye (from f3.5), 20mm f2.8 (from f5.6), 24mm
f2.8 or 2 (from f5.6), 28mm f2.8 AIS (only! - from f2.8), good samples of the
28mm f2 (from f2.8), 35mm f1.4 (from f1.4), 35mm f2 AIS (from f2), and any
of the 50mm and longer Nikkor primes (from f2). You will see some MF-only
lenses in this list... (and I prefer MF to AF for best focus accuracy at wide stops,
and I do not like the N90's viewfinder for this purpose...). My set of lenses for
an indoor wedding and reception: 16/20, 35, 85, 80-200 (though I am considering
switching from the big, heavy, and awkward AF zoom to using two bodies
simultaneously, with the 85 on one and the 180 on the other for the ceremony
photos when limited to the balcony). BTW, if you do weddings commercially, you
MUST have two bodies and two flashes (preferably the same models, for easy
interchangeability) - camera or flash failure should not be a reason for failure
to get photos... (I prefer a pair of 8008's and SB-24's - excellent MF ability,
easy to handle, amazing flash capabilities [including the ability to "shade
off" and/or direct the flash light {the later flashes may also have this capability,
but I have not checked this out - but the SB-24 has a very soft edge-of-coverage
allowing some wonderful things like being able to evenly light a deep room from
front to back, "dodge" a nearby person on the side, or even shoot the flash to
distant people without overlighting people at the edges of the frame} - in addition
to the usual selectable TTL ratios for TTL fill control]).
Hope This Helps
David Ruether - http://www.fcinet.com/ruether