I’m new to event photography and will be covering an event that may move between indoors and outdoors throughout the day, so I need to handle mixed and low light. My cameras are a Nikon D300s and a Nikon D70. My current lenses are: - Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 DX - Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 - Sigma 30mm f/1.4 The 30mm is good in low light for general scenes, but it’s not ideal for tighter people shots. The 70-300mm is too slow for dim conditions. What would be a good lens to rent or buy for a first event job? Also, what other gear is genuinely useful for event work—such as an external flash, spare batteries, or a battery grip?

What gear should I rent or bring for my first event shoot with Nikon DX bodies?

Asked 7/29/2010

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I’m new to event photography and will be covering an event that may move between indoors and outdoors throughout the day, so I need to handle mixed and low light.

My cameras are a Nikon D300s and a Nikon D70. My current lenses are:

Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 DX
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6
Sigma 30mm f/1.4

The 30mm is good in low light for general scenes, but it’s not ideal for tighter people shots. The 70-300mm is too slow for dim conditions. What would be a good lens to rent or buy for a first event job? Also, what other gear is genuinely useful for event work—such as an external flash, spare batteries, or a battery grip?

nikon-dx lenses low-light event-photography flash

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

16y ago

2 Answers

I would think at least one external flash that you will be able to bounce off of walls etc is not only a "nice to have" , but probably a requirement for event photography.

Originally by user198. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user198

16y ago

AI Answer

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For a first event, the most useful addition is an external flash you can bounce off walls/ceilings. Indoors, that’s close to essential for reliable people shots and groups.

A practical setup is:

D300s + rented 70-200mm f/2.8 (or similar stabilized telephoto) for candid shots, portraits, and low-light work
D70 + 18-70mm plus flash for wider shots, groups, and general coverage

If budget allows, a rented 24-70mm or 17-55mm would also be a strong event lens option.

Using two bodies is helpful because you can switch focal lengths instantly and avoid missing moments, but it’s also heavier and more tiring over a long day. If this is your first event, keep your setup manageable and only carry what you can work with comfortably.

Bring spare batteries; they’re more important than a battery grip unless you specifically need the grip’s handling benefits. If you have secure nearby storage, you can also rotate gear instead of carrying everything all day.

In short: prioritize a bounce-capable flash, fast glass, and enough batteries over extra accessories.

What gear should I rent or bring for my first event shoot with Nikon DX bodies?

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