And I need a lens.

I currently have 12-24mm Sigma f/5.6-f/5.6 for wide angle shots.

I have Tamron 18-250mm which I used while on holidays (good for close ups though!)

And now I want to get a portait lens.

Now, my options are:

Nikkor 50mm f/1.4g
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
The new Nikkon 35mm f/1.8

It will be my first wedding for family friend - they weren't going to have a photographer, so I opted to do it as I've gotten a shiteload better, and need to start taking it to the next level now. I know my camera isn't the best, but it was my first DSLR, and don't have the funds to change the body before the wedding in 6 weeks time.

Your thoughts?!

Seriously, you should be able to take just as good shots with a D40 that you will with a D3, the only difference is the challenges. You'll need to use flash more as the high ISO ability is noisey in comparison. The Nikon 50mm 1.4 is (so i've heard) much like the Canon variant, cheap (if $400 is cheap to you) but good, fast glass, the difference between the 50 and 30/35 lenses will be the wide-angle as 50 on a crop becomes 80 and 30/35 becomes 50, so I think you may have to think more about what you want.

I have a 50 1.8 Canon and 50 isn't that hard to work with on a 1.6 crop.. Perhaps read a lot of reviews on the net about these lenses and then try them for your self! After all, you're the one who's going to have to use it!

If the lens is for pure couple portrait work you may want the longer lens for image compression (making everything look more tightly grouped) but if you want a nice, sharp, wider view try the 30's (seeing as you have the 12-24 you may want something that is wide AND sharp seeing as the 12-24 has a horrid trail of unhappy buyers/users).

G'luck!

Does anyone have a f/1.8 (even the d model which I'll have to manual focus) just so I can have a play with it? I would only want to borrow it for a couple of days.

Any lens can be used as a portrait lens, but i would strongly stray away from the 12-24 as the bride might not like you very much after she sees the photos LOL

I'd be doing my best to grab an 85mm 1.4 and a 35mm of some description. Definitely the best two if you can only have two lenses.

Flash is a MUST also. SB600 minimum.

Keep your apertures where you will get the necessary amount of subject in the DOF range.

Think twice, shoot once is my motto

an 85 would be huge on a 1.5/6 crop, just remember that (which why i said to try them at a store or something, then you'll know the reach and how wide etc..). Try hiring perhaps?

You know the rule of thumb with portraits though Nick.. Longer focal length is always a slimming focal length. It might limit him to an extent but for the shots where you use it they will be superb