Question: What ONE lens for weddings

Scott_Quier · October 9, 2007

In another thread, I was asked the following. I figured that it was better to move the discussion from the People forum to someplace where it might have better reception and where others could chime in with their more expert opinion.

Hey Scott,

One more set of questions, if you don't mind. I know you have a number of lenses in your bag of tricks, but which are the work-horses of your day when shooting weddings? I am going to make a purchase in the next week or two, and I was wondering, if you had to choose only one or two lenses for your entire coverage, which ones would you bring to the event?

Thanks,

-Howard

Hmm. Having to shoot a wedding next month I will second his questions. I've been doing a ton of research in my spare time to narrow my choices down but I'm not coming up with anything and would love to hear recommendations from someone who does it pro.

I shoot with the 20D and 30D (I have two bodies).

If I were limited on to only one lens that lens would have to be the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS. No question on this one. I shoot, probably, 90% of my photos with that lens.

It has a good, solid (but not "L" class) build.
The optics are, IMHO, "L" class.
The IS is about as good as it gets.
The aperture is a constant f/2.8.
Focus is fast and accurate.

However, it's not perfect. It's not weather sealed and, because it extends when zooming, it does tend to draw some dust into the barrel. I have some small dust specks just behind the objective element. I'm guessing that I will have to send it to Cannon to get it cleaned.

If I were allowed a second, it would be the EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS. This is good for the distance shots, some portraits (though it does tend to be a little long for most groups), and for what I call "sniper shots".

Anyone else care to add quality to this thread?

sirsloop · October 9, 2007

I'd be using a 24-70/2.8L but that 17-55IS isnt a bad choice either....

Scott_Quier · October 9, 2007

I find that I shoot a lot at the wide end of my 17-55. There are times when I would like a little longer reach. For those instances, the perfect lens would be the EF 17-70 f/2.8L IS

To bad there isn't one!

pathfinder · October 9, 2007

For shooting weddings professionally, don't you need a second body???? As backup at least? I would be nervous if I absolutely was dependent on only one body, but that may be just me.

For APS sensored cameras like the new 40D - A 17-40 L on one, and a Sigma 50-150 f2.8 would work pretty nice. I have always felt the 70-200 zooms worked well on full frame bodies, but are just too long for indoors work, that is why I suggested considering the SIgma 50-150 f2.8

The Canon 17-40 L is a great lens - but it is not f2.8, so for very dim work, it might not be as good as a 24-70 f2.8 L

Most Full frame shooters will chose the 24-70 f2.8 L and the 70-200 f2.8 IS L I suspect. A fast 85mm is a great lens to use also.

sirsloop · October 9, 2007

If you are shooting weddings there's a real good chance you'll have two bodies

cwphotos · October 9, 2007

My lens of choice at weddings is my 17-40 L and my long lens is a 70-200 f/2.8IS

They both work very well. I plan to sell the 17-40 soon to afford the 16-35 mk2. I want that 2.8 fstop

ziggy53 · October 9, 2007

With the Canon 1D MKII body, 1.3x crop, I tend to use the Canon EF 28-80mm, f2.8-f4L, which would now be the Canon Canon EF 24-70mm, f/2.8L.

When I have the luxury of a shooting assistant, they get a Canon XT/350D with a Sigma 18-50mm, f/2.8 EX DC. The Sigma does tend to miss focus a bit more than the Canon "L" lenses I use, but it's still quite good.

A local pro, who no longer does weddings, loves her Canon 5D with a Canon EF 24-105mm, f/4L for event work. She gets very nice results with that combination.

Another local pro, who also uses a 1D MKII, relies on the Canon EF 28-135mm, f/3.5-5.6 IS USM to do pretty much everything at the wedding and reception. (I am not a big fan of this lens because it lacks contrast and that "snap" that most "L" lenses have.) He is the highest paid and most successful photographer in the area, so it's hard to knock his technique.

schmoo · October 9, 2007

Thanks for all the great suggestions Scott, everybody! I have been doing search after search but my head was truly spinning, and I was afraid to post my own thread in here because I figured someone had asked it already and I just wasn't finding it.

I think I had been resigned to just bringing my own existing gear and (in the words of Tim Gunn) "making it work."

But I have a decent idea of what to put on both camera bodies, now. Something fast and adapatable, and something long. Hmmm.

z_28 · October 9, 2007

For few years I used at weddings just one set:
24-70/2.8L
and
70-200/2.8L

later I added 16/2.8 and 50/1.8

Actual set is different and contain:
16-35/2.8L
and
85/1.2L II

+ 50/1.8 in a bag

Future set will be different again

sirsloop · October 9, 2007

The guys that shot my wedding recently were using sigma 24-70/2.8's on 30D's...

esc2476 · October 9, 2007

I am in the process of hiring a wedding photographer for my wedding, which will be in Nashville. I always want to ask what they shoot with but I am too chicken.

sirsloop · October 9, 2007

Definitly ask them... you'll find out really quick if they know what the hell they are talking about or not.

ziggy53 · October 9, 2007

esc2476 wrote:

I am in the process of hiring a wedding photographer for my wedding, which will be in Nashville. I always want to ask what they shoot with but I am too chicken.

You have every right to ask (for):

Experience
Equipment questions
References
Sample images
Technique and Style of photography
Pricing policies
Image Ownership

If you don't ask these things up front, you may get an unwelcome surprise afterwards. It is your money and your decision who to hire. Choose wisely.

esc2476 · October 9, 2007

Valid points guys-thanks.

I have spent a lot of time online looking at their portfolios.

Asking a few other questions can't hurt.

Scott_Quier · October 9, 2007

ziggy53 wrote:

You have every right to ask (for):

Experience
Equipment questions
References
Sample images
Technique and Style of photography
Pricing policies
Image Ownership

If you don't ask these things up front, you may get an unwelcome surprise afterwards. It is your money and your decision who to hire. Choose wisely.

As a wedding photographer, I look for these kinds of questions. It gives me a good idea whether or not the potential client is really interested in the photos and if my "style" (if I have one) will meet their expectations. If the client is limp on these sorts of details, it's a pretty good clue that there is trouble looming on the horizon.

Another way to look at it is this - would you not ask similar types of questions when you are looking to make any sort of significant purchase? You need to know, up-front, what it is you are buying.

jdryan3 · October 11, 2007

pathfinder wrote:

Most Full frame shooters will chose the 24-70 f2.8 L and the 70-200 f2.8 IS L I suspect. A fast 85mm is a great lens to use also.

I'm not a professional wedding photographer, but I have a 5D and those are the 2 lenses I take everywhere. plus my 1.4x since it is so small. Depending upon what I am shooting I may take a wide angle 19-35, fast plastic 50 or 100.

Art Scott · October 11, 2007

shot for years using a Vivatar 70-210 f2.8-4.....my siggy 70-210 f2.8 is still my main lens...my 24-70 f2.8 only seems to come out for the wide shots......guess I just trained myself to be secure with just one lens, but almost always had a 2nd body in the bag (35mm)................

Nikolai · October 11, 2007

You said it yourself
17-55/2.8 IS and, since you really not supposed to shoot a wedding with one body only, 70-200/2.8 IS.
You can do as Shay does and switch them, but I really prefer to have two bodies so I don't have to change lenses...:-)
I mean, 2d body is not that much heavier.. Why limit yourself?

ChatKat · October 11, 2007

5d for the 24-70
5D and the 24-70 & 70-200 2.8 are the ideal set up. Wide is WIDE and 2.8 is wide open. The 16-35 is also a good option and on my wishlist.

Nikolai · October 11, 2007

ChatKat wrote:

5D and the 24-70 & 70-200 2.8 are the ideal set up. Wide is WIDE and 2.8 is wide open. The 16-35 is also a good option and on my wishlist.

for the FF body 24-70 is close to APC 17-55, and 16-35 is nearly identical to APC 10-22.

dbutchar · October 13, 2007

What about the 5D with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens. Would you ever use this one.

Question: What *ONE* lens for weddings

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Question: What ONE lens for weddings