which lens?

[OceanRider]

Hey all,

Just curious which lens you would get more use out of at a wedding. A prime 50mm 1.8 or an 17-85mm IS 4.5-5

The 50 sure is sharp but the zoom flexibility is nice too. Of course I will take both but just wondering what you guys think. I also have a 75-300 4.5-5 but not sure how much use this would get.

Any thoughts?

[tim]

You couldn't pay me to use a 50mm F1.8 at a wedding, the 17-85 would be my pick of those two. It's a bit slow is all. I'd rather use a fast 28/30mm prime.

[jamiewexler]

My 50 f1.8's better than Tim's, but the 17-85 I only owned for a month and after one wedding I traded it for a 17-40L. Images were "consumerish" (muddy, lacking contrast), very similar to the kit lens that came with my original 300D...and it's slow.

Still, the 50 is an odd FL for an entire wedding. I'd probably switch between them throughout the day.

[sapearl]

I'll prefer the 24 - 105mm on my 5D. It's been to seven weddings since March and has done a superb job. Of course that is the only lens I have at this time for my dSLR, so I don't have much of a choice. :lol:

[agosling]

I would not want shoot a wedding with a lens a slow as 4.5. The 50 isn't so bad but it tends to get pretty limited use. If I were you I would save up and get a 24-70L that is without doubt my number one wedding lens, I have on occasion shoot entire weddings just using that lens.

[OceanRider]

Thanks guys, good advice as usual.

Cheers

J