Another lens question...

[Malaxos1]

I am still looking for a longer lens for weddings and other things, primarily weddings. As I mentioned in another thread, I want to get close to the B&G without being to intrusive. My 28-70mm is just not long enough for that. I would like to get a 70-200mm f2.8 lens, Sigmas HSM APO can be bought on Ebay for around $600. How about the 135mm f2.8 prime lens? I can get one of these for just over $200 used. Will the fixed lens thing be a problem? It will also be like 218mm when on my Digi Cam. Any thoughts?

[Cordell]

Not answering your question, but why spend $600 for one on ebay when B&H has it for around the same amount. Oh yeah, you can trust B&H too.

Now to your question: If you want a very good lens with instant flexablity go with the 70-200. Otherwise be prepared to move those feet back and forth if there is nothing stopping you from moving further away or closer to the action. I've never even used a prime, but I hear good to great things about the optics, but it is extremly difficult to dismiss the flexability of the zooms. Especially good ones. This is not to mention you will get even more zoom with the 70-200 when you least expect you need it.

[DaveG]

A zoom lens will certainly give you more flexibility than a prime. Since each and every church is an adventure then that's something to think about. I'm partial to Canon lenses for a lot of reasons but you will do what you want and what you can afford. Me, I picked the 70-200 f2.8 L (non IS). It should last the rest of my professional life and will be excellent the whole time that I own it.

I wonder what a brand X lens will be like in a few years and as far as that goes what a USED brand X lens is like right now! If that lens breaks down in the middle of a wedding it's not going to look inexpensive then is it?

For fixed focal length lenses you might want to think about the Canon 100 mm f2. It'll be extremely quick and will be priced right around what you want to pay. It'll also be a 160 mm lens on a 10D. At some point in the future, if Canon starts making full framed digital cameras at 10D prices this lens will change into an extremely useful portrait lens.

[Malaxos1]

The 135mm f2.8 prime is a Canon lens. Will the crop factor make this lens too big?

[DaveG]

The 135mm f2.8 prime is a Canon lens. Will the crop factor make this lens too big?

No I don't think that it'd make it too long but I was thinking more about the speed of the 100, which is a full stop faster than the 135 or the 70-200's. And that full stop could be important inside a church.

My point is that you will be using the available light in the church, and often there's not much of it. Still, it's much less distracting than flash, and often the only method the church will permit. There is also the problem of flash fall off which certainly doesn't enhance the image.

So you have framing to be concerend about and the zoom will help you win there, so to speak. The speed of the lens will also allow you that extra stop of shutterspeed to help stop the action, at least a little. I mean 1/15 of a second is still one stop better than 1/8. Obviously, at least to me, the camera must be supported (monopod) at these speeds. But even that one stop might help contain - I dare not say freeze - the motion of the subject.