Wedding lenses?

[dwoods2160]

Hello everyone, Obviously i am a newbie, however I have a few friends that want me to shoot their weddings. I would like some advice on lens choices and any other advice you guys can give. I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

[WMS]

Wide to medium and as fast as you can get. Long lenses will prove less useful as you will not be that far away from your subjects.

What camera will you be using as this does affect lens recommendations.

WMS

[gregster]

The 24-70 is considered a staple for wedding photography. That in addition to the 70-200 2.8 IS.

In addition, some that seem popular and that you might want to consider - 15/2.8 fish, 35L, 85L.

[liza]

2 Digital bodies at minimum
17-55IS (or 16-35L on full frame or 1 series bodies)
70-200f/2.8IS
100mm macro lens
50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8
2 580EX flash units
10GB memory, minimum
Extra batteries for cameras and flash units

[dwoods2160]

Thanks alot for all the information. I really appreciate it and it helped me alot.

[dwoods2160]

I am shoot with a Canon Rebel XTi.

[tim]

Have a look at the wedding forum FAQ, linked from my sig. There are lots of "what lens" type questions in the wedding forum, you should stop by and have a read :) Liza gave you good advice.

[WMS]

I also would tend to agree with Lisa, although you could get buy with one 580 and one 430 flash. Note that all of the recommended lenses are considered fast and no one is suggesting long telephotos (I don't consider the 70-200 to be a long lens although at 200 mm it would start to be so)

WMS

[KevC]

For the XTi...

17-55IS
28/1.8
135/2
430EX

[timbop]

For the ceremony, the 70-200/2.8 and a wide lens. For the reception, a wide lens and a good flash. For maximum flexibility, go with zooms over primes - you won't need a super wide aperture anyway. f/2.8 or F/4 with a flash will allow you to catch groups completely in focus, and can help make up for AF error. A wide angle that starts at 17 would be the best bet on your camera. The 24-70 is a staple, but it is often used on a FF or 1.25 crop cam (1dm2 or the like).

[AngryCorgi]

If you would like to shoot the wedding from a different city...

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/59586426.jpg

...You can maybe borrow/rent liquidstone's setup! :shock:

[metalsaber]

^^

Hilarious.

[darktiger]

430EX
24-70 f/2.8 or 24-105 f/4
70-200L 2.8 IS

[tdaugharty]

24-70 with a steady hand or the 24-105 IS

I'm becoming more of a fan for the efs 17-55 2.8 IS ... Really nice lens for portrait/group work. One lil problem ... Does not work on the 5D ;)

24-105 really is all you need with the exception of balcany / rear of church shots. It's a 70-200 2.8 due to no flash normally.

[tdaugharty]

Trying to make up for some sizes issues elsewhere? ;)

If you would like to shoot the wedding from a different city...

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/59586426.jpg

...You can maybe borrow/rent liquidstone's setup! :shock:

[sixsixfour]

a fast, wide to medium zoom, a good prime lens, maybe a couple of flash units. worked for me (minus the two flash units).

[WMS]

"Sigmonster at 12,800" Why? and just how slow would that contraption be what something like 4-5 stops slower than f5.6?

WMS

[cbjetboy]

The 24-70 is considered a staple for wedding photography. That in addition to the 70-200 2.8 IS.

In addition, some that seem popular and that you might want to consider - 15/2.8 fish, 35L, 85L.

I second the 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 IS. I have them both and they are excellent.

[AngryCorgi]

"Sigmonster at 12,800" Why? and just how slow would that contraption be what something like 4-5 stops slower than f5.6?

WMS

Ummm... I believe it would be 16 stops slower (f/90). Do a search for the moon shots he took with this...and the Jupiter and Mars and Venus pictures. It's quite amazing how good the results were in an area with low light-polution.

[bangarang]

Just shot a wedding with a 17-55 IS. Did great except I felt I needed more reach. The 100MM F/2 wasn't enough reach either. I may just get a 70-200 F/4 IS...but I'm really praying Canon hears us crying out for a 24-70 2.8 IS...:lol:.

I agree with liza, 8GB of memory was barely not enough for me. 10GB would have been perfect.

I would recommend a WIDE lens as well. I couldn't get a group party shot with 17MM but the other photographer nailed a really nice one with the 15mm Canon.

[goatee]

The other thing not mentioned, is a Quantum battery pack (or 2!) for the flash(es). Recycle time is far faster than regular batteries, and has much higher capacity. Plus, it doesn't matter if you change flashes - all you need is a cable for the new flash (e.g. yesterday I was shooting with a Metz 54 MZ-4, then had to change to a 580EX, and it took all of 1 min to take off the Metz and cable, put on the 580, and plug in the new cable :).