If you could only have ONE lens for an entire wedding what would it be?

[bakerbranded]

I figured this would be interesting.
For all wedding photographers:
If you could only have one lens for the entire wedding, which would it be.
Also tell us if you would be using a 1.6, 1.3 or FF Camera with it.

Thanks,
Scott

HAPPY NEW YEAR

[picturecrazy]

1.6 crop: 17-55 all the way. No doubt. No question. No hesitation.

1.3 and full frame... that's a hard one. I've had some horrible luck with the 24-70L... I'm on my 6th copy. 24-105 is reliable, but it's slower. I'd take one of the above but really, neither are a slam dunk. Which is why I use the 40D/17-55 for most normal range zoom shooting and skip 1.3 and FF completely.

[ImagesByInku]

50 1.2L full frame.

[nuffi]

85 f/1.2L without any hesiation

[bakerbranded]

Sorry I realized I posted this in the photo sharing section.
If mods dont mind then I'm fine, if they do it was meant to be in The Talk Wedding Section.

[picturecrazy]

85 f/1.2L without any hesiation

wow that sure would limit the variety of shots, angles, and perspectives. The 50 I could MAYBE understand, but the 85? I dunno.

[airfrogusmc]

If I still did weddings I could, if pressed, shoot an entire wedding with a 35mm lens on a FF. In fact I did a wedding earlier this year and shot 80% with a 35.

One of the finest wedding photographers I ever knew had two cameras 2 M4 Leicas. One had a 35mm lens on one and the other had a 50 and he had another 35 in his bag.

I shot higher end weddings for almost 20 years with Hasselblads and besides the tighter portraits (180mm) I shot mostly with a 50 and an 80mm lens.

So I would say only lens? 35L...

[Stan43]

85 f/1.2L without any hesiation
+1 on the 85 1.2LII. It's the best.

[rodddy]

On my 40d, 24-70 2.8L gets most of the job done!

[airfrogusmc]

+1 on the 85 1.2LII. It's the best.

Great lens no doubt but how would you do groups?

[FamilyJules]

Great lens no doubt but how would you do groups?

That's what I was thinking..... My group shots are ALWAYS done with the 17-55

Which would be my choice for the topic.... I totally agree with Lloyd... 17-55 .... no doubt! No hesitation ;)

[rodddy]

Picturecrazy, what sort of problems did you have with the 24-70. I've had this lens for about 6months now and would like to know what to watch out for. So far it seems flawless.

[pickle1]

On my 5D MKII - 24-105 but I sure do like my 85 1.2 for portraiture!

[airfrogusmc]

You could do a great job with two on a FF

The 35L & the 85L....;)

[elysium]

wow that sure would limit the variety of shots, angles, and perspectives. The 50 I could MAYBE understand, but the 85? I dunno.
I would agree on the 85 1.2L on a full framer. Its just such a workable distance IMO but it depends on what type of shots you would want.

[kenwood33]

17-55 on a 1.6x

[form]

I had issues with my 24-70L and I'm not completely satisfied with it for the price. It went back to Canon twice to fix a softness issue.

[BestVisuals]

I've recently gotten out of weddings, but when I was doing them I could just about use the 17-85mm USM all day. I did use the 70-200mm for back-of-church shots, but the 17-85mm was my workhorse.

If I was still doing weddings/events, the 5D MkII with the 24-105 would be ideal.

[Aleksandras Babicius]

50/1.4 on a 1.6x; 85/1.4 on FF

[DennisW1]

1.3 Crop, I'd have to say 24-70. My copy has been tack-sharp, sorry to hear others had issues with this lens.
Part of me also wants to say either 17-40 or 16-35, indecision is a terrible thing.

[skh]

I did an entire day's shoot almost exclusively with a 24-70 I hired. This covered indoor and outdoor shooting - Civil Wedding; group shots and Reception. Definately the best pictures my 40D has ever produced! Vivid colours... tack sharp.

[SuzyView]

Since I don't have a 85 1.2, it's got to be the 5D with 24-70, as that is what I use most of the time. It's not nearly as lovely as the 85 1.8, but still so useful.

[SuzyView]

I had to move this thread to Talk because there is no photo to share. So, if you were confused, that's why.

[hard12find]

1.6 crop 24-70 f2.8 sigma...tack sharp throughout, quick in low light

[randplaty]

hmmm probably would have to go with a 17-55 on our 40D. If we're shooting with the 5D, it'd be a 50mm 1.4 ... pretty tough though.

We could easily shoot an entire portrait or engagement session with the 24L on the 5D.

[bakerbranded]

I had to move this thread to Talk because there is no photo to share. So, if you were confused, that's why.

Thanks Suzy, that is where I originally intended it to go.

[tim]

17-55 F2.8 IS. There's no way I could should an entire wedding with a telephoto lens like the 85mm. For example getting a photo of everyone during the ceremony would be impossible with an 85mm lens for 99% of my weddings. Sometimes I need my 12mm lens for parts of the day, especially when the reception rooms are a bit small for the number of people, which seems to be getting more common.

[say_cheese]

On my mk3 the 24-70 covers >90% of all photos for a wedding (thank God for lens microadjustment).
If I used a 1.6 it would likely be the 17-55 f2.8 (based on hearsay, as I have not actualy owned one). I would also say that f stop trumps IS.

[jjmucker]

17-55. so versatile

[Oteck]

17-55mm on the cropper
85L on the FF (some day i'll get a 5D)

[BestVisuals]

Sounds good to me! I don't own the 85L but everything I've read says it's a great performer. The 17-55, for its range, appears to better than the 17-85 in terms of speed and CA. I used to have the 17-85MM and had to have the extra reach.
17-55mm on the cropper
85L on the FF (some day i'll get a 5D)

[smorter]

If I could only have ONE lens for an entire wedding, I would choose to pass the job onto someone with more appropriate equipment.

[jjmucker]

If I could only have ONE lens for an entire wedding, I would choose to pass the job onto someone with more appropriate equipment.


Obviously
So we'll rephrase it then. If all but one lens failed during a wedding day, which lens would you like to have for the rest of the day :lol:

[Croasdail]

17-55. so versatile

I second, third or whatever is appropriate on this one..... A lens made for situations like this. If I were doing a bridal portrait, then I would look at the 85. But just one to start with, 17-55 f2.8 is a great little lens.

[Mrsjperry]

17-55 or the 24-70..OH THE PRESSURE!!!

[Markitos]

24-70 or 50 f/1.4 on FF... Neither are perfect, but they cover enough of the bases.

[PICMASTER]

I would use my 50mm f1.2 on my 5dmk2, with the 21mp i can crop down if I'm too far back as the quality is still there.
cheers
mick

[samnz]

17-55 on 1.6 crop
24-105 - FF

[drstat]

24-70 2.8 on my cropper.

[timbop]

I love my 70-200 more, but for the versatility the 24-70 for sure. 70mm is just long enough for portraits on a 1dm2 (or 5d), and obviously 24 is wide enough to get almost any group shot.

[g-money]

I just got my 17-55IS about couple months ago and shot my first wedding of 09 with it this past Friday. It came off my camera for about 5 mins during the ceremony as I got a few from the back of the church with the 70-200.

Greg

[bnlearle]

I basically DO shoot with just one lens. Probably 85% with the 50L (on FF, for the record). Nearly every photo on my blog and site is with that lens...

Bobby

[darktiger]

17-55 on 1.6 crop
24-105 - FF

Agreed. Most photographers have flash.

The 35L would be the only other lens I might shoot a whole wedding with, just because I can always crop....

[scorpiojo]

5D 24-70 all day

[collierportraits]

On a FF,

24-105 IS, no question, no hesitation.

[spxxxx]

one lens 24-105 on FF ...... but I shoot most of my stuff with longer

[yuriyo923]

1.6 crop: 17-55 all the way. No doubt. No question. No hesitation.



+1 for 17-55 IS on 1.6 crop!

[zagiace]

+1 24-105
on 5D

[device01]

1.6 crop: 17-55 all the way. No doubt. No question. No hesitation.



I agree - i got the 40D and used the 17-55 2.8 IS and didnt even changed lenses. I borrowed the 17-55 btw. If i knew how good this lense i would have bought this instead of my Canon 24-70. Dont get me wrong my 24-70 is sharp and it's fantastic - i bought it because i'm hoping to buy the Canon 5D mk2 this year.

40D + 17-55 w/580 is a killer combination

[rathke]

Definitely the 17-55mm f2.8 IS on my 40D.

[gheesom]

got to be 17 - 55 on my 40d....I wouldn't be without it.

[jonwhite]

1.6 Crop = 17-55 f2.8 IS is great, until you have a couple die majorly in the middle of a wedding, after which you start to consider other lenses, but nothing fits a crop better or makes images as nice .... just shoot with your fingers crossed :)

Full Frame = 24-70 f2.8 L great lens with solid build quality, slightly wider compared to the 17-55 on a crop body as well which is nice.

[shooter mcgavin]

I was a second shooter for a wedding and used a Sigma 24-60 and Canon 70-200. I would have killed for a Siggy 30 and Canon 85.

[SuzyView]

I was a second shooter for a wedding and used a Sigma 24-60 and Canon 70-200. I would have killed for a Siggy 30 and Canon 85.

Yes, the 85 1.2 is really amazing. The 85 1.8 ain't bad either. I have that one, but would not have that on all day, too long.

[Bartek]

Another vote for the 50 f1.2L on a full frame camera. It's right about in the middle of being wide enough and portraity (that's not a real word..) enough :)