A good wedding lens?

[timeless-photo]

We are looking for a good lens to help with low light ceremony shots, but the
70-200mm 2.8L IS is out of reach for now. Would the 75-300mm 4.0-5.6 IS give enough low-light flexibility with the longer shutter speeds afforded by the IS? Or should we go with the 85mm 1.8 prime?

My wife likes the idea of the idea of image stabilization, but is it worth it if the exposure is shot to hell?

[Maureen Souza]

No. Go with the prime. I just shot a wedding last night and used the 50/1.4 and Tamron 28-75/2.8. The 50/1.4 is my favorite lens......

[robertwgross]

It seems like the same question comes up time and time again. In general, for the wedding portraits, you will want focal lengths from about 50mm to 90mm or so. For large family group shots, you may have to go as wide as 20mm. For the wedding proper, you will be shooting from a tripod, so Image Stabilization is irrelevant. Later, at a reception, you may have to move around a lot, so then you drop the tripod and Image Stabilization can work for you. For example, for the First Dance. I might use 100mm to 200mm. I just make sure that my flash bracket will fit the tripod and will unmount in a hurry.

If I had to shoot an entire wedding day with just one lens, it would be my Canon 28-135 I.S.

Take lots of batteries for your flash unit.

---Bob Gross---

[timeless-photo]

If I had to shoot an entire wedding day with just one lens, it would be my Canon 28-135 I.S.

Take lots of batteries for your flash unit.

---Bob Gross---

Wow! Thanks for your quick-draw responses!

The 28-135 IS is a foregone conclusion already. We were more concerned with the shots that will be taken from the balcony or back row.

As for the batteries... I think we need to start buying stock in Duracell or get smart and get a Quantum.

[neil_r]

For weddings I use 50mm 1.4 85mm 1.5 and a 17-40 L. I usually need the 17-40 for the group shots or the reception work as space is often limited and I need the width.

N

[Az2Africa]

I shot a wedding for a friend last month(my first) and used a 50mm 1.8 and a 28-135 IS on my 20D with Storoboframe quick-flip and a 580EX. I was quite happy with the results. I'm doing another in 2 weeks (how do we get snagged into these things?) and it will be inside a church with no flash allowed during the ceremony, so based on what I have read here I will take the 70-200 2.8L IS and see how it works. Gotta keep reminding myself to turn off IS when tripod mounted.Also taking a hacked Drebel for backup, but hope I don't need it.

[cmM]

85mm f/1.8 <- my favorite lens for candids in the situations you describe

[kufel]

Az2 - no need to turn IS off, it senses no movement and turns itself off unless the mirror slaps....

[lostdoggy]

Timeless,
What camera body are you planning to use.
Multi factor will come into play
I would go with a faster lens then with more tele in low light situation
As far as batteries, can you say rechargables (2000+mAH)

[tim]

Gotta keep reminding myself to turn off IS when tripod mounted.Also taking a hacked Drebel for backup, but hope I don't need it.

You don't need to turn the IS of the 70-200 off, it's clever enough to detect it's tripod mounted itself and shuts the IS system down. Older IS systems (eg the 75-300 or 28-135) need to be turned off on a tripod.

[Streetshooter]

I do alot of weddings and events and use the following.....
20d...10-22, 24-85, 75-300 IS...I hardly ever use a tripod and get great images.....the 24-85 is my main lens...I am very critical about the frame and whats in it...with this lens, I can frame without having to move around too much.....

[Mike H]

I used the 85/1.8 in a relatively low light wedding situation last October and got tremendous results. Given the low price of the lens and the fact that you can also use it for portraits, stage, sports, and so many other things that come along, there is hardly a better bang-for-your-buck Canon lens out there.

Don't forget to bring your monopod or tripod! For the ceremony that I just mentioned, the monopod helped me to get sharp shots at shutter speeds that I can't hand hold. The combination of today's lower noise at high ISOs, a fast lens like the 85/1.8, and a monopod can produce great shots in situations where people once had to use flash (a far less desirable thing).

Mike H

[Mike H]

I do alot of weddings and events ... the 24-85 is my main lens...

That's a really underrated lens, mainly because of the excellent 24-70/2.8L. For those without the budget--or desire to carry the extra weight of the L lens--the little 24-85 is quite good. I use mine for event photography with the 1D Mark II, and I'm very happy with it.

Mike H

[SkipD]

One thing that I notice in the responses to this sort of thread is a recommendation of a focal length for this or that, but frequently there is no mention of the camera body (i.e. crop factor) used. For example, an 85mm lens is an extremely popular portrait lens on a full-frame 35mm camera, but it is a little long for some work on a 20D (1.6 crop factor) where it is like having a 136mm lens on a full-frame 35mm camera.

It would be a great idea if we all would always include the crop factor when recommending lenses so that folks can adapt the recommendations to their system. This is especially important for the folks new to photography. Many of them may not be able to properly interpret the equipment list in a signature block if that's the only way to get the crop factor information.

[robertwgross]

Skip, the vast majority of the photographers in this forum use a 1.6-factor camera body, so that is probably assumed unless stated otherwise. A minority use 1.3- or 1- bodies, but they probably know what they are doing anyway.

---Bob Gross---

[DocFrankenstein]

Can you use the flash in the church?

[SkipD]

While I understand your comment, Bob, there are "newbies" who may not know a 1DS from a 300D and an unqualified lens recommendation may not be well understood by them. My thoughts are just to make things clear to all the folks who read this forum. In other words, I'm suggesting that we all consider the uninformed readers in our posts.

[KevC]

I'd say a Sigma 24-70 or 24-60 or Tamron 28-75 and a fast prime for portraits (85/1.8).

Of course, that's a lot of money, so maybe the nifty fifty instead. But there's not much reach...

[dsze]

If you're considering the 75-300 4/5.6, then why not the 70-200 f/4? Personally, I find very few times when I can use my 70-200 f/4 inside. f/4 just isn't fast enough, without a tripod. If you're thinking "affordable" I love my 50/1.8 inside at the reception. Like others have mentioned, I'd love to have the 85 1.8, but it just isn't in the budget yet. Even better would be the 85 1.2, which may never be in the budget! :)

-daniel

[Andy_T]

That's a really underrated lens, mainly because of the excellent 24-70/2.8L. For those without the budget--or desire to carry the extra weight of the L lens--the little 24-85 is quite good.

If you can live with 4 mm more on the wide end, the Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR might be a better compromise.

Close in weight and price to the 24-85, but close in image quality to the 24-70/2.8 from f/4.0 onwards.

That said, I'd go with the 85/1.8.

Best regards,
Andy

[tim]

I've never used a focal length over 105mm.

I bet when you were a kid you walked 20 miles in snow to school, with two pieces of wood for shoes :p ;)

[Citizensmith]

I use a 17-40 for group shots (with flash if indoors), an 85 during the ceremony, and a 70-200 for mooching around when I'm not doing set piece stuff.

[eosster]

I would have to say for me, it would be Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L.

[Ddesigner]

I use a 17-40 for group shots (with flash if indoors), an 85 during the ceremony, and a 70-200 for mooching around when I'm not doing set piece stuff.

Hello Dear
I am new to this website , I saw what you wrote about these two lenses .. I am writing to you because I am very confused and tired and try to find an answer to my question , I have these two lenses and i have a rebel T1i and I am going to photograph a wedding.

First of all do you think the 17-40 will work fine with my Camera?
Second you said " I use a 17-40 for group shots (with flash if indoors), an 85 during the ceremony " so during the Cermony you mean inside the church and when they wear rings and other things ? I am asking this because this lense is kind of portrait lens and how far you can stand to take a pic for couple ?
So, the whole Cermony inside the church you use only this lens ? and then when you take a picture for a large group you use the 17-40 ?
Please advise me coz I cannot find an answer to all my questions somewhere on google :(
Thanks for your help
Ddesigner

[watt100]

Hello Dear
I am new to this website , I saw what you wrote about these two lenses .. I am writing to you because I am very confused and tired and try to find an answer to my question , I have these two lenses and i have a rebel T1i and I am going to photograph a wedding.

First of all do you think the 17-40 will work fine with my Camera?
Second you said " I use a 17-40 for group shots (with flash if indoors), an 85 during the ceremony " so during the Cermony you mean inside the church and when they wear rings and other things ? I am asking this because this lense is kind of portrait lens and how far you can stand to take a pic for couple ?
So, the whole Cermony inside the church you use only this lens ? and then when you take a picture for a large group you use the 17-40 ?
Please advise me coz I cannot find an answer to all my questions somewhere on google :(
Thanks for your help
Ddesigner


the OP is likely long gone ......... this thread is over five years old !

[tim]

Hello Dear
I am new to this website , I saw what you wrote about these two lenses .. I am writing to you because I am very confused and tired and try to find an answer to my question , I have these two lenses and i have a rebel T1i and I am going to photograph a wedding.

First of all do you think the 17-40 will work fine with my Camera?
Second you said " I use a 17-40 for group shots (with flash if indoors), an 85 during the ceremony " so during the Cermony you mean inside the church and when they wear rings and other things ? I am asking this because this lense is kind of portrait lens and how far you can stand to take a pic for couple ?
So, the whole Cermony inside the church you use only this lens ? and then when you take a picture for a large group you use the 17-40 ?
Please advise me coz I cannot find an answer to all my questions somewhere on google :(
Thanks for your help
Ddesigner

Have a read of the wedding FAQ (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255604), I suggest the 17-55 F2.8 IS.