Ditching my telephoto. What should the next move be?

[gmacmt]

I am attempting to sell my 80-200 2.8L right now. I just dont like shooting it at weddings. The images feel too impersonal and I dont find myself using the lens very much at all. So when/if it sells, I will be in the market for new gear. The only lens I will have left is my 35L. (and a nifty fifty, but does that really count?)

My question is, what lens should I get next? I currently have one 5d and I wont be shooting weddings on my own until I get a solid gear list going (two bodies +more lenses). I love primes, and all the best shots taken at the weddings were shot with my 35. In fact, I feel that I could shoot 35mm for 75% of the day. The only place where I feel I need more length is the ceremony.

So what should I do for my next lens/es?

I have about $1100 to spend. I love fast primes. I prefer not to use zooms, but if there is one out there that makes sense I will consider it.

I have been thinking about two different options...

-canon 135L
-canon 85mm 1.8


-sigma 50mm 1.4
-canon 85mm 1.8
-put the rest of the money in my backup body fund.

Thanks for the input!

[bnlearle]

I LOVE my 135L :) What body you using?

Bobby

[gmacmt]

A 5d Mark 1. When do you find yourself using the 135?

[bnlearle]

All day long. Like crazy during the ceremony. A ton for the reception (speeches/dances). It makes for beautiful full body shots during the couple session, as well :)

Bobby

[gmacmt]

Cool, thanks for the beta. Do you think that the 35L(which is wide enough for me), 50 1.4 and the 135L would make a pretty well rounded kit?

Time to start saving!

[tim]

I was never happy with the 50 F1.4, and it's pretty close to 35mm. I like to have a wide lens, sometimes you need it if you're stuck in a small room on a wet day, or trying to do a big group portrait without much space. I get down to 12mm sometimes on a crop body, that's about 19mm on full frame.

For my style I find the 70-200 invaluable, it means you can get good photos during speeches without having to move around or get too close. I use it for portraits too. 135mm on FF isn't really all that long.

[gmacmt]

Thanks for the input tim. I agree with you on the group shots in a tight space. I have run into that a little bit. I am hoping to get a 17-40 down the road as a backup but for now I can manage at 35.

50mm is one of my favorite focal lengths. It wide enough to get more than a head shot, but it is still pretty tight. The 1.8 almost never comes out though, because the IQ is less than good. Are you using the 50 on a crop? For me, the 35 and the 50 are a similar focal length, but the pictures they make are vastly different. 35 takes a wide shooting style, and 50 is tight.

I just never found myself using or enjoying the 200 zoom. I found it ideal for photojournalism, but in weddings for some reason it didnt translate. I guess it is because I have more access at a wedding, and prefer to get personal with the subjects. Obviously this isnt always possible, but I dont think I will need to reach much over 135. And if I have to, a 1.4 TC will make it a 200mm.

[tim]

I had my 50 F1.4 calibrated twice, it was just never sharp until F2.2, and focuses better than 1.8 but still not perfectly. The Sigma 30 F1.4 (crop body only) is sharp wide open and good at focusing. The 50 1.4 just never impressed me.

[PhotoMatte]

I have a 135 that I use with my 5D and I find I use it primarily during the reception, for speeches and such. But I use my 70-200 much more often. However, the 135 at f2 does yield some wonderful close-up images of the cake, hands with rings, etc.

[jgrindal]

35L, 85L, 135L

The holy trinity of L's. There are very few shots that you can't get with those 3 at your side. Generally 35 for some wider or up close stuff, 85 for most of your portraits and people shots, 135 for during ceremony when you need a little length, or to do some wicked detail shots.

[jonwhite]

35L, 85L, 135L

The holy trinity of L's. There are very few shots that you can't get with those 3 at your side. Generally 35 for some wider or up close stuff, 85 for most of your portraits and people shots, 135 for during ceremony when you need a little length, or to do some wicked detail shots.

I wouldn't call 35 wide, even on a FF body.

I personally don't find 24mm that wide on a FF body particularly at weddings when you quite often want to capture a wide scene and cant step back any further like in venues or churches.

[jgrindal]

I wouldn't call 35 wide, even on a FF body.

I personally don't find 24mm that wide on a FF body particularly at weddings when you quite often want to capture a wide scene and cant step back any further like in venues or churches.

I suppose I should have clarified, wide isn't really the right term - 35 is good for family formals and groups.