Is F2.8 enough for wedding

[vinmunoz]

Guyz,
This will be my first ever wedding gig. The fastest lens that I have are as seen in my Sig... the Sigma 17-50 and my Canon 60mm macro.

Do you think it's enough for a church wedding without flash?

If not, i wanna give up my 60mm macro to fund the Canon 50mm F1.4... do you think it will be a good move?

Please help.

[Michael Grubb]

Since you mentioned you have the Canon 60 macro, I am assuming you are shooting on a Canon crop sensor camera. In that case the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS is a good choice for weddings. Other lenses I have used and like at weddings are the Canon 10-22 and Canon 70-200. I would recommend shooting the wedding with a hand held off-camera flash via a 3 foot synch cord using a diffuser or bounce card. Or better yet have an assistant holding a monopod with flash attached and use a remote triggering device like Pocket Wizards. Use flash indoors, use flash outdoors. Outdoors, try controlling (darkening) the ambient light and use flash fill for a nice punch or pop to the photos. Flash is your friend, just get it off camera, and diffuse or bounce it.

[claudiopiedrola]

it depends on the venue but for me it would be close to impossible with only that lens which i own two copies of it, i can't get the 50 1.2 cos i been getting the job done with the 50 1.4 you know great not only for weddings but for every nice portrait shots!

Get at least a nice wide angle prime like the 24 1.4 II L cos i'm sure that every darn cent i paid for it is well worth it! even with it you'll find yourself shooting at high iso like with the 5d mk II and a 580 ex ii and i tell you what that lens is unreal!

[vinmunoz]

Thanks guys. let me ask if i can use flash.

[Steensgaard]

I just shot my first wedding and the minister would only allow me to stay in the back of the church. I used my 70-200mm and sometimes 200mm wasn't long enough.

I have a 5d mk2 and I had to use ISO 3200 because it was a rainy day and that made the church very dark. Even so f2.8 was fast enough, so I guess it will be sufficient for most situations if you can go to ISO 3200.
I used my 85mm f1.8 a lot during the day, but not in the church because it didn't give me enough reach.

[rick_reno]

I'd want something with more reach than that 60mm for a wedding.

[Thomas Campbell]

Originally Posted by rick_reno

I'd want something with more reach than that 60mm for a wedding.

This. And I wouldn't use flash in a church. Too distracting and I think it is rude.

My main wedding lens is the 135 2.0.

[auroraskye]

Scope out your location, test the lens and if you need something that lets in more light, rent..

[albertaskater]

Do you have a second body? If only one body you will need a zoom lens. No way will you be able to shoot a wedding on a single fixed length, just cuz it's fast. There's just too much going on needing rapid adjustment. Test the venue if you can and rent or borrow suitable gear if you have to.

[PeaceFire]

I'm not familiar with the 60D at all so I can't speak for it's capabilities in low light, but with my 5DII I shot a wedding in a low-lit church at ISO 3200 with my 24-105 f/4 lens with absolutely no issues. I had my 70-200 with me but it wasn't a huge church and I was able to move around a bit so I didn't feel I needed the reach or the speed. I actually felt I needed the wide angle more the get those "big church" pictures. But, anyway, if properly exposed, you should be fine with f/2.8 with the ISO cranked up.

[Pixil Studio]

dont shoot weddings wide open unless you really know what you are doing. and with that camera dont shoot past iso 800 either. my advice get a good flash and more and better equipment.
i usually show up with 2 cameras 5 lenses and 3 flashes. do you have a back up plan?

[fstopnoob]

Just to throw this out there. when i was thinking of doing my first wedding, my sis told me to make sure I had insurance.. Just incase everything went tits up.. lol..

[2ndshooter]

I shoot with a 60D, and Pixil Studio is right... Past ISO 800 the pictures aren't that great, and I would never go past ISO 1600.

2.8 should be fine, unless you're in the darkest 10% of churches... So unless you've been in the church, you'd be taking a bit of a chance.

We don't use flash during the ceremony ever.

As others have said, you might need a longer lens... About 10% of churches ask us to stay in the balcony... In which case you'd be screwed... Especially in a very dark church. *edit* Do you still have the 100mm macro 2.8?? We use it (IS version) at almost every wedding! If you are stuck in the balcony, you can use it to get some shoots, but you would really need a 70-200 2.8 to get the tight shots. (Ring exchange, etc)

Bottom line is, you'll learn more about what you need by talking with the officient and seeing the church in person then you'll ever get from us.

[tim]

I shoot up to ISO6400 on F2.8 lenses for ceremonies, I rarely have a problem. My cameras are pretty good at high iso though.

[PeaceFire]

Yeah, the 60D as a prosumer camera probably isn't the best at high ISOs. However, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to go up to 1600 with my 40D. If properly exposed it doesn't really make that big of a difference.