F4 for weddings?

Hi,

the regular answer to the question "What lenses for wedding" Is usual 24-70 and 70-200 2.8.

But I would like to know if there are wedding pros that use f4 lenses like the 70-200 f4 IS on a Mark II?

The Canon 70-200 IS 4.0 is perfectly fine for weddings and in many ways preferable due to its weight compared to the 2.8, which becomes quite heavy during an all day wedding shoot. For the church ceremony however, the 2.8 may be preferred due to extreme dark conditions.

you want 2.8 or faster for object isolation, not for the one stop of light, people talk like it's a world of difference. in dark situations it really doesn't. aren't you using flash most of the time anyway?

For the church would you say: Preferred or necessary?

Up to now I was able to avoid any weddings but when deciding about further lenses I want to do the right thing and keep every possibility open :

What I have now is 17-40 24-105 70-200/4IS, 50 1.8 and 100 2.8.
The f4 trio is the perfect landscape combination due to its quality/weight ratio.

But I'm getting more into people photography.

My thoughts:
Keep everything except the 50 1.8 (cause of it's AF Noise) and add a 50 1.4 and a 85 1.8.
Or sell the 70-200 and buy something like a 70-200 2.8 IS Mark I used or Sigma 70-200 OS HSM new.

reprazent wrote in post #16059404
you want 2.8 or faster for object isolation, not for the one stop of light, people talk like it's a world of difference.

This....

Sometime it isn't necessarily down to available light. Is fast prime only needed in low light situation? Sure that's one of the application, but being able to separate your subject from the background is equally important imho.

Before I got a 200L I used a 70-200 f/4L IS and hated it - it was usable but always resulted in high ISO

if at all possible get faster lenses

70-200 f/4L IS is not usable at receptions without flash

What would be the best option if I cannot afford the 70-200 2.8L IS?

Richie1978 wrote in post #16059635
What would be the best option if I cannot afford the 70-200 2.8L IS?

I haven't shot any weddings so take this with a huge grain of salt but I think the answer to that question will depend on the amount of flash you intend to use at weddings. If you are using flash enough, f/4 would get you by. L glass holds it's value well and you may be able to use an f/4 as a savings lens until you can get the 2.8is II. 2.8 is only giving you one stop of light so that equates to half the iso, or twice the shutter speed, whichever you are needing the most. On a crop sensor camera, half the iso makes a huge difference! On a full frame that handles noise much better this may be less an issue.

I'd recommend finding somewhere indoor to shoot that may emulate a wedding, as far as lighting and people. Maybe a dinner hall at a vfw or something. Try out an f/4 with and without flash. If you haven't got one now maybe rent one.

Again, I've never shot a wedding so "large grain of salt".

Richie1978 wrote in post #16059635
What would be the best option if I cannot afford the 70-200 2.8L IS?

tamron 70-200/2.8 vc or non VC the non VC is very slow to AF. its on my wishlist, i dont need fast AF just a super sharp telephoto, which it clearly is.

or maybe go with a 135L

The new Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS is half the price of the canon. It seems to be getting decent reviews. As another option to the tamron above.

The problem with shooting f4 with flash at weddings is threefold. You lose a lot of ambient at reasonable ISOs, you go through batteries (assuming speedlights) much faster, and recycle time starts to suffer. For receptions, I'm always at 1.4-2.0 (ISO 800-3200) with off-camera flash.

chris_holtmeier wrote in post #16059731
The problem with shooting f4 with flash at weddings is threefold. You lose a lot of ambient at reasonable ISOs, you go through batteries (assuming speedlights) much faster, and recycle time starts to suffer. For receptions, I'm always at 1.4-2.0 (ISO 800-3200) with off-camera flash.

But this would also rule out the 2.8 lenses.
With my lens setup the question is: Trade the f4 for a f2.8 zoom or keep it and at eg a 85 1.8

Richie1978 wrote in post #16059749
But this would also rule out the 2.8 lenses.
With my lens setup the question is: Trade the f4 for a f2.8 zoom or keep it and at eg a 85 1.8

I couldn't imagine not having a fast prime for weddings, so that's my answer.

what type of wedding is this? low light, day light wedding?

i've seen some great wedding pictures taken with the 5DII + 24-105L

I used to have a 70-200 F4 IS and used it quite a bit for weddings
It was my favorite portrait lens, and would use it anytime a wedding was outdoors

but the 2.8 is so much of an upgrade in so many ways!