For weddings, what lens make you say "wow" on cropped bodies?

yep, I agree with the 70-200 is a great lens because of the ability to isolate your subject quickly without moving your feet (of course unless you're too close) and it comes in handy when you don't want to cause too much attention and get candid shots. I do own a 17-55 f2.8 IS and it is probably my workhorse for weddings. It just doesn't give me the "wow" factor. And if zoomed out, it almost looks like snapshots when I am not focusing close. But still a very good all around lens.

I rented the 35L once— I felt I was a bit limited for wedding shots. Very nice lens though. And it did give me that wow factor in a couple of shots. I'm just trying too see if there is another good lens for a cropped body

I'd find lots of uses if the lens was good and "wow" enough, even a 200mm. I use the long end of my 70-200 f/2.8 all the time.

Any lens can make me say wow...

To be perfectly honest.

None of them make me go WOW anymore. What make me go WOW is the different ways photogs light the subjects and how well they blend it with the available ambient. Thats what separates everyone anyway. So the last things that made me go WOW was the use of video lights on some of the guys shots that was posted in this forum, or the OCF stuff we saw with 580's and strobes on this forum or Lloyds post on ND filter use....thats the stuff that make me go WOW anymore.

It also made me go out and spend money to get the stuff to duplicate the looks.

umphotography wrote in post #13861454
Those expensive primes are insanely awesome but for the life of me, do not understand why people buy them, specially with the 135L being as good as it is. Maybe the concert guys or shooters that need reach in that type of lighting, but that sure is a select few isn't it.....I tend to think its about bragging rights for photographers more than anything else

I definitely disagree about the 135L. I found it very affordable considering what it can do. To each their own and I won't go on and on about it but I can assure you those of us that love it dont do so for bragging rights.

If I 2nd shot the 200 F2 would be awesome on FF. For my taste and style I still wouldn't want it on a crop.

snakeman55 wrote in post #13872960
I definitely disagree about the 135L. I found it very affordable considering what it can do. To each their own and I won't go on and on about it but I can assure you those of us that love it dont do so for bragging rights.

If I 2nd shot the 200 F2 would be awesome on FF. For my taste and style I still wouldn't want it on a crop.

Adam

I think you misread that. I love my 135L a ton.

Answering the OP's post... the 50L can deliver some really really nice photos on a crop body. My 50L + my 40D is one of my favourite combos. Exactly the same as an 85 on FF? No. But as mentioned, depth of field is only ONE of MANY tools in your arsenal that you can use to make a striking image.

The link you posted... well... TBH that doesn't impress me at all. They're pretty much ALL employ the exact same strategy... natural light with shallow DOF. Shooting all day using only ONE technique doesn't impress me whatsoever. In fact I quickly got bored looking at them because they ALL have the same style and look to them.

Take it to the next level. Use multiple techniques to make some serious wow photos. Thin DOF is WAAAAYYYYYY overplayed and overrated.

I have a 200L and a 85L and a 70-200 f/2.8L II IS, three of Canon's best

But to be honest, none of them made me go WOW as much as upgrading from crop to FF did.

umphotography wrote in post #13875677
Adam

I think you misread that. I love my 135L a ton.

Oh - were you saying why do people buy the more expensive exotic long primes when they could get a 135L?

It isn't the lens thast makes me say "WOW!". There are several folks on these boards that make me say wow all the time. I'm convinced that it isn't the lens, it is the technique, composition, and lighting. I have browsed the websites of Tim, Nicksan, Piecfield, and a few others. Any of them could be using a kit lens straight out of the box and produce wow.

I have the 100mm L Macro 2.8 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Even on my 40D it absolutely gives me tack sharp photos. Can get super close to the wedding rings etc, but works as a great portrait lens too. After using is for most of my photos you naturally get a feel for "zooming with your feet" and your body kind of knows where you will need to be. That being said, if you can't really move around in the ceremony I wouldn't use it without another camera with a wider lens. I'm planning on getting the 70-200 2.8 eventually and I plan to keep the 100 even though its covered in that range.