Wedding photogs, are you attached to your 24-70?

It's no doubt the 24-70L appears on almost everyone's camera at one point. The versatile range, the f2.8 throughout, build, yada yada yada...but after seeing some prime shooters work it's hard NOT to want to sell this beast.

I've kept in on one of my camera through 90% of every wedding i do (70-200 v2 on the other, swapping in 17-35L, 100L, 135L to season to taste) but am thinking about selling it for a 24L, 35L, or Σ85 f1.4.

I'd love to hear some opinions on wedding photographers that have made the switch. Do you feel like you've lost some versatility? For the fast paced wedding i think it IS nice to be able to shoot one pose wide, then zoom in and take another shot, switch orientation, and you've given them 4 or 5 'shots' with one pose, in a matter of seconds.

please discuss. Thanks!!

Somewhat relevant thread.

https://photography-on-the.net …t=1170017&highl​ight=24-70

I'm zoom free these days - and the images I'm coming away with are better than ever for me personally

Thanks Adam,
Ironically enough I was talking to nick about this very predicament. Anyone ever shot a 35L on a 1d? Wondering if its as magical...

Or I could swap out the 135 for the sigma /85 f1.4 , then sell the 24-70 or the 35L or 50L, and with the 1.3x crop it would have me covered...

....then I always go back to, what if I was shooting an event, or party, where that specific range may be ideal...? Blaaaaa!

I don't even pack a 24-70 in the bag. The Canon 24-70L I is a POS.

I use my 24-70 for our photobooth. That's about it.

Use it regularly during rapidly changing scenarios when I'm not able to have 2 bodies on me. I personally still love mine, though I'll be honest in that I'm planning on moving in the all prime direction soon as it's financially viable. And the Sigma 35 F1.4 that's coming out soon? Oh baby.

Edit: Not sure how you can describe the 24-70 as a POS? That thing's sharp for a zoom.

Had it for a ton of weddings. Used for a handful. It became a weighty bagged item as I enjoyed the 24-105 and 70-200 mk2 combo a lot more. When it came to it though, the 100L was nearly glued to camera with the 35L on the other body. I for one say you can do without the 24-70 and switch to primes.

5d2 x 2 with 24L, 50 1.4, 16-35L and 135L. 2 of those lenses on the bodies, the other 2 and a 580 in my (knockoff) shootsac. I always feel ready for anything with that rig, and I can easily carry it all on me.

i am considering selling my 24-70 for the 24LII.
i got the 35L and most of the time, i just use the 35L more than the 24-70. when i use the 24-70, i use it mainly at 24.
however, i use 24-70 for events other than wedding. maybe getting the 24L and keep the 24-70L as the backup.
Scott

I use the Nikon version, it's my bread and butter lens. Primes may be a bit sharper (who cares), may give slightly better color (I have photoshop), give narrower depth of field (I often want more DOF not less), those aren't areas that set me apart. What sets me apart is my personality, my eye for locations and light, my know of if/when/how to use off camera lighting, composition, setting the mood with couples, etc, etc. The lens I choose... almost irrelevant. I can shoot a wedding with just about any lens that focuses.

Mine acts as a weight to help keep my car in place on inclines... I have used it maybe once or twice in the last 2 years. It is a backup lens for me at best.

great responses everyone, @Tim ; i especially like yours, and you are absolutely right.

I think it's just my desire to be better thinking "if i have better gear, i'll have better pictures". True some things ARE going to look different at f1.4 than at f2.8 but let me ask you this ::

FOR THOSE OF YOU that have moved on and switched to primes, how often are you shooting below f2.8? the 135L i trust at f2.2 but at f2 sometimes is a wash. the 35L (my 2nd shooter used a ton) would MOSTLY be at f2.2 as well (except for detail stuff).

maybe the right combo would be the sigma 35 f1.4 and the sigma 85 f1.4. Sounds like if i moved my 24-70L i'd have a good chunk of change towards both. I'm just worried about those moments when i don't have time to change lenses.

ps ; when is the sigma 35mm supposed to be released?

I sold my 24-70 and shoot with the 24L f/1.4 II, 50 f/1.4, and 135 f/2.0 now. I usually shoot at f/2.0 for all three of those lens (depending on the lighting conditions of course). Anything below that is usually too soft for my taste. The 24-70 was a little too heavy and the IQ was mediocre.

btmlinedan wrote in post #15190085
FOR THOSE OF YOU that have moved on and switched to primes, how often are you shooting below f2.8? the 135L i trust at f2.2 but at f2 sometimes is a wash. the 35L (my 2nd shooter used a ton) would MOSTLY be at f2.2 as well (except for detail stuff).

Personally a lot. The 24L, 35L and 50L and get used a fair bit wider than f2.8