24-105- any good for weddings?

Hi all,

I'm currently in the process of upgrading my 450d (with a 17-55mm lens amongst ) to a 5d mkiii. The reason I'm taking the plunge is because I am starting to get a few pad assignments such as christenings and weddings and want the excellent capability of the mkiii's ISO over my entry level camera. The only question, as it sways seems to be is which lenses to get with it. I've spent so much time researching but am just going round in circles;

The reviews for the 24-105 are excellent and I'd pretty much made up my mind on this yesterday but then read that f4 restricted its performance in low light. But doesn't the iso performance help to veer come this? I just need something I can rely on in a church without a flash.

The 24-70 is the other option I'm guessing- but obviously it's more pricey.

My question is- will the 24-105 cope we'll enough on a mkiii in a church or am I wasting my money?

I think that with a MK III it should be fine. The iso of the MK III is amazing. Best thing to do is go to the venue and test it out before the event.

nope. i just shot in a church two days ago at 85mm, f/1.4, iso 2500, 1/200 (prevent motion blur of walking down the aisle). definitely can't do that at f/4

edit: and the week before. 3200 iso, 85mm, f/1.4, 1/250

What about outside weddings around 6pm?

I'm sure you 'might' be able to use the 24-105 with the high ISO of the mk III, but there's a very good reason good wedding photograhers use fast glass.

You've got some shots with the 450D and 17-55/2.8 combination in some representative locations so you should be able to work out the EV of the scene.
Put f/4 and your required shutter speed into the equation and see what Iso you'll need to use the 5DIII at to replicate the shot.

Bob

I wouldn't - with high ISO it will be OK but f2.8 is not used at weddings just for low light

I've been using the 24-105 for wedding and social event work since 2006. Of course I also use an external flash for indoor work and as fill for the outdoor shots. It is a great all purpose lens though for wedding work and I've been very pleased with the results.

Now I understand Matt that you can't use flash in some of your churches. I would think the MKIII should do fine at higher ISO in a lot of situations, but the fact of the matter is that "ugly" light may be one of your biggest foes. Yes, faster glass will take care of some of that, but it won't get rid of ugly eye shadowing, hot pools on foreheads, etc.

Do you have issues with halo'd bokeh?

NeonStar wrote in post #16245523
Do you have issues with halo'd bokeh?

No. But perhaps you can be a bit more specific - I may be assuming incorrectly your meaning.

I do mainly wedding photography.
My style: 24-105L has always been my holiday lens -> got my flash unit too.
I use all other of my lenses for wedding except 24-105L.

Everyone is different with diff equipment, styles and etc. There is no right or wrong, can or can't. Its what suits you best.
Tips that i learnt from this forum: Buy once, buy best hence no further upgrade in future needed.

Scott

sapearl wrote in post #16245531
No. But perhaps you can be a bit more specific - I may be assuming incorrectly your meaning.

Around F4-4.5, if the bokeh bubbles are big I notice a ring on the outmost edge of pictures, for example:

http://3.bp.blogspot.c​om …yS8/s400/Amazin​gBokeh.jpg

MFG wrote in post #16245558
Tips that i learnt from this forum: Buy once, buy best hence no further upgrade in future needed.

Scott

Until the next 'best' is released thus making your best, less.

I'm pretty sure you don't need 250/s to freeze the action of people walking down the isle to the wedding march. Of course as a photographer, one might make the decision to be "perpendicular" to the isle as opposed to being in front <sarcasm>... I've seen stuff like that done before. I've shot a lot of indoor dance recitals, and you don't always need 1/500's to stop that kind of action, because many time 1/250's going to get it done (depends). So, slow marching just isn't going to require the same shutter speed unless, perhaps, one is "perpendicular" lol.

NeonStar wrote in post #16245570
Around F4-4.5, if the bokeh bubbles are big I notice a ring on the outmost edge of pictures, for example:

http://3.bp.blogspot.c​om …yS8/s400/Amazin​gBokeh.jpg

Quite interesting - thanks for the link. I can't say that I've ever created "bubbles" that pronounced with any of my lenses. This is about the closest I've come:

http://www.pbase.com/s​apearl/image/119973207