135 f2 or 70-200 f4

Ok, I have just started shooting weddings. I do more family shots and portraits at the moment. I have the 24-105 L and 70-200 as zooms and a 35 f2, 50 stm and 85 1.8 as primes. I am considering swapping the 70-200 for a 135 f2. Am I mad? I know the 70-200 will give me the benefit of having a zoom, but was thinking that for when I'm a bit tight and need it, the 24-105 should do just fine. I do love the photos taken with the 135. No IS, though. If I had the 2.8 II version of he 70-200 I don't think I'd be having this dilema...

Opinions?

I'd take the 135mm f/2 vs the 70-200mm f/4 because of the aperture. You'll have more than twice the light in your camera, that is, low ISO in dark situations. I had a 70-200mm and I noticed that those 65mm less in the lens isn't so important because in most scenarios I could walk to get closer to my object. If I couldn't, I just cropped the photo a little bit and it still was a good result because the 135mm is crazy-sharp.

Another option could be the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC. I've seen it for like $800 and the 135mm is around $750.

As you said, a con of the 135mm is the lack of IS.

Both lens need 1/160 minimum shutter speed to use. probably 1/200-250 is better but depending on the camera your have it mounted on you need to be concerned with gate speed. Example 5D3 i could not go past 1/160 w/o seeing the gate in a flashed shot.

I think both are invaluable lens but I use the 135L almost all the time. The reason is F/2.0. Nothing but the 135 and the 200L provide that look at F/2.0...nothing else comes close. If im outside, the 135L is one of my most used lens

You are making me move towards what I think I already knew. Probably I'll get the 135 soon... shouldn't be a problem to sell the 70-200

love my 135 f/2. i do weddings and the light weight is a big plus.

I use my 70-200mm quite a bit at weddings. Big churches, large banquet halls, outside for portraits.

It's not just the IS or the extra magnification that helps, but the narrower angle of view at 200mm helps remove unwanted objects from the background.

Also, being able to go from 200mm to 70mm in 1/10 second is not to be underestimated. I have two bodies on me when shooting and even with my vest/harness system, it's much slower to switch bodies if I had primes mounted.

I say keep the zoom.

For weddings, if you have a modern camera that can do high ISO, or if you don't shoot in really dark venues, I'd take the 70-200 F4. Flexibility is more important to me than shutter speed, given I'm comfortable with high ISO. For portraits the F2 lens would probably be better, as you have more control on portrait shoots.

dbs_jd wrote in post #18245095
You'll have more than twice the light in your camera

F stop progression is 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4. Two F stops is quadruple the light, meaning a lower ISO or faster shutter speed.

tim wrote in post #18247537
For weddings, if you have a modern camera that can do high ISO, or if you don't shoot in really dark venues, I'd take the 70-200 F4. Flexibility is more important to me than shutter speed, given I'm comfortable with high ISO. For portraits the F2 lens would probably be better, as you have more control on portrait shoots.

F stop progression is 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4. Two F stops is quadruple the light, meaning a lower ISO or faster shutter speed.

5D MkIII, handles high iso pretty well

I know myself, I will end up having both

If you haven't made a decision yet....

I own both a 70-200 2.8 (actually 2 of them, one Canon vii, and one Tamron) as well as a 135 f2L, and use them both frequently. When doing outdoor portraits, I will choose the 135mm 95% of the time. It really has a look that the 70-200 can't give, not to mention it vs an f4! People have mentioned having to use a higher shutter speed then normal, umphotography mentioned up to 1/250. I need to go even higher! I typically think I have a pretty steady hand, but I need to use my 135 at 1/400 to get consistently sharp photos. I really don't know what it is about this lens, but I just don't get consistent results even at 1/250. Pretty good keeper rate, yes, but not good enough.

Having said that...I much prefer to use my 70-200 during the ceremony and reception. I have less room to move around inside, so the zoom is invaluable. Plus I can shoot at 200mm at 1/40-1/50 and get sharp shots (as long as there isn't much subject movement of course).

Obviously I wouldn't want to live without either of them, but if I had to ONLY have one...it would be the 70-200...maybe