Lens Shootout...One lens to choose, 4 attendants, least flash possible..VOTE

Setup...

You have a wedding in a somewhat modern church, good natural light, not like outdoors but "bright" for a church. Standard 3/4 shots and group shots for a wedding party with 4 people on each side. You are asked to use little or no flash to give a natural look.

In your bag is a 50mm 1.8 Canon, 30mm. 1.4 Siggy, 2.8 17-55 IS Cannon and a Tamron 2.8 28-75. All the L glass is still in your van that you are locked out of!!!

Which do you grab and what can you make of it?

Vote and Talk...

Good light? 17-55 easy. It'll do it all.

WOW! quick choice and not a prime!!? He loves it.

I thought the siggy would do everything.

I too vote for the 17-55, but it is possible to achieve a "natural look" and use a flash. In fact, one may argue that not using a flash for your group shots may lead to an unnatural look of deep set, dark eye sockets depending on the direction of the light...

bohlenphotography wrote in post #4044030
You are asked to use little or no flash to give a natural look.

I tell them that my pictures don't have the flash look and that they are dealing with an experienced and accomplished professional which explains why they choose me in the first place. Surprised at the question I wake up from this dream.

The EF 17-55 f2.8 given the choices listed.

Aha, but then there is the blue flash look on the warm background as this modern church has stong incandescent spot lights shining on the back wall from the bottom up.

How do you address that?

Doe that one orange sto-fen address that?

Easy choice, the 17-55 (so long as your body takes EFS lenses)

17-55 all the way.

bohlenphotography wrote in post #4044104
Aha, but then there is the blue flash look on the warm background as this modern church has stong incandescent spot lights shining on the back wall from the bottom up. How do you address that?

* Use a shutter that will allow in the ambient orange.
* Possible color gel but sometimes mostly overpower and leave "orange" spots to show the natural light source.
* I would need to see the church and the spot they will be standing in.
* How high is the ceiling at the spot?
* What color is the ceiling?

Michael, any church shots with the 17-55 for me to drool about?

You can't just use the 30 because you might need it wider. I voted for the 17-55 as well. It should cover all the basis.

I voted for the 17-55 but I'd have happily used any of those lenses for this scenario.

I`ll buy a crop body everytime if I can use my Canon 17-55!

jamiewexler wrote in post #4044062
one may argue that not using a flash for your group shots may lead to an unnatural look of deep set, dark eye sockets depending on the direction of the light...

I'm with Jamie. Ambient lighting usually looks terrible, not natural

bohlenphotography wrote in post #4044104
Aha, but then there is the blue flash look on the warm background as this modern church has stong incandescent spot lights shining on the back wall from the bottom up. How do you address that?

CTO gel on the flash.