Minimum lenses you'd need for a wedding

tarmac_chaser

tarmac_chaser

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Carl
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Usual story, friend of mine is getting married in about a year and likes some of my work. I could probably do with adding a lens or two (already got a spare body covered) Ideally fast primes would be great for wedding work, but would be interested to know from those on here that regularly do weddings what are your must bring lenses when you do a wedding?
 
I know a good deal of wedding photographers who use just one lens, usually the 18-200.

But generally a good mix up (in MY opinion)
Medium fisheye (not ott)
Zoom lens (~18 - 200)
50mm
 
That's a big question that is.........

I suppose that if I was going to have only one lens for a wedding, I'd be looking for have a mid range zoom. If the camera has a cropped sensor, I'd go for something like 50mm (ish) to 135 (ish). The faster the lens the better.
 
I can do an entire wedding on the 24-70L (on FF).

Sometimes I do use the 16-35L, very useful in a room to get the entire room in, and on the dance floor.

One lens that it seems everyone rave about at weddings, the 70-200 2.8, i find that too long, and end up with unimaginative candids, just full of portraits from it, albeit nice but uninsipring.
 
If it's an all day job - I can get by with just the 17-55 f2.8 :)

And the 70-200 f2.8 :)

So long as I also have my 85mm f1.8, and 50mm f1.8 :)

And of course the 10.5mm f2.8 comes in handy :)

But unless the Wedding was shot entirely in a white marque on a sunny day I can't imagine getting away with an 18-200 :(

DD
 
Im using a 17-70mm (for standard/formal) and a 28-300mm (for the incidental shots) and they work well
 
If I ever attempted a wedding, I would take this kit...

17-55 f2.8
70-200 f2.8
50 f1.4
maybe a 85 1.8 just in-case
 
I use my 70-200 2.8 about 95% of the time, 2nd body has the 40D kit lens 17-85 attached and I have a 50 mm in the bag - Kit lens is a great copy and as yet I have not wanted for anything else. Yes ideally I would have a bag full of lenses, next on the list is another 1 series body, maybe a 5D2 which would carry a 24-70 but I am happy with what I have right now and it produces the results.
 
I'm going down the route of a 50mm f1.2 and a 24-70 f2.8 - with potential to add a 16-35 at a later date...
 
I'd go with what you've got. First 2 weddings I did I was on my own and used only the 24-105. The 85mm and 70-200 never got out of the camera bag. There was far to much going on to worry about changing lenses!
 
For a wedding, I'd shoot everything with the 85 if I could. The background just melts away.
 
I can't see an 18-200 or a 24-300 being any use at all, unless the whole wedding is outside on a summers day.

I use a 24-70 on one body, with an 85 1.4 on the other, and a 70-200 only if I really need to - stuck at the back of a church for example.

Hugh
 
Ive been hiring the 24-70mm, and using my own 10-20mm for group shots and wide shots of the venue. Thats about it! About 3% of my shots are on the wide angle :D
 
24-70mm and 70-200mm F/2.8 should cover everything on a FF or 1.3 crop. You can add a few faster primes but it will probably be more hassle than worth swapping lenses all of the time.

On a 1.6 crop sensor replace the 24-70 with a 17-55mm.

But, as you already have a 24-105mm I would save some money and just add the 85mm F/1.8 or 50mm F/1.4 primes.
 
im using 28-70mm f2.8 , 12-24mm f4 and 85mm f1.4 and the cheapest fixed lens 50mm f1.8 for all wedding.
 
I have four zooms 17-40mm f4, 24-70mm f2.8, 24-105mm f4 and 70-200,, f2.8IS
and four primes 35mm f2, 50mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8 and 100mm f2.8 macro.

I have a rolling case and I do take them all. If I'm shooting bridal prep I like to be able to reach into the bag and know I have a lens that will do what I need it to.

I did have one wedding this year where the Bride got ready in a room with no windows! And that meant either using all the lamps I could get my hands on or shooting everything with flash. I opted for the lamps to give some ambience and the primes got the job done :)

I know you CAN shoot a wedding with a LOT less. I've shot a wedding on one lens before but that was lovely constant light all day long and that's a rarity :)
 
It's not only a spare body you need, you also need a spare lens and flash (even if it's the kit lens) you must have back up, lens and flashes do fail.
 
24-70mm f/2.8, 10-20mm, 50mm f/1.8 and 105mm f/2

The 24-70mm on a D700, the 105mm on a D300.
 
i liked my tam 28-75 f2.8, but is there something similar which would give wider options
 
Raymond Lin said:
I can do an entire wedding on the 24-70L (on FF).
Click to expand...

paul_g said:
I'd go with what you've got. First 2 weddings I did I was on my own and used only the 24-105. The 85mm and 70-200 never got out of the camera bag. There was far to much going on to worry about changing lenses!
Click to expand...

:agree: I've shot a few weddings using just a 28-70 f2.8, I'm sure that you'd be absolutely fine shooting with just your 24-105 f4
 
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