The dreaded what lens for a wedding thread

Freester

Freester

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Mark
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Well, I have been on here a little while and seen the emotions this question can invoke. So please be polite and kind :)

I must say I never thought I'd find myself in this situation. Some friends are getting married. It's a low key event, around 30 people. I was always attending as a guest but now it seems to have gone from 'bring your camera, take a few photos' to somehow having to do the group shots as well.

To point out the obvious - yes they are aware of my capabilities and realise it's my first. I've managed expectations. They want me to come and enjoy the day and not just do the togging. I'm not charging. There will be a pro tog who's done a few weddings as the best man but he's not togging. He will help me organise the group shots though (he has seen my work and is happy to advise and help).

So it's a late jan / early feb wedding. I need to check the venue and reception place out. I think it's fair to assume the worst light wise.

My kit - I have a Canon 7D and 400D as backup. My lenses are the EFS10-22, f/1.8 Nifty Fifty and a 70-200 f/2.8 IS L and I also have a 580 EX II flashgun.

I have been a guest at weddings before and have been really happy with the shots I get with the 50 and the 70-200. My original plan was to use these and the flash if necessary and get some nice candids. This was before the group shots were mentioned!

What really has given me a confidence worry are the group shots where I really need a decent 'walkaround' zoom rather than foot zoom with the 50 or short end of the 70-200. I guess if I was to rent then the 17-55 f/2.8 IS is the obvious choice?

I do have the kit lens that came with my 400D but I haven't used that since I got my 10-22 and nifty 50 as these were just far better IQ.

I have access to the new kit lens 18-55 IS if that might help. I just want something sharp really.

Just thinking out loud really and would appreciate other thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Mark F
 
I really would suggest a mid range zoom. As you say the 17-55 f2.8 is a very good choice. alternatives would be 24-70 or 24-105. renting one of those three shouldn't dent the piggy bank too much and will, based on my experience, be the lens you'll use most on the day
 
If you have access to the 18-55 IS then I'd just use that. With group shots you need an adequate depth of field so it's not like you will be shooting at the extremes of it's apertures. Shoot it a f8 and I'm sure it will be fine. Unless you are printing all those group shots at poster size you are not really going to notice that it's not an L lens. The L's are in a league of their own when the chips are down but this is not really a challenging environment. :)
 
we use sigma 18-50exdc 2.8(on my 30D, highly recomended) 2.8,canon 24-105L is. (wifes walk around on her 5D.)
canon 18-85is,(on my other 30d, or sometimes a sigma . 28- 200 i think,( but poor in low light). 24-70L.very occasionaly the 100-400L.
35mm 1.4
we have been known to use the nifty before we got the 35mm .good in low light, and a bargain.
were looking at a 70-200L
 
Thanks for the replies ladies and gents.

I think I probably answered my own question but it's nice to talk aloud!
 
What perfect timing!!!

Similar predicament to Freester...

I have 24-70L on a 400D (and some other bits). Going on holiday to Hong Kong in a few weeks and will definately be buying a 10-22mm. Will take this opportunity and considering whether to also get 70-200 f2.8 or 7d upgrade. What will it be please?
 
ishoot said:
What perfect timing!!!

Similar predicament to Freester...

I have 24-70L on a 400D (and some other bits). Going on holiday to Hong Kong in a few weeks and will definately be buying a 10-22mm. Will take this opportunity and considering whether to also get 70-200 f2.8 or 7d upgrade. What will it be please?
Click to expand...

Deffo glass first. I lived with the 10-22, 50 and 70-200 on a 400D for quite a while before the body upgrade.
 
Somehow, I knew that would be the answer but thought I'd ask anyway. Its the upgraditis bug that keeps going round :-)

Cheers mate.
 
Freester said:
Deffo glass first. I lived with the 10-22, 50 and 70-200 on a 400D for quite a while before the body upgrade.
Click to expand...

+1 I have recently bought a 24-105L and a 70-200L 2.8 IS USM rather than move to a 7D from my 50D, glass is definitely the way to go.
 
Freester said:
Deffo glass first. I lived with the 10-22, 50 and 70-200 on a 400D for quite a while before the body upgrade.
Click to expand...

Depends on your photography though - I've just gone from a 400D to a 7D and the difference at high ISO is staggering.
If you're an available light shooter, then the 7D might be a worthwhile move.
 
Woz! said:
Depends on your photography though - I've just gone from a 400D to a 7D and the difference at high ISO is staggering.
If you're an available light shooter, then the 7D might be a worthwhile move.
Click to expand...

Fair comment. Goes round to a fast glass vs better iso performance on the body I s'pose :)
 
Some useful comments here, thanks everyone.

I'd like to get into wedding photography and luckily I have 5 weddings to attend this year, and thought it would be perfect opportunity to experiment so wanted to invest in some kit. I've had the 400D for about 2.5 years and it was my first slr. I should have got the 40D at the time but thought it might be too advanced. I like the 7D's navigation wheel+stick, high iso iq, new metering system, fast multishot, weather seal, wireless flash trigger, mini lcd display and it fits nicely in my hands. 70-200 2.8 IS speask for itself really...

hmmm, maybe I try and buy the lot :o)
 
I have thought about the 5D but I would want the 5Dmk2 and unfortunately i cant stretch to that one...
 
Hi Mark, I know it's not f2.8 fast but if you wanted a to borrow my 17-85 IS USM F4-5.6 your more than welcome to.

I find it's a reasonable walkabout lens which should be fine if it's a bright sunny day!

Chris
 
ishoot said:
What perfect timing!!!

Similar predicament to Freester...

I have 24-70L on a 400D (and some other bits). Going on holiday to Hong Kong in a few weeks and will definately be buying a 10-22mm. Will take this opportunity and considering whether to also get 70-200 f2.8 or 7d upgrade. What will it be please?
Click to expand...

Personally, I would upgrade the body.

400D > 5D Mk1 was the best photographic purchase I ever made. I was left with a 50mm 1.8 for a couple of months, but now I have added a 24-70L and 135L to it. Glass > body in most cases, but it does come a time when a body upgrade is the most sensible option.
 
I am attending a number of weddings this year (as a guest) but am going to be taking my camera along with me to get some pictures to hopefully build up my portfolio a bit and get a bit more practice.

I already have a 50mm 1.8 II which I have used at previous weddings but was considering the possibility of getting a Canon 17-55 IS. I have the 17-85 IS lens but find it a little soft, my cousin in law has the 17-55 IS on her 1000d and I was looking at her pictures and they are really crisp much more so than the ones taken with 17 -85.

Does anyone have any views on shooting at weddings using a 17-55 IS at all? Is it worth getting one? (not just for weddings but for general use)
 
Bare in mind that if you start buying EF-S type of lens they won't work on a full frame body (5D, 1Ds etc)
 
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