Which lens out of these - wedding / indoor low light

Stace123

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Stacey
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Hi!
I am looking to get one lens at the moment, I am undecided on what one to get, I can hire others when needed but I'm looking for the best option to go with what I already have, for weddings.

The options I'm looking at are 50mm1.2 / 24-70mm / 70-200mm
Or if there's any others you can suggest.

I currently have :
5d mark iii
50mm 1.8
100mm 2.8
24-105mm

If you had just one choice, what would you choose?
 
I think you already have a good line up for weddings, maybe a 24-70 could replace the 24-105 for the 2.8 but you do have the 50 for even lower light.

70-200 maybe?
 
Will you be using off camera flash for the ceremonies? If allowed of course - It's always allowed over here, but I hear in the UK some priests/reverands won't allow it, which seems strange to me. I mean, it's a very specific ceremony for the couple, and they want the best shots possible. Either way, you can't go wrong with a 24-70 or 70-200 2.8. Maybe the latter is best suited for you, as you're covered from 24-105 with bright lenses in between. The 70-200 would be real nice for more intimate shots of them at the alter for example, without you being intrusive. But then if you can't use flash, for group shots in the church, or the signing of the book ... your 24-105 might be a bit dark.
 
Will you be using off camera flash for the ceremonies? If allowed of course - It's always allowed over here, but I hear in the UK some priests/reverands won't allow it, which seems strange to me. I mean, it's a very specific ceremony for the couple, and they want the best shots possible. Either way, you can't go wrong with a 24-70 or 70-200 2.8. Maybe the latter is best suited for you, as you're covered from 24-105 with bright lenses in between. The 70-200 would be real nice for more intimate shots of them at the alter for example, without you being intrusive. But then if you can't use flash, for group shots in the church, or the signing of the book ... your 24-105 might be a bit dark.

You are absolutely right about the flash thing not allow. In registry office, some will allow and some insist not flash is allow during the ceromony. For church wedding the priests/reverands don't want flashes to distract the ceromony. Imagine everyone is flashing away ..... not only the photogrpahy will be taking photos ..... Some is ok of course.
 
Thankyou, no, flash is rarely allowed here which is very frustrating and so the best option for these situations would be ideal,
I was edging towards buying the 24-70mm and hiring the 70-200 when needed but have read the 50mm 1.2 is amazing for low light
 
Looking at what you already have, I would have gone for the 70-200. Here is my reasoning:

50mm f/1.2 - You already have a 50 mm, created it is 2 stops slower, but from quite a lot of reports, the DOF at f/1.2 is so narrow it makes it quite a challenging lens
24-70mm - Again already covered by the 24-105, I am assuming it is the f/4 so in reality only 1 stop faster.

The benefit in lower light can be compensated for by increasing the ISO, which the 5D3 is more than capable of.

70-200 - You currently don't have anything greater that 105mm and therefore this would increase your ability to capture those intimate/candid moments where they think nobody is looking
 
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It's a style decision.

My 2 go to lenses on FF are 35mm (sigma 1.4 art) and 135mm (canon f2L), you could get both s/h for the price of a 24-70 or 70-200.

IMHO they both produce an image that those zooms can't get close to.

Whilst I'm here though, a backup camera is much more important.
 
What's your budget?

Is your 50mm f1.8 the Mk2 or the STM? If it's the STM keep that, if not, swap to that. The STM is better built and faster to focus which is super important at events with moving people.

If you had say £1000 budget, I'd part ex the 24-105 for a Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC. That upgrade will cost you about £200.
Then with the remaining £800, spend £3-400 on a backup body (even a crop one).
Then you have £400 to get either a s/h 135 f2L or a sh Sigma 70-200 f2.8

Or if you want to go light spend £400 on a s/h Simga 35mm f1.4 Art, £200 on a Canon 85mm f1.8 and £400 on a s/h backup body. Even on a crop body the 85mm will be great, lovely bokeh, good in low light and fast to focus.

If you have less to play with, I'd priorise a 24-70 £2.8. You can shoot a whole wedding with one.

That said, I did second shoot almost a whole wedding with a 5D2 and a 50L.
 
I think what you add is dependant on your style of shooting. If it was me I would go for a 70-200 but that's my opinion
 
If I were in your shoes, I'd have a hard time choosing between a 70-200 and a 35 1.4
 
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