Sigma 35 or 135L??

[Zv]

Hey guys, I always get great advice on CR and I feel like I learn so much every time I'm on here! Anyways, down to biznass -

I'm going to be shooting a wedding in May. My first paid job really. I am thinking wether or not to buy another good prime lens to add to my kit.

I think I'll shoot most of the wedding with the zooms I have. But for some artistic shots and some particular shots after the wedding I'm thinking shallow dof stuff maybe outdoors. I actually want both these lenses but I have a feeling I'm just being silly.

My question is this - If you had to pick one, which would you say would prove more useful for wedding / portraits? Bare in mind I can acheive 35mm f/4 and 135 f/4 with what I have.

I'm leaning towards the 35 as I think in tight spaces and indoors it will come in handy (seems a lot of events end up in poorly lit places). Also I need a wide fast prime, got nothing fast that end.

Is this wise thinking or should I just man up and buy both?

Thank you in advance, any help will be greatly appreciated!!

[RLPhoto]

I'm more of a tele-guy so I'd say 135L but the 35mm will get used more.

[macrodust]

According to your signature you have the 85mm f/1.8, so the 35mm f/1.4 sounds like the right choice.

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

According to your signature you have the 85mm f/1.8, so the 35mm f/1.4 sounds like the right choice.

+1.  I love the 135L and if it were just head to head, I would say that 135L.  But considering that you have the 85 you have about 80% of the 135L.  The Sigma will be a very handy lens, and is my next lens purchase.

[Quasimodo]

Hey guys, I always get great advice on CR and I feel like I learn so much every time I'm on here! Anyways, down to biznass -

I'm going to be shooting a wedding in May. My first paid job really. I am thinking wether or not to buy another good prime lens to add to my kit.

I think I'll shoot most of the wedding with the zooms I have. But for some artistic shots and some particular shots after the wedding I'm thinking shallow dof stuff maybe outdoors. I actually want both these lenses but I have a feeling I'm just being silly.

My question is this - If you had to pick one, which would you say would prove more useful for wedding / portraits? Bare in mind I can acheive 35mm f/4 and 135 f/4 with what I have.

I'm leaning towards the 35 as I think in tight spaces and indoors it will come in handy (seems a lot of events end up in poorly lit places). Also I need a wide fast prime, got nothing fast that end.

Is this wise thinking or should I just man up and buy both?

Thank you in advance, any help will be greatly appreciated!!

135!

[Cptn Rigo]

I have the 35L, 85L and 135L

the 135L is my precious 

[mitchell3417]

Look at the 35mm 1.4 Sigma. Better IQ, for a few hundred less.

[wayno]

35 for flexibility

[distant.star]

.
Much as I love my 135, for a wedding, no contest.

I always find it easier (and safer) to walk forward rather than backward. You also get an extra stop's worth of light, and reviews I've read say it's stellar.

I'm planning for one this year myself.

[kbmelb]

135 at f/4 will still give you pretty good background diffusion. So I'd say Sig 35. f/4 on a 35 is pretty blah.
I have the 35L and 135L and love them both but for a wedding 35 1.4 is really sweet. I personally like to use a 50mm but 35 is really good too,

[RS2021]

135L

Though it is not always an obvious choice for event shooting, it should be.

The caveat being the 135L requires some space in the venue...if you have that, 135L produces some excellent shots...you always get more interesting candids this way rather than being in your subject's face which shorter focal lengths inevitably require.

Event shooting also has a lot of movement, either the subjects themselves or others in the background or around them... so shoot a lot of frames, the ones that "hit"...are absolutely superb with 135L.

Go in prepared to throw away a lot of frames...but you will be very happy with the keepers.

[kbmelb]

Another way of looking at it too is...

Do you want 3 stops more noise in your wide shots? Or 2 stops in your tele shots? Wide shots might be more forgiven with more noise. Tele you really need to maintain as much detail as possible.

I know that contradicted my last post but something to think about for you personal tastes.

[Zv]

Thanks for all the replies! All good points and I am taking each one into consideration.

I really don't like shooting the 17-40 @ f/4, as Kbmelb said there isnt much subject isolation.

Now, my 70-200 @ f/4 is not only sharp but provides decent background blur too. I guess the 85 can provide any further shallow dof stuff I need. Possibly stick it on my 7D, instant 135 (close enough!).

When walking around I think I could get some nice candids with the 35. Plus what usually happens is that someone else wants to join in the picture and next thing you know its a group shot! Yeah, I'm thinking 35 now! Plus I can switch it on to my 7D if I need that 50 ish look.

My plan is to use two bodies. Stick my 17-55 on the 7D and leave it there for any type of shot, wide or portrait. Then on the 5D I'll have my 70-200 for all the tele shots. Might keep an 85 and 35 handy or nearby to swith around on the 5D during the reception.

Somehow I a voice in my head is still nagging me "this is your chance to get the 135L and you're buying a Sigma lens instead?" Shut up brain I know what I'm doing.

 

Update - went out with my 85mm and experimented with it wide open on the 7D. Really like that focal length equivalent (135) but didn't like the purple and green fringing. Next tried the 85mm on the 5D II also wide open and there seems to be considerably less purple and green fringing but the focal length isn't as pleasing (feels too standard) Might sell the 85 and just buy both lenses.

Thanks again!

[Ew]

This question is almost a hint of big brother watching - thing is - I've been using the Sig35/1.4 and the 135L almost exclusively for the last two months.

No weddings, but some events, production location shots, and the typical family w kids at home.

I've mixed the 135L w an x1.4 TC with ok results... and there have been the few occasions at a construction site where the 35 was just not wide enough.

Both really have me working to get the shot, and I am greatful for that.

In short - go for both if you can, then decide what to sell off to compensate.

[wickidwombat]

I just shot my first wedding since getting the 35mm sigma last week from B&H since there were none locally and i was going to have to wait another month. This lens is razor sharp, I think its now the sharpest lens I own Yes sharper than the 85 1.4! also in AI servo its tracking is super fast and accurate (going out on a limb i'm gonna say at least on a par with the 70-200 f2.8L II possibly better but that could just be a factor of the larger DoF by virtue of the focal length vs a relatively tight tele. I probably shot 60% of the wedding with this lens on the 5Dmk3

the thing that stands out vs the 85 is at f1.4 there is almost no fringing (although by f2 fringing is gone on the 85 and its easy to correct in LR anyway) and at f1.4 its sharper than the sigma or canon 50mm 1.4 are at f4!

people have compared the siggy 35 1.4 to zeiss when discussing build, I feel its good but I wouldn't go that far
its better than the 85 build (which is also pretty good, much much better than the legacy siggys that gave the company a bad name). Build is definately at canon L levels but it definately doesnt have that forged from a meteorite feel that zeiss stuff has

I say get the Siggy now and keep an eye on the used market for a cheap 135