Which 24-70 to buy for weddings & events?

[cpsico]

I use the EF 24-70 F2.8L USM and it has performed well.  I suppose if I had to make the choice again I might choose the 24-105L with the IS mode even though it's F/4.  The IS easily makes up the difference in 2.8 vs 4 allowing somewhat lower shutter speeds for static subjects.

I try not to mix brands in my shoots so I can maintain consistent color and contrast..which is why I only use Canon L lenses.

Other brands can be just as good but I like consistency and so far canon has delivered that.

The 24-105 has tons of lens flare in the same situations the 24-70 handles very well. If you are using strobe lights it can make a big difference!!

[VanWeddings]

i'd throw in my vote for the tamron. i've had it for a while now and it is super sharp with a good VC system. i highly doubt the average client would ever complain that you didn't use a canon 24-70 mkii

[John Thomas]

Quote from: John Thomas on June 20, 2012, 01:11:25 PM
And there are plenty of situations in which one needs VC at weddings.

Are there? Plenty? All I'm all in favor of a "free" IS of a Tamron lens that performs like the Canon mk1 and is much cheaper, and I'll use the IS for my personal spare time shots. But except for totals of the church and such no situations would spring to my mind that wouldn't involve people, thus rendering the IS advantage nearly moot at these focal lengths?

Yes, there are plenty of situations, at least in my case. It is not only the fact that the low light forces you (ok, me) to IS becasue I cannot obtain 1/70s at longer end, there are cases in which you (I) suddenly see "the shot" and because I'm in rush to catch it, my hand isn't steady enough. IS compensates this as well.

Also, perhaps is better to say my humble opinion about "useless" IS on slow shutter speeds because "human subjects are constantly moving" - there are (at least) two things to consider here:

1.) there are enough situations in which your subject (candid scene / portrait) can be catched at 1/20, even at 1/10.

2.) From our experience we know at what shutter speed we can freeze a moving man (and how much we want to freeze from his movement), depending on what he does. This, at (my) events is usually between 1/30 till 1/60-1/80. I preffer to have the camera near to the lowest shutter speed possible in order to have lowest ISO possible. And IS helps here.

just my2c & HTH

PS: Perhaps is better to mention that I preffer to shot mood, atmosphere shots and go to select events. Harsh, bright (neon) lights aren't my kind. But perhaps I'm mistaken.