Which 24-70 to buy for weddings & events?

[bdunbar79]

I will say that I couldn't have shot the weddings without a 24-70 zoom lens.  It was just so staple.  You can't ignore flexibility in a wedding because you must take the shot NOW.  I'd wait for reviews on the 24-70L II.  Wait awhile and see what Bryan Carnathan has to say, what users have to say, etc.  It will pay for itself after a few weddings and you'll get the shots.  Consider it down the road.  I had instances where I had no idea what focal length I should use, so I put the 24-70 on and adjusted until I got proper framing.  Same with the 70-200 zoom lens.  For framing shots I already knew, I used a prime.  You have to do both.  Go to the church and practice.  Imagine how you want to frame the aisle shots and front of the church shots and where you want to be.  Take your lenses with you and get the focal length ahead of time.  It can pay huge dividends!

[bdunbar79]

By the way I am working on getting a few of my wedding photos to post on here, so stay tuned in case you're interested. 

[DCM1024]

How often do you hear "get the right tool for the right job".  Also, Canon L lenses hold their values better than 3rd party lenses.

Asking what the right tool is what this thread is about - and "right" doesn't mean "most expensive", not even in an enthusiast's forum. For me, the re-sale value is only of concern for lenses I might actually want to sell again, but if I get the 24-70ii I'll keep it and the money is gone for good.

I had recommended the 24-70 I and 70-200 F/2.8 IS II to my boyfriend as the preferred zoom kit, but they were out of budget.

For me "budget" is relative to what a business is about: Earning money after some sane period of time rather than spending it. I *could* get a 5d3, 24-70ii and a 70-200/2.8ii, but I'd be near broke then and I serious doubt that would be smart business in relation to my first clients' expectations and my first salaries.

I had recommended It's going well - the brides are thrilled with their photos and are actively referring me to other brides :-)

Congrats to your successful business start! Please don't move to Berlin/Germany, will you :-> ... I guess being a women does help in this business since it's not that common, allows you more freedom and maybe people tend to be more relaxed? Well, can't change this fact now for me and have to work with what I am :-p

There are alot of female wedding photographers here in the US. What I get that my male photographer friends have trouble getting is boudoir :-)

[bkorcel]

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.

[thepancakeman]

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.

That was my thinking when I bought the 24-105, but what I quickly realized is that people are very rarely static, so IS is of no help.  If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten the 24-70 (and am now considering adding the Tamron version to the kit.)

[Marsu42]

By the way I am working on getting a few of my wedding photos to post on here, so stay tuned in case you're interested.

Sure, esp. if it's the "... and that's why you need equipment xyz, it couldn't be done without" type of shots!

That was my thinking when I bought the 24-105, but what I quickly realized is that people are very rarely static, so IS is of no help.

With very few exceptions (like in this thread) that's what people have been telling me, too: except if you shoot with multiple primes or are ready to accept tradeoffs like higher iso or more flash (if you're allowed to), there's hardly any way around a 24-70/2.8's combination of low light capability & flexibility.

[fifowarehouse]

Kinda fun to see people getting excited on the NEW 2012 Tamron 24-70 and prefer this over the 10yrs old Canon 24-70.

2012 Vs 2002 Technology - Do you think this a fair comparison?

About we wait for mrk II to come out and compare 2012 Vs 2012

[RLPhoto]

By the way I am working on getting a few of my wedding photos to post on here, so stay tuned in case you're interested.

Sure, esp. if it's the "... and that's why you need equipment xyz, it couldn't be done without" type of shots!

That was my thinking when I bought the 24-105, but what I quickly realized is that people are very rarely static, so IS is of no help.

With very few exceptions (like in this thread) that's what people have been telling me, too: except if you shoot with multiple primes or are ready to accept tradeoffs like higher iso or more flash (if you're allowed to), there's hardly any way around a 24-70/2.8's combination of low light capability & flexibility.

Ya know, all this gear talk is great and a way to kill time while CS3 saves files. In the End, The photographer is what makes or breaks a wedding. A Cool, Level head and A good scouting day will do more than 2,000,000 ISO, Hyper Lens Speed or any equipment mumbo jumbo will do for you on that day.

I highly recommend getting a reportage list and A day to scout the venues. Then, you'll know what you really need.

[cliffwang]

Kinda fun to see people getting excited on the NEW 2012 Tamron 24-70 and prefer this over the 10yrs old Canon 24-70.

2012 Vs 2002 Technology - Do you think this a fair comparison?

About we wait for mrk II to come out and compare 2012 Vs 2012

That's true if MK2 price would be 1299 + IS.

[fifowarehouse]

Kinda fun to see people getting excited on the NEW 2012 Tamron 24-70 and prefer this over the 10yrs old Canon 24-70.

2012 Vs 2002 Technology - Do you think this a fair comparison?

About we wait for mrk II to come out and compare 2012 Vs 2012

That's true if MK2 price would be 1299 + IS.

This is Canon L lens, NOT Tamron. Wonder where Tamron lenses are made? Japan or somehere else?

[cliffwang]

That's true if MK2 price would be 1299 + IS.

This is Canon L lens, NOT Tamron. Wonder where Tamron lenses are made? Japan or somehere else?

Japan.  You should do your homework just google it.  By the way the Tamron lens is L quality.

[Marsu42]

2012 Vs 2002 Technology - Do you think this a fair comparison?
This is Canon L lens, NOT Tamron. Wonder where Tamron lenses are made? Japan or somehere else?

For me, my equipment can come right from the dark side of the moon and can be dated 1980 as long as it serves the purpose. Doing comparisons isn't about being fair towards manufacturers or being right, but just about making the best decision as a consumer given the current choices.

In fact, I could even do with less red rings and white paint on my lenses, I've been told that having the latest, most shiny gear isn't necessarily a good sign for a pro but makes you look like a noob. Which I am. But no need to hand a sign around my neck.

I highly recommend getting a reportage list and A day to scout the venues. Then, you'll know what you really need.

Oh, you can be sure I'll to that allright. But there's no harm in getting lots of advice before buying equipment for thousands of $$$. And if I have adequate equipment, this is at least one thing that is less likely to go wrong next to all other things I can screw up when building a business for myself.

Besides, while LR on my older Laptop is rendering hundreds of previews, I've got even more time then you participating in pointless rumors :-p

[fifowarehouse]

2012 Vs 2002 Technology - Do you think this a fair comparison?
This is Canon L lens, NOT Tamron. Wonder where Tamron lenses are made? Japan or somehere else?

For me, my equipment can come right from the dark side of the moon and can be dated 1980 as long as it serves the purpose. Doing comparisons isn't about being fair towards manufacturers or being right, but just about making the best decision as a consumer given the current choices.

In fact, I could even do with less red rings and white paint on my lenses, I've been told that having the latest, most shiny gear isn't necessarily a good sign for a pro but makes you look like a noob. Which I am. But no need to hand a sign around my neck.

I highly recommend getting a reportage list and A day to scout the venues. Then, you'll know what you really need.

Oh, you can be sure I'll to that allright. But there's no harm in getting lots of advice before buying equipment for thousands of $$$. And if I have adequate equipment, this is at least one thing that is less likely to go wrong next to all other things I can screw up when building a business for myself.

Besides, while LR on my older Laptop is rendering hundreds of previews, I've got even more time then you participating in pointless rumors :-p

See pix below - if you have to travel from East to West- which option do you prefer? Don't tell me latest technology is NOT matter.

By the way, buy yourself a new latest laptop so you can be more productive. 

[cliffwang]

See pix below - if you have to travel from East to West- which option do you prefer? Don't tell me latest technology is NOT matter.

By the way, buy yourself a new latest laptop so you can be more productive. 

Tell me which CPU you prefer.
1. Intel T3500(Q3 2010)
2. Intel X7560(Q3 2008)

newer != better

[Marsu42]

See pix below - if you have to travel from East to West- which option do you prefer? Don't tell me latest technology is NOT matter.

You asked the wrong guy - I've sold my car and much prefer my bicycle and trains, so I'd take the environmentally clean 2 live horse powers any day. Also, if driving at 150mph you're missing all the good landscape shots. And from where I live in Berlin, I can walk from East to West in 5 minutes :-)

Concerning the laptop: this is a link in the toolchain that has *no* impact on iq, unlike camera bodies or esp. lenses. So I'd rather process good pictures slowly than crappy ones in a blaze - for me it would only matter if my business generates so many pictures that it affects my ability to work efficiently. A good Nikon photog just told me that he won't upgrade to the d800 because the added mp needed more processing power while he wouldn't sell more, just like the 5dc->5d2 upgrade described above.