Need Your Help on My Next Lens--Yes, the Lens Questions Again!

[canon23]

Fellow Photogs, I really need your help! I'm fairly new to the wedding industry and have one year of experience under my belt, with 10 weddings done this year-one as a primary for a friend. My question is on lenses. Yes, the typical, but strategically important question (when funds are limited) on which lens to get next.

This past year, I've use mainly the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II on my 5D Mark II & the Sigma 35 f/1.4 on my Mark III. I've just sold my never used Canon 50 f/1.8II & seldom used Canon 24-105 f/4. I can now mortgage another lens! I have 4 in mind, but can only get one at this time & wanted to get your more experienced insights. The 4 lenses I have in mind to get next is:

1) Canon 24-70 f/2.8 II
2) Canon 50 f/1.2
3) Canon 85 f/1.2 II
4) Canon 16-35 f/2.8 II

Which one should I go for?!?
Thanks for your input!

 

[privatebydesign]

No question 24-70.

It is the only single lens I could easily shoot an entire wedding with.

 

[Don Haines]

No question 24-70.

It is the only single lens I could easily shoot an entire wedding with.

Agreed! You are not going to have the time to go swapping lenses in and out as the bride walks down the aisle...

 

[Dylan777]

No question 24-70.

It is the only single lens I could easily shoot an entire wedding with.

Agreed! You are not going to have the time to go swapping lenses in and out as the bride walks down the aisle...

+1...24-70 II & 70-200 f2.8 IS II is killer combo for wedding shooters. Next move, sell the sig 35mm and use the money toward 85L II.

 

[wsmith96]

No question 24-70.

It is the only single lens I could easily shoot an entire wedding with.

+1

 

[surapon]

Dear Canon23
Yes, Yes, Yes---For my the Wedding Job

1) Canon 24-70 f/2.8 II
2) Canon 85 f/1.2 II
As you say, BUT, I add 3 more lenses for some situation in most of wedding :
3) Canon TS-E2mm, F/ 3.5 L MK II = for 4-5 shots At Shift Function, for the Big group( 100 People) Photos, and combine them as panorama - 1 photo = Super Larged File for Super Larged $ 1000 US Dollar Print---Ha, Ha, Ha.
4) Canon 70-200 mm. F/ 2.4 L + 1.4X or 2X for shoot at the Balcony 1,000 Feet away from Altar--Where the PRIEST not let the Photographer around his Territory, Because your Machine gun sound, might make him forget his pray--------If The Balcony is shorter distant from Altar ( in small church/ Sanctuary), EF 135 F/ 2.0 L. is extra Nice for the Dark/ Candle light At Ceremony area.
5) If you go to take the photos for the Wedding of Prince and Princess----Ha, Ha, Ha, You must have 600 mm OR 800 mm. Lens with 2X too----They not let the Photographers with in half of Mile.
IF you can GO ANY PLACE AND ANY TIME DURING THE WEDDING, JUST ONE LENS IS ENOUGH FOR ME = EF 50mm, f/1.2L USM ---Just use your strong legs as ZOOM function---Can use from dark indoor party to the bright sun shine place.
Have FUN for your job.
Surapon.
PS. AS the Wedding PRO, They use 3 People to carry the 3 Support Lights for best 3D Liked Photos---One at the 45 degree Left or right of the Subjects for side light, One at the Back of the subjects, for Back Light, and the most one from 45 degree Back of the subjects at High elevation for the Hair light-----Yes, I forget another helper, The Last one to carry the Cooler full with the Beers that you like.

 

[alexanderferdinand]

24-70/2.8II.
Then the 85/1.2

 

[Menace]

As others have said get the 24-70 II next - paired with 70-200 2.8 II on a separate body is a great combo. Later get the 50L.

 

[privatebydesign]

As others have said get the 24-70 II next - paired with 70-200 2.8 II on a separate body is a great combo. Later get the 50L.

My advice would be slightly different, 100% get the 24-70 first, but then study your EXIF, ignore the most prolific focal lengths, look at the focal length you take your most compelling images at, get that focal length as a prime next. Mine ideal has gotten shorter over the years, from 135mm in the '80's down to 35mm now.

 

[canon23]

Thank you everyone for ur help & input! I really appreciate it. So I just pulled the trigger & got the 24-70 2.8 ii from B&H LAST NIGHT & will get it on Friday w/their free two day delivery special. I hope I get a good version as I read on another thread that ae of the newer makes of the ii version have zooming difficulties. Thanks again all!!