Which lens to add to kit for wedding photography?

[niels123]

Current kit:
Body: 5D III + 7D II
Lenses: Sigma 24 1.4; 35 1.4; 50 1.4; Canon 85 1.8; Canon 100L Macro; 24-105 f/4L IS USM

Missing: flexibility of a fast zoom lens since I avoid flash and often shoot indoors in dim light

Would you:
a) use two of these lenses on the two bodies to have two fixed focal lenghts
b) purchase a fast zoom (e.g. the Sigma 18-38 f/1.8 Art)
c) ...? please reply

Since not too long I walk with two bodies instead of just one and I find just two straps (I have two of the long optech ones) quite inconvenient) since the body which has the strap below the other body is difficult to move. It makes it quite a hassle. So I'd like to have something better for this but it must be safe. What would you suggest?

I heard many stories about some systems (which ones again?) that suddenly let go of their body + lens... :-X

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Rumour has it that the next Sigma Art lens will be a 24-70 f/2.8

That might fit in your kit depending on the reviews.

 

[Ruined]

Ideal for me would be:
Carrier: Think tank speedbelt + harness + digital holsters / lens carriers
Body 1: Canon 5d3
Body 2: Canon 7d2
Body (backup): Canon 5d3
Lens 1 (main): Canon 50mm f/1.2L
Lens 2 (wide): Canon 24mm f/1.4L II
Lens 3 (Tele): Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS
Lens (backup): Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II

Procedure: Use 50mm f/1.2l on 5d3 for most of shots to take advantage of its superior draw for people and low light superiority. If wider is needed use 24mm f/1.4L on FF or crop depending on desired fov. EF 70-200 f/2.8 II IS for distance shots. Use 5d3 bodies when possible, 7d2 body for reach when needed or to tighten up the 24mm.

 

[Olatunde55]

Use two 5D3 for their superior image quality at low light situations. Then the excellent 16-35mm f4 L and 70-200mm f2.8L IS II for zoom flexibility at both ends of the spectrum. Combine these with what you've already got and you should be good to go.

 

[mnclayshooter]

70-200 2.8 II - you can get "up close and personal" without getting right in people's faces. Plus, you can get some good separation with the DOF in the zoom.

It's a fantastic lens.

 

[privatebydesign]

24-70 f2.8, either Canon or the Tamron that is very highly rated and has VC.

I can easily shoot an entire wedding with the 24-70, the only caveat being the need for something longer inside most churches. If I was shooting primes I'd work the 50 f1.2 and the 35 f2 IS both on FF, again with the caveat that you often need more reach in access limited situations.

 

[niels123]

I know that the 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 are fantastic lenses. However: I think that getting from 2.8 to 1.8 is great when needed (if you have to choose between 24-70 2.8 on full frame or 18-35 on crop). I purchased the 24 1.4 because I used to use the Canon 24 2.8 IS and sometimes 2.8 was not enough.

I shoot maybe 5 to 10 weddings a year, so at the moment I don't have the means to get an extra 5D3 + an expensive zoom just for this. I shoot a lot of macro (that's why I got the 7D2 + 100 macro). The advantage of of 24mm FOV vs 36mm at 1:1 in crop vs FF is fantastic in small insect photography.

 

[Ruined]

I know that the 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 are fantastic lenses. However: I think that getting from 2.8 to 1.8 is great when needed (if you have to choose between 24-70 2.8 on full frame or 18-35 on crop). I purchased the 24 1.4 because I used to use the Canon 24 2.8 IS and sometimes 2.8 was not enough.

I shoot maybe 5 to 10 weddings a year, so at the moment I don't have the means to get an extra 5D3 + an expensive zoom just for this. I shoot a lot of macro (that's why I got the 7D2 + 100 macro). The advantage of of 24mm FOV vs 36mm at 1:1 in crop vs FF is fantastic in small insect photography.

Personally I think you can shoot 95% of the wedding with a 24mm on the 7d2 and a 50mm on the 5d3. When its time for posed portraits, put the 85 on the 5d3.

I don't find the 16-35 to be a very useful lens for a wedding. Generally for people shots, you don't want to go wider than 35mm or you risk perspective distortion. While a careful 24mm portrait can be stunning, this generally requires posing and setup that will not make up the bulk of your shots.

24mm on the 7d2 will give you around the fov of a 35mm on FF, so this is good focal length for groups. Then if you want a stunning landscape shot of the reception grounds, take the 24mm off the 7d2 and put it on the 5d3 instead.

50mm on the 5d3 is a fantastic lens for majority of reception shots, because the focal length is so flexible. Especially if you can upgrade to the Canon 50mm f/1.2L, this lens will give your people shots a special look that is quite unique while retaining ultra low light performance.

85mm is the classic portrait length, but you will likely find too long for a lot of the fast paced and tightly cramped areas of a reception - and too short for distance shots. Thus, useful for the posed portraits but not as much for other places.

70-200 f/2.8L II IS is great for church shots as it gives you reach flexibility while still letting in a decent amount of light.

24-70 f/2.8L II is a useful focal length and lens, but the primes in this range can offer superior photos due to low light capabilities and greater DOF control. Also, generally it is easy to move around in this range and get the focal length you desire, unlike the 70-200 range where it is often unreachable or impractical to reframe via movement. Thus for me 24-70 zooms are a backup lens, not a main lens.

In summary (on full frame FOV - multiply by 1.6 for crop equivalent)

8mm-23mm: not all that useful for 99% of wedding shots
24mm: good for landscape of grounds, can create impressive posed portrait shots with some work - but a very small percentage of shots due to perspective distortion
35mm-50mm: bulk of wedding shots will likely be in this range, better served by primes than a zoom
85mm: good for posed portraits, better served by primes than a zoom
Over 85mm: Often a f/2.8 zoom is useful for very long distances where moving to reframe may be impractical or impossible

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

There is a reason why the 24-70 L is called "The Wedding Lens". Along with a FF body, it takes care of most of your needs. A 17-55MM EF-s will do the same on a crop.

 

[Hjalmarg1]

I would choose.
Carrier: Blackrapid dual sling
Both bodies Canon 5d3 + Canon 7d2
Lens 1 (main): Sigma 50mm f/1.4 on 5D3
Lens 2 (Tele): Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS on 7D2
Lens 3 (wide): Sigma 24mm f/1.4
Lens 4 (jewelry/details): Canon 100mm f/2.8L
Lens (backup): Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II or wait for the upcoming new Sigma 24-70mm 'Art' version on 5D3

 

[niels123]

I personally notice that in those moments when 50mm is not enough, I have all the time to switch to 85 or 100L.

My lack of flexibility is in the fast wide angles which makes 18-35 (on crop!) so interesting. It equals 29 - 56mm on full frame and it's only $800, so a lot cheaper than canon's 24-70. I think I don't need the 24-29mm and the 57-70mm focal ranges a lot, especially since < 28mm distortion gets more and more visible.

What do you think, would 18-35 1.8 Art on 7D2 be an alternative to 24-70 2.8 on 5D3? I can then use 5D3 with 50, 85 or 100mm depending on the moment. Also f/1.8 versus f/2.8 makes quite a difference in low-light situations where there is not time to switch from 24 1.4 to 50 1.4.

btw: I also have the 135 f/2L and the 200 f/2.8L (the prime, not the zoom), but I rarely use them on a wedding because I find them too long.

I also heard about horror stories of expensive lens/body combo's falling of (in the water) with the blackrapid :-X

 

[Hjalmarg1]

I personally notice that in those moments when 50mm is not enough, I have all the time to switch to 85 or 100L.

My lack of flexibility is in the fast wide angles which makes 18-35 (on crop!) so interesting. It equals 29 - 56mm on full frame and it's only $800, so a lot cheaper than canon's 24-70. I think I don't need the 24-29mm and the 57-70mm focal ranges a lot, especially since < 28mm distortion gets more and more visible.

What do you think, would 18-35 1.8 Art on 7D2 be an alternative to 24-70 2.8 on 5D3? I can then use 5D3 with 50, 85 or 100mm depending on the moment. Also f/1.8 versus f/2.8 makes quite a difference in low-light situations where there is not time to switch from 24 1.4 to 50 1.4.

btw: I also have the 135 f/2L and the 200 f/2.8L (the prime, not the zoom), but I rarely use them on a wedding because I find them too long.

I also heard about horror stories of expensive lens/body combo's falling of (in the water) with the blackrapid :-X

I haven't owned the Sigma 18-35mm Art but reports suggest it is a great lens in APSC cameras so it is a very promissing option and save you time by changing lenses and the risk to miss a shot. You're correct that f1.8 makes a big difference in terms of light gathering.
Give it a try!