24-70 / 70-200 v Primes (Weddings)

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FlyTVR

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Right - I shoot weddings with a Sigma 24-70 F2.8 and the Canon 70-200 MKII F2.8 (plus the Canon 85mm F1.2).

The latter lenses are just great. Sharp at 2.8 (and 1.2).

It's the Sigma that's the problem. Although it is such a flexible lens - and great for studio / portrait work, I just have no faith with it's abilities at wider apertures.

Now, I'm thinking Canon 24-70 F2.8L. But........ what about the Canon 35mm F1.4L?

So my question to you lasses and chaps is re primes. If you are snapping away with 24-70 / 70-200s (hanging of your black rapids / spiders), have you / are you considering moving to primes e.g (in the Canon world)

85mm 1.2L
35mm 1.4L

Cheers.

Dav
 
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question massivley depends on what camera you are using.. I love my 35mm but its not as good as the 24-70 for group shots on a cropped body

As you have jokingly put "a black one" (gosh i laughed so much) as your camera it really doesnt help anyone offering advice :)
 
I shoot Nikon so can't advice about Canon gear but I use but a Nikon 24-70 and 70-200 lens for weddings. I also have a Nikon 50mm f1.8 and a Sigma 30mm f1.4 but of which will also get some use at weddings.

Personally I love the flexibility of the zooms and the sharpness and potential for shallow DoF of the primes so I tend to mix and match them where appropriate. I can get fairly nice bokeh at f2.8 with the zoom lenses but it's nothing compared to the primes so my next investments will be to get the Sigma 50mm f1.4 and the 85mm f1.4. Once I've got those I'll be completely happy with my lens line-up for weddings.
 
KIPAX said:
question massivley depends on what camera you are using.. I love my 35mm but its not as good as the 24-70 for group shots on a cropped body

As you have jokingly put "a black one" (gosh i laughed so much) as your camera it really doesnt help anyone offering advice :)
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They are black :)

Canon 5dii x 2
Canon 7d - in boot camera.
Canon 400ds x 2 - if all goes wrong

I'd still keep the 24-70 for groups - it's perfect. B&G on last but one wedding had two double deckers they wanted in the background for the main group shot. No problem on the 5d.

Cheers. Dav

Dav
 
-Rob- said:
I shoot Nikon so can't advice about Canon gear but I use but a Nikon 24-70 and 70-200 lens for weddings. I also have a Nikon 50mm f1.8 and a Sigma 30mm f1.4 but of which will also get some use at weddings.

Personally I love the flexibility of the zooms and the sharpness and potential for shallow DoF of the primes so I tend to mix and match them where appropriate. I can get fairly nice bokeh at f2.8 with the zoom lenses but it's nothing compared to the primes so my next investments will be to get the Sigma 50mm f1.4 and the 85mm f1.4. Once I've got those I'll be completely happy with my lens line-up for weddings.
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It's typical of me. I want my cake and ...

I think I'd be happy switching out to a 24-70 for the groups, but apart from that, I'm not sure I'd want to swap lenses outside of that.

It's difficult - and I don't want to really practice using just a 35 and a 85 at a live wedding.

b****r - I may just rent a 35mm and see how I like it!

Cheers all.

Dav
 
Why don't you look at all your wedding photos taken with your 24-70 and calculate the % of the shots at 24, 35, 50, and 70mm. If it's an even split, then maybe you need the flexibility and range that the zoom provides, if they're clustered near 35mm or 50mm then a prime might be a better option. I guess it depends on your shooting style.

Also, how often you need the wide apertures of the primes ... is f2.8 regularly not enough with the high ISO capabilities of current cameras?
 
Xenon54 said:
Why don't you look at all your wedding photos taken with your 24-70 and calculate the % of the shots at 24, 35, 50, and 70mm. If it's an even split, then maybe you need the flexibility and range that the zoom provides, if they're clustered near 35mm or 50mm then a prime might be a better option. I guess it depends on your shooting style.

Also, how often you need the wide apertures of the primes ... is f2.8 regularly not enough with the high ISO capabilities of current cameras?
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All good points. Thanks.

2.8 is usually enough granted. I
Just dont trust the sigma at 2.8. Hence why I'm thinking of either the canon version, or keeping the sigma and exploring the 35mm.

Ideally lottery win!!

Cheers.

Dav
 
i think i know what you mean. I use prime lens alot due to i don't have any 24-70 f2.8 and people look at me really weird when i use prime .......

I prefer prime to behonest, but it all depend on your shooting style. Most of my photo is taken 35mm- 50mm so prime will do me :)
 
At the moment, I prefer the felxability of the 24-70 and 70-200, but my mate shoots weddings with stunning results using nothing but primes, and 90% of the time the 35/85 combo you're considering

Both have their advantages, but the choice is up to you :)
 
I love my Canon 24-70. It's a lovely lens and I am happy to shoot at 2.8 as it's performance is great wide open. My only issue with the lens is the small amount of distorsion at 24mm but that is easily fixed in post. I don't think that a single 35mm would be enough for me. I carry my 50mm and 85mm most of the time but they only get used if there is the requirement due to light (lack of) or DoF. The 24-70 also focuses down to around 0.35m so can pull of ring shots (macro) pretty well too.
 
I'm 51% new 24-70 right now..

Edit -> 50 50 again. Surely a 24-70 is is on the cards soon ?

Cheers.

Dav
 
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I've always been shooting with zooms. But whilst a top spec 24-70 is an excellent zoom, I'm still blown away by what a super-fast prime can achieve and hence going towards primes more and more now (using a 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.4). I shoot with 2 bodies as well so it kinda helps if I'm a bit too short on one lens). I only switch to the zoom for the ultra wide (group shots) which dont require wide apertures anyway.
 
if you have multiple bodies, you can go with the prime, but if you have only one body it's bettes to go with the zoom.

yervant is mostly shoot with 24-70 all the time. if you prefer yervant's style.

with 24 -70 you are more ready to shoot in unpredictable situations, and have more time to compose creative. :D

Good Luck.. :D
 
The 24-70 L is a cracker if you get a good one, but theres so many stories about soft ones that kinda put me off for a while. I did however get a sharp one but also just picked up a 135L 2.0. The difference again in sharpness and IQ was a step up with the 135L and the 85mm is supposd to be better again for IQ. I think if you went for the 85 1.2 you would be a very happy chappy indeed (even more so coming from the sigma).
If it was me I would have the 85 on my second camera 90% of the time, the 70-200 for the other and maybe a 17-40L zoom to cover the lower reaches in my pocket.
 
Dav I've spent the last 3 weeks using a nikon 35mm f1.4 (amazing lens) and a 85mm f1.4 and i have to say the results are stunning. I must get round to posting some more images actually. They are a great combo, im going to use the exact set up at a wedding in sept. So much lighter too! I have a nikon 24 70 and a nikon 70 200 that I will keep on standby but I don't think I ll need them!
 
mh photography said:
Dav I've spent the last 3 weeks using a nikon 35mm f1.4 (amazing lens) and a 85mm f1.4 and i have to say the results are stunning. I must get round to posting some more images actually. They are a great combo, im going to use the exact set up at a wedding in sept. So much lighter too! I have a nikon 24 70 and a nikon 70 200 that I will keep on standby but I don't think I ll need them!
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Interesting - thank you!

Dav
 
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