One lens wedding - but which one?

aberal

aberal

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Alan
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I'm going to a family wedding next week in Italy as a guest and have been asked to take informal photos at various times during the day as a record of events. I'm relaxed about it and looking forward to the it, but what I can't figure out is which of my lenses to take. I have no desire or inclination to cart them all, all the way to Italy and then cart them everywhere and faff about swapping them all day long. So am only going to take one lens, but which one?

I normally use a Sigma 10-20, a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 and a Tamron 28-75 f2.8. The last one is for a full frame sensor so actually gives me a focal length or around 42-110mm. I reckon the Sigma is a non-starter but can't decide between the other two. The 28-75 is my first thought, but I don't think that at 42mm it's going to be wide enough for group shots. I'm now thinking the 17-50, wide enough for group shots, not long enough really for portraits, but I could post-crop if needs be. Oh, decisions, decisions...!!! Any experts out there with thoughts on this?
 
i'd go for the 17-50mm, gives you the best of both world because sometimes you do need a bit of wideangle for these kind of things.

50mm isnt that bad for portraits either!
 
Don't discount the 10-20mm - can get some good shots that you'd not get with other lenses - this was shot at 10mm...

3923093464_a5ea570f5c.jpg


If it were me, I'd take the 10-20 and the 28-75. I don't think the 17-50 will have the reach for good candid photos with the subject unaware of you.
 
While I agree with the above post, if you can only take 1 lens, I'd say the 17-50. Wide enough for the wide shots, but you should still be able to get a few candids and do a bit of cropping!
 
In the past many weddings were photographed with a standard lens, many MF TLRs did not have interchangable lenses.

When I started doing weddings in the early 80s I used a Tamron SP 35-80 on 35mm, this covered all my needs comfortably (bloody good lens too), so if it was me using a 1.6x cropper I would take the 17-50 as this gives you a 27-80mm equiv AOV.
 
another thumbs up for 17-50. you can almost always get closer at a wedding, but not always further away.
 
siwhite said:
Don't discount the 10-20mm - can get some good shots that you'd not get with other lenses - this was shot at 10mm...

3923093464_a5ea570f5c.jpg


If it were me, I'd take the 10-20 and the 28-75. I don't think the 17-50 will have the reach for good candid photos with the subject unaware of you.
Click to expand...

I agree with some and not others in you post.

I agree that a wide angle is nice, and would give you some shots you can't get.

ie this is 16mm on FF

img2514z.jpg


However, for 1 lens, 24-70 or the 17-50 is what one should be getting. and as for "I don't think the 17-50 will have the reach for good candid photos with the subject unaware of you.".

The skill for candid is not purely distance, but also your behaviour. I can get perfectly good candids on a 24-70 or 16-35, try taking this at 70-200 :p

 
OK - thanks everybody, looks like general consensus is that the 17-50 shades it. I have half a day in Rome on the way back so as a walkabout it'll do the trick for that too. But...
Steve Smith said:
The best one to take will be the one you left at home!
Click to expand...
...never a truer word was spoke! :)
 
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