Two Wedding Lenses

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CornishBlue

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Hi all

So I have my first wedding shoot in 10 days times. I already have a 5D M2 body but will be hiring three lenses for the wedding day. Cant afford anything to pricey but Im not going to go for rock bottom either. I know Im going to need a portrait/Mid Range/Telephoto. So Im thinking: Would these be safe bets on ??? P.s sorry title should of said three lenses ;-)

Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8 L IS USM II

Canon 24-105 F/4 IS or Canon 24-70mm f/2.8

Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM

Thanks

Aiden
 
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70-200 f/2.8 is my favourite wedding lens. I try to shoot tele as much as possible only using wide angle for maybe 10% total shots. The 85mm 1.4 and 70-200 are my go to lenses. I could shoot an entire wedding easily with a 50mm on one body and 70-200 on another.
 
we use the following:

Sigma 15mm Diagonal 2.8 Fisheye
Canon 50mm 1.8
Tamron 17-50 2.8
Tamron 28-75 2.8
Canon 70-200 2.8
Sigma 70-200 2.8

2 bodies each so always have one tele and one short so never have to miss anything.
 
What lenses do you have at the moment. Instead of three lenses I would hire two and a second body.

If its your first wedding you are going to be stunned by the speed you will have to work at and changing lenses can be a real PITA and you could miss a great candid.
Weddings are not all about the posed shots and the 'off the cuff' shots can be the days winners.

Do also remember that in the euphoria of a wedding day, guests etc don't have your desire for everyone to be patient and get the shot right, (you are unfortunately the last thing on there mind). Be fully engaged on the job in hand and try to be in control without being too pushy. The wedding party and guests don't know what you want, they will look to you for guidance.

Do enjoy it though and enjoy that first drink when its all over, it will taste like nectar from the gods, trust me. Phew!
 
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as above, when you are shooting for essentially 10hours sometimes a nice drink at the end of it is like.... ahhhhhh
 
Thanks for the replies. I only have the body at the moment, just finished my degree in Natural History Photography and had to sell my kit to pay for my tuition fees.

Not sure I can hire a camera for cheap enough unless any knows of any places ?

www.aidenzralka.co.uk (site still under construction)
 
Its my Cousins wedding who Im doing for free so pressure is off a little. They couldnt afford to pay for one. But the Church and reception looking for nice. They wont all formal shots at the reception (very old grammar school) so things should be a little easy around the church, plus they dont want reportage shots of them getting ready.
 
Well you need backup. Things break and then what? Simple as that. And believe me you will not enjoy swapping your glass every second.

At least get an old cheap 5D or 1D2 from ebay.

70-200 and 24-70 are pretty much all you need, but 35 + 85 + 135 primes can be just as good or better. 24-105 is not as good, as f/4 aperture suggests. But again not with a single body. And I hope you have lots of flashes, batteries and memory cards. Good luck
 
I use

50 1.4
70-200 L 2.8 NON is
24-105 f/4
14 2.8 sigma

I use the 24-105 mainly :-)
 
I'd second the idea of hiring an extra body (and preferably a 5D II set up identically to yours), and a pair of lenses. I'd go for a 24-70 on one body and a 70-200 on the other, both f2.8 Canon L-series, so you've got wide for group shots and tele for close-crop portraits, with zoom to save you doing any lens changes.
 
yeah flashes can make usefull tools, especially if you take a group shot with the sun shining from one side of the faces a nice series of flashes to the shadow side can make a nice even shot with no shadows.

For reference we take 4 flashes to weddings but generally only use 2 when we use them.
 
I shoot pretty much all my weddings on a 24-70 and 70-200 f2.8.

I've recently added a 35mm f1.4 and loving that too.

2 bodies really are preferable.
 
Sorry but I also have to agree with everyone else, a second body is a must in my opinion. You wont have time to switch lenses through the day and will end up missing shots you'll wish you could have captured. I use a 5d and a 7d which in my opinion both work great for weddings. The lenses I use are mainly 70-200 and a tamron 17-50 I sometimes use my 50mm 1.8 too. I would definitely look at the cost of hiring a second body, you won't regret it.
 
Along with the pair of bodies, and the lens recommendations, I'm surprised no-one has mentioned insurance.
I know you mentioned it's for family, but you never know when you might need it.I know some will say it's unnecessary, but I would disagree. Even if only for the Liability cover.

Just my 2p worth !
 
I did a wedding recently and used a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX HSM for the church interior, a 24-105 f4L for the bride leaving and arriving as it was very good weather for it. I used a Canon 17-40 f4L for group shots outside the church where space was limited and the 24-105 for group shots where there was more room.

I'd taken all the lenses in my sig but only ended up using those 3, but the church was small and the reception venue was in a built up area so never got round to using my 70-200 MkII (which I was hoping to). I shot the ring shots with a 100L macro but it was at a later date as the brides ring was too small to fit right on the day.
 
GHP said:
Along with the pair of bodies, and the lens recommendations, I'm surprised no-one has mentioned insurance.
I know you mentioned it's for family, but you never know when you might need it.I know some will say it's unnecessary, but I would disagree. Even if only for the Liability cover.

Just my 2p worth !
Click to expand...

Yeah I agree actually I always forget to mention it to people as its just something that I always just have as our mother in law works in insurance so I tell her what I need and she sorts it! haha

Like accounts, our brother is an accountant so get him to do the books and I fix his car for him or take photos where he needs them. haha

But as above, even though its your family, god forbid you hit someone round the head with a camera they could get grumpy.
 
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