Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I have a general idea of what lenses to use for weddings but I am very curious to see what works best for everyone. During the prep what lenses do you use? Is it the same lens if it was a wide shot or detail shot? What about for slider shots or glide cam shots? If you can give me a breakdown of your lens selection for each shot you go for throughout the wedding day, that was be very insightful.

I have a 70d with a 16-135mm f/3.5 and I am looking at the 35mm f/1.4 and the 70-200mm f/4. I am thinking the 16-135mm isnt wide enough for the glidecam and borrow a buddies 10-20mm.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I shoot m4/3 camera so cropfactor is different then your camera but I use a 25mm f1.4 during bride prep, it's not stabilised but I am able to handhold it steady enough to not use a monopod or tripod. I use a 12mm f2.0 which sits permanently on the steadicam and I use a 75mm f1.8 always on a tripod for talking heads and speeches at the venue. Then there is a stabilised 12-35mm f2.8 for more run and gun stuff.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

We use 70Ds, but without great lenses, we've been stuck using the kit lens 18-55mm STM during prep because it's focus is the smoothest and quietest of our lenses when using live autofocus, and a zoom lens gives us the flexibility we need. I'd love to know how well the lenses you have do.

For the ceremony itself, we use 50-250mm STMs on 70Ds in the outside aisles, because once we get to the vows, we like a very tight shot from over the groom's shoulder of the bride, and vice versa. The aisle camera is usually at about 135mm, but it depends on the church. Some larger venues I use 200mm (full frame)

Our lens noise tests with the 70D focus. I'm most interested in how the Sigma 50-150mm does, or Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 (or f/4) do.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

My lens that takes care of 90% of wedding is the Canon EFS 17-55 IS constant aperture F 2.8.
Razor sharp. Best all purpose lens ever made for APS size.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

when i use my Canon 5D Mk III, I use a EF 24-105mm f/4 and a EF 70-200mm f/2.8, for preparations in the Brides house it's the 24 -105, same for the first dance, during the speeches I am well back and use the 70 -200 sometimes will use this for the vows etc. depending on space and convenience.
I have a 35mm f/1.4 that i used before along with a EF 16-35mm f/2.8 which are both damaged after a fall from a bag, both these were good performers too.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

+1
Razor sharp, on tbe 70d, but we are using the c100 and 6d by far these days even though the 70d is auto focus, there is something special with full frame video that excites me

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Some that shoot 4K camera would highly disagree ;) but it's true that a constant fast aperture zoom is a must have lens that can be used for a wide variety type of shots.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Hi Sean,

I don't know how it works with crop factor, etc, but the following is what I'm packing on 5dMk3. All Canon. Note that my personal preference is either for wide or close; I don't like mid that much. So I actually don't like the 50mm length that most people use. I also much prefer zooms to primes; the ability to capture candid moments is more valuable to me (and one of the things I market my business on) than the more technically beautiful images from primes.

Bride prep

-- One shooter mainly on 24-105 -- for slider shots, general shots, whatever. It's just such a versatile lens. Love the IS, even for monopod shots. And the Mk3 can make up for the f/4 lowlight limitations.
-- Occasionally swapping out to either a 70-200 or 100-400 depending on the situation. If I have to shoot the bride getting dressed by myself, I'll stay on 24-105. But if I have a second who has the wide angles covered, I'll switch out to a close-up lens. If it's a skittish bride and bridesmaids group who are really uncomfortable around cameras, and there's enough room in the room, we might shoot a lot of the make-up etc on the close-up lenses as well.
-- Second shooter on 16-35 or 24-105 with steadicam. 16-35 because of the wide/deep focus factor. 24-105 for using steadicam with shallow depth of field while still retaining some versatility. IS also helps steadicam of course.
-- And we'd carry a 100mm macro for ring shots and some make-up shots.

Groom prep

-- Same as bride prep.

Ceremony

Well, we're going to be shooting this with a minimum of three cameras -- one wide, two close-ups. Sometimes four. Lenses vary a lot depending on layout etc. But a typical breakdown might be:

-- On processional, I'd be on a 70-200 to watch the bride coming down the aisle. Second shooter on 16-35 for steadicam for just the first part of the entry. Wide angle with... Well, we do carry some primes. Used to use a 24-70 for this. Now it's normally a 24mm or 50mm, or even 100mm. We often carry 40mm pancake as opposed to the 50, because that tiny bit of space it saves in the bags is actually helpful. Groom's first look -- ideally with a 70-200, but closer to the 70 end, since the camera is often unmanned.
-- For ceremony proper: two cameras at the front would have a 100-400 and a 28-300, so that they've got the reach to pick out faces in the audience. The 28-300 because sometimes the speaker is positioned quite close to the camera, so you'd need to be able to zoom out wide as well. Third wide-angle camera sticks with whatever it's got -- 24 or 50 normally. Fourth camera, if there is one, probably a 70-200, and would just get musician shots or be a couple cam mainly, or sometimes act as a safety wide during the signing.

Photoshoot

-- Usually I'm on a 70-200 or 100-400 on a monopod, and my second shooter is on a 16-35, with a 24-105 or 100mm handy for shallow-depth steadicam shots.

Reception

-- For details, same sorts of lenses we normally use. 24-105 + monopod/slider, 16-35 + steadicam. Maybe switching to 70-200 from time to time -- for instance, getting a nice shallow depth slider shot.
-- For candids, usually 70-200, because you need the f/2.8. If I can get away with it, I'll switch to 100-400, which is f/3.5-5.6.
-- For wide shots (for instance, on entry or during dancing or entertainment), something like 24mm f/1.4. Can sometimes get away with 40mm pancake.
-- During speeches: 100-400 and 28-300 to cover speaker and couple, and 70-200 for reaction shots. I'd rather use 100-400 for reactions, but depends on lighting conditions. We'd also have a fourth camera handy with a wide angle lens, usually 24mm these days (previously 24-70, but we've started carrying the 24mm in preference), because if we're all stuck on close-up lenses when they transition from speeches to cake cut, we're screwed.
-- First dance: 70-200, 16-35 + steadicam are the main lenses, with a 24mm safety wide.
-- For mucking around/getting creative shots, the sky's the limit. Will try lens-whacking with a Nikon 50mm, or run around with the 24mm getting wide-angle shallow-depth shots or whatever.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I also use Micro four thirds system ... namely Panasonic GH 3 and a GH 13.
I use the Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 for nearly everything close including steadicam shots. The only other lenses I use are the 20mm f1.7 and the 14-140 for longer outside shots.

I should also mention that I run a Nikon system as well. Nikon D610 and a Nikon D7100. I use 28mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4 and 28-75 f2.8 for the D610 and 17-50 f2.8, 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.4 for the D7100.
I do have a 70-200 f2.8 but never use it for video.

I also have dedicated video cameras Panasonic AC90 and Canon HFG30 for easy setup and capture as well as audio.

I use the GH 3 for 90 % of wedding coverage ... certainly would never use the Nikons handheld. My eyes are not good enough to accurately focus using the LCD screen but I love the fact that you can use the GH 3 viewfinder whilst shooting video.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Gosh

You guys must be all shooting from the back of the Church ..then again I'm pretty much up front so on APSC is seldom go any more than 50mm ... My choice at ceremonies is 17-50 and on the stedicam I stay at 18mm but if I do need a wider shot I use a Tamron 10-24 ... At receptions gain I like to stay close to the action so my 18-35 F1,8 virtually stays on all night so I don't need lights and the DOF is controllable

Wow 70-200 for bridal entrance!! even on full frame cameras 70mm means that unless you are a long way away all you are getting are the bridesmaid's faces.

I guess the lenses you use must match your position in the aisle and ceremony... I cannot imagine where I would use 200mm !! Each to their own.

Chris

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Answers are very insightful so far. If they came out with a full sensored autofocus DSLR, I would no doubt have that than the 70d.

I am for sure going to get the 70-200 f/4. No way I am spending $2500 for the 2.8. Hopefully f/4 is enough for the toasts.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Doesn't seem like there are a lot of prime shooters here. I prefer primes whenever I possibly can, outside of the ceremony.

I shoot with a 5d3 & 6D.

For prep I use the 35 Sigma 1.4 Art on the monopod (my favorite lens) or the Canon 24 1.4L on the slider. I also throw in the 50 1.4 (until I buy the Sigma 50 1.4 Art soon.)

For the ceremony I have the 24-105L on the 6D and the 70-200 2.8L on the 5D3.

For the reception I like to use the 24 & 35 whenever I can (I fly with the 24L always for dancing), but will mix in the 70-200 as well.

If I could shoot with only primes, I would. Well maybe except for the 70-200, which basically shoots like one.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I also utilize primes as much as possible. We typically use either a 35mm or 50mm during prep. I think the 35mm gives a little bit "fun/loose" feeling to the mood since the compression isn't as strong, so it really depends on if it's an intimate moment or a more relaxed moment. Of course it also depends on what I have room to utilize too (some rooms are small).

I'll usually fly with the 24 or 14. The 14 makes it feel like you're moving fast through a frame.

The ceremony has 1 cam with the 24-105 and two with the 70-200.

The reception we use a 70-200 and 85mm for toast. And will typically will use the 50mm, 35mm and 85mm primes during the rest of the ceremony. It just depends on what is going on.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

With the 70-200 you will need to splash the cash and get the IS version. At that focal length you will often find the 'shimmer' from vibrations will be very noticeable.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

"splash the cash", would be a great slogan for a bumper sticker when my wife goes out shopping. :)

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

From my experience without any added lighting, f/4 is NOT good enough for the toasts. 2.8 isn't even good enough for a lot of my dimly lit receptions. Again, this depends on if you use your own lighting and/or don't mind pumping the ISO up pretty high.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Hey Sean, whether f/4 is good enough for toasts... Your mileage will vary a lot. Round here, it wouldn't be good enough for general reception/dance floor stuff, but it would be good enough for the toasts, because bride and groom normally are seated at a top table rather than amongst the rest of the guests, and the top table is lit differently by the venue. Speeches are usually done either from the top table, or a lectern beside it.

Always carry extra lighting with you anyway, just in case...

Also: it's possible to find a 70-200 f/2.8 IS version 1 that's a lot cheaper than the version 2. Probably around $1200 on eBay.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

F4 is good for the reception if you have a C100... maaaybe a 5DM3.

I've used both and the C100 can give usable footage at 10,000 ISO so F4 is definitely usable. You're really pushing your luck with a 5DM3 though.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

thats what i've been doing since i got the 5D Mk III (pushing my luck) but as i said elsewhere venues in my area are so badly lit by the Band/DJ or whatever (think of laser lights) it doesn't really matter what light/lens I use these days. i do ask the couples if they can enquire what sort of setup their Band/DJ will have and explain the problems associated with these and possible solutions, so mainly then it's up to the couple.

I'd agree with the view that the 70-200 f/4 wouldn't really cut it in a lot of situations.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

On our C100 and 6D which can both do 10,000 nicely the F4 will be fine. We have the 24-105f4 as it has IS and it does just fine. On the 70D you will struggle. Certainly here in the UK we find most churches f2.8 at ISO 850 is the sweet spot. F4 would require quite a bit more ISO and you will see the noise on the 70D.

We know a couple of people who went for the 70-200 F4 non IS and sent it back within the week to upgrade. Even not touching your tripod you will see the shake from simple floor vibrations. Instances where the IS is needed. Marquee with false floor, tripod on a dance floor and photog walks around, floor shake from vibrations like bass speakers.

The usual goto, all rounder is the 24-70 f2.8. No IS needed at those focal lengths and highly versatile.

Other popular lenses for the 70D would be the 35mm f1.4 or save and get the f2. On the 70D this equals roughly 50mm.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 vc magnificent and i would be lost without it...Sigma 70-200 2.8 is also brilliant... Stabilization a little stiff on a mono-pod but cs6 warp takes care of it.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I shoot with a FS100 and my set up has always been 24-105 for pre ceremony, ceremony and main events at the reception. I use the tokina 11-16 on a monopod for general party dancing as well as some prep shots. One of my favorite specialty lenses would be the Canon FD 50 1.4 which gets pulled out a few times throughout the day as well. I just bought a speedbooster so now the 24-105 is a beast but it really makes me long for the 70-200 F4 now, which would be 2.8 with the booster. The tokina looks great at 16 f/2 with the booster but I think I would much rather have the 16-35 now.

Point being the speedbooster and crop factors really change things.

My B roll set up is a GH3 set up with all FD lenses, 200 f2.8, 50 f1.4, 35-105 f3.5, 24-35 L f 3.5 all with a metabones speedbooster as well.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Chris, it changes, but we put cameras at the front of the outside aisles, but have a zoom that can reach 250mm on a crop factor because large churches are very common here, and we like a tight shots of the B&G's faces for vows.

For our aisle camera, we have churches with, literally, 50 meter aisles, and if I'm camped at the front (near the groom), I'll want at least 50mm, but when they don't do a first look, and I'm supposed to get the bride's reaction when they see each other the first time... well, you get it.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I agree, we use 70-200 every single ceremony and in most cases, I wish it were longer! You really need 200mm for a tight shot to capture the emotion well not only from the couple but also the audience's reactions.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Prime shooter here! lol!

well we use to rely heavily on our zooms 24-70L and 70-200L but have been using more and more prime lenses specially for preps, b-rolls and reception. Outside of the ceremony, we barely use our zooms. We have 60Ds and Mark IIs and use Canon 50m f1.4 and f1.8, 35m f1.4, 85m f1.8, 135m f2 ,Sigma 30m f1.4 and Helios 55m f2 for preps and broll items. I often use the sigma 30m for slider shots.
We also have a Rokinon 14m f2.8 which stays on our glidecam and the tamron 17-50 which stays on the jibcam. We actually just sold our Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and Tamron 28-75 f2.8 since they were just collecting dust.

For ceremonies we use 2x 70-200L in the front and the 135 or 85 in the middle. For the the reception we both use 135Ls and have found that to be simply awesome!

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Awesome answer Kren!

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I use a video camera.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Hi John

Brilliant answer as always! I also use a video camera but I can change lenses and from the sound of things the DSLR people seem to walk around with bags around their waist snapping on and off lenses every few minutes. If my ceremony is not a candlelit one in a cave at midnight, I keep the camera's stock 18-200 zoom on both cameras ...they do the job ! At receptions that are dark and dingy, I swop the stock lens when I get to the venue to a Sigma 18-35 F1.8 and that stays on all night.

I couldn't imagine changing lens all the time I must admit but I guess if you are using primes you have no option. Then again I'm lazy ..if it works don't change it!

Chris

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

If you never would change a lens on a dslr you are not using the camera for what it has been designed for and your better of with a fixed lens videocamera, why bother having to work with all the functional limitations a dslr styled camera has when you can make it so easy for yourself with sony ex1 style camera? I really would like to have a 10-200 f1.2 stabilised lens with autofocus on my gh3 but that will never happen, the biggest advantage a dslr has is that you can get a lens for each specific type of shot you need it for and get an image that way no fixed lens camera will every be able to give you. Nobody likes changing lenses but if you want to get the most out of a situation you need to do it.
There is a way though to use the right lens for every type of shot without having to exchange lenses all the time and that's to get a separate body for each lens :)

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

It's quite common for wedding photographers to use two cameras. One camera with a 24-70mm F/2.8 & the other with a 70-200mm F/2.8

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I think Kren mentioned something around 10 different lenses used throughout a shoot, you'd have to put a sticker with lenstype on each camerabody to know which lens is on :)

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I can definitely see someone who uses that many lenses to switch lenses shoot and then realize after they had the wrong lens on :)

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I had this once with my sony nex-ea50 last year, I had a samyang 24mm f1.4 on as there was a series of acts at a wedding in a dark venue that I shot from a tripod, then suddenly the groom had a surprise act (which he didn't seem to find important to inform me about) and he performed a dance act, it was too late to switch lenses, my steadicam with a wide lens was on the other side of the venue and I was forced to shoot the whole thing up close having constant focussing issues and not being able to show everything. Now I have a backup camera with a wide lens on me all the time if I"m shooting with my 75mm prime. I got a b-grip camera belt camera holder specifically for that reason, my sony rx10 is now permanently attached to my side ready to be used when I need it.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I splurged on the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS1 for $1500. So im gonna be working with that, 35mm 1.4, and 18-135mm and a10-20mm f/4. I think im all set.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Definitely set. Your wallet might be hurting now, but if you take care of that lens you can use it forever. In terms of full frame, you could shoot an entire wedding on 35 and 70-200 and nothing else and get fantastic results.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

70-200 f/2.8 - That's the lens I use mainly for speeches but only in larger venues as 70mm not wide enough for unexpected walk arounds by speakers - for smaller venues I use 24-105mm which with my metabones speedbooster (I'm on a APS sensor) I get down to f/2.8 - nice

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

Fortunately I have 8 months of 0% APR so I wont be feeling the hurt too much., The real hurt is these dang airfare prices. I feel like airfare prices are generally $50 more than a year ago.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

One of the reasons I've never gone down the DSLR route for wedding videos is due to the unknowns of what's going to be going on and exactly what kind of shots you'll be able to get. I really like the convenience of going from 28mm to 600mm with the push of a rocker on my Sony NX5U.

However, I did do an experimental wedding earlier this year where I shot everything using my Nikon V1, 17-55 F2.8, and 70-200 F2.8.

The 17-55 was used on everything inside for preps and slider shots, and the 70-200 was used outside during the ceremony.

Worked great!

My buddy was running 2 Canon XF300s getting other shots, so that took a lot of pressure off.

Re: Weddings: I would like to get your take on specific lenses for specific shots....
 

I do miss that to from my xh-a1 and I still much prefer my sony cx730 in any run and gun, they are such easy camera's to operate, yet get excellent results from. But whenever I get the chance I"lll use my dslr's, the image has a much more appealing look to it then what my cx730's can provide.