switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

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Archive 2009 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

jonnystapes
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p.1 #1 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

Hi everyone,

I plan on purchasing a 5D Mark II once I can find one available, and would like some help deciding on what lenses to go with. I plan on shooting mostly wedding's so the lenses I'm looking at would relate to that. So far the lenses I'm looking at would be the 16-35L II 2.8, 24L, 35L, Sigma 50 1.4, 85L, and 70-200 2.8 IS. As of right now after the purchase of the camera I could really only afford 2 of the above. Would like to know what 2 lenses could you not live without? Which 2 lenses could you handle most weddings with? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jan 06, 2009 at 05:14 PM

Tony Hoffer
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p.1 #2 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

All very strong choices. Glad to see you're avoiding the 24-70.

If you had to choose only two, most will probably tell you to go with the 35L, and either the 85L or 70-200.

Personally, I do most of my work with the 24L, SIgma 50 1.4 and 70-200 which would be about the same price as above.

Jan 06, 2009 at 05:22 PM

asimsoofi
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p.1 #3 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

Are you just starting out? If so, I would recommend getting two used 5D's. Save the money for the glass.

Do you like working with zooms or primes? Low light? What is your style of shooting?

All the lenses you mentioned are great, but only shine depending on the user.

/asim

Jan 06, 2009 at 05:23 PM

scott shoemake
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p.1 #4 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

50 1.2, 24 1.4, 70-200 2.8 IS, 135L and 100 2.8 macro should do the trick for ya.

Jan 06, 2009 at 05:24 PM

bryanfoto
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p.1 #5 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

Perhaps go with 1 prime and 1 Zoom to start out. The 50 1.4 and the 70-200 2.8 are a great start IMO.

Jan 06, 2009 at 05:57 PM

jonnystapes
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p.1 #6 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

wow thanks for the replies. I feel comfortable with prime or zoom. Wow scott i wish i could afford all that, maybe in due time. Tony yeah that is a setup I think I might be leaning towards, have you used the 16-35? Any thoughts or feelings towards it? Can't say I have really established a style of shooting, since I do consider myself new, but I want to make sure I start out on the right foot and not have to worry about upgrading with in the next year.

Jan 06, 2009 at 06:00 PM

jcolman
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p.1 #7 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

Tony, just curious why you don't like the 24-70?

Jan 06, 2009 at 06:03 PM

Tony Hoffer
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p.1 #8 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

jonny...
O have used and still own the 16-35. It's a great lens. My second shooter uses it. I opted for the 24 because of the low light capabilities and the background blur. Good call getting the good stuff first. You're smarter than most of us.

Jim,
Just never liked it. 2.8 isn't quite fast enough for me without image stabilization. But mostly I think it's soft at 2.8 and I like more background blur than it offers all the way up to about 60mm. Canon's primes own.... which is why I own them

Jan 06, 2009 at 06:14 PM

cschmauch
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p.1 #9 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

Hey Jonny, your bro told me you're gonna start second shooting so that changes your needs for sure. I personally think the 24-70 is the bread & butter multipurpose focal range for wedding work on a FF camera. 16-35 is nice, but I personally only use that maybe 10% of the time - most wedding pics are of people, and that FOV is too wide for flattering pics of people. The 50mm is always a no-brainer as it's fast, small, cheap, and optically very nice. The 70-200 is great for second shooters if you're more comfortable with "sniper-style" shooting [aka from a distance]. But if you're looking to get up close, interact with people, take small group shots with limited room [like in a crowded reception hall], but still have a decent amount of reach for candid portraits, the 24-70 range is critical. I think an ideal setup would be a fast prime of choice on one camera and the 24-70 on your main camera.

Jan 06, 2009 at 06:25 PM

Tony Schreiber
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p.1 #10 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

I have the same feelings as Tony (Hoffer) regarding the 28-70 that I have. Seems too soft at 2.8. For weddings alone, I could get by (haha, get by with $2600 in glass) with just the 35/1.4 and 85/1.2. I own a 70-200/2.8 and will never let it go, but it doesn't get used that much at weddings with me. In addition to the 5D, I have a 1D3 and (with its 1.3 crop) use that to get ~45 and ~110 when I need it.

Jan 06, 2009 at 06:25 PM

jefferies1
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p.1 #11 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

It really depends on the weddings you book. I get a lot of the "stay in the balcony" or be removed from the church weddings so I could not show up without a 70-200. If I booked big churches ( size of stadiums) I would need longer. On the opposite I must have something for those tiny churches where a wide angle is required even with your back up against the wall. I also get a lot of "stand in one place and never move" weddings so I would not be without my 24-70 for mixing close and wide shots using one camera. If I have the option of moving around a little then I can see using primes. Most churches in my area have lots of restrictions.

Jan 06, 2009 at 08:13 PM

prof_fate
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p.1 #12 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

16-35
70-200 2.8 IS
and a 50. The 1.2 is tremendous, but with the other lenses you budget might like the 1.4 better (but if you shoot wide open there is no comparison).

Jan 06, 2009 at 08:58 PM

cycleson
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p.1 #13 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

technocraft wrote:
I have the same feelings as Tony (Hoffer) regarding the 28-70 that I have. Seems too soft at 2.8. For weddings alone, I could get by (haha, get by with $2600 in glass) with just the 35/1.4 and 85/1.2. I own a 70-200/2.8 and will never let it go, but it doesn't get used that much at weddings with me. In addition to the 5D, I have a 1D3 and (with its 1.3 crop) use that to get ~45 and ~110 when I need it.

My same set up...although I just traded my 16-35 for a 24L to try it out.

Jan 07, 2009 at 03:09 AM

radioblurs
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p.1 #14 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

congratulations on switching to canon-your troubles are over!!

Jan 07, 2009 at 03:28 AM

timbop
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p.1 #15 · switching to canon, need help choosing lenses

24-70 and 70-200/2.8IS are a dynamite combo for weddings, IMHO. On FF 16 is awfully wide, and I could imagine being at the longer end of the 16-35 all the time.

Jan 07, 2009 at 03:33 AM


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