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07/29/2010 02:06:16 PM · #1
hello all. My sister is getting married come Jan and asked that I take some photos. So I need some advice on a new lens as all I have is the kit lens and a prime 50mm f/1.8 for my Canon 20d.

I imagine the prime will be ok for some of the ceremony, but want a zoom that I can walk around with and hopefully not need to be using the flash.

I was thinking something along the lines of This Sigma. I'd really like a lens that's 2.8 across the zoom but it doesn't look like that's something I'd be able to afford.

//www.amazon.com/Sigma-17-70mm-2-8-4-Canon-Digital/dp/B002ZNJB32/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2JD6I93YIWY96&colid=14JGCPMYD5KUQ

If anyone has experience with the above lens or has some better options in the same price range I'd appreciate it. Also any general tips for shooting at a wedding would be nice. She knows I'm not a pro, but I'd still like to get some good print worthy shots.
07/29/2010 02:23:27 PM · #2
Is this going to be indoors or outdoors? What sort of conditions we talking, time of day? Don't be surprised if you need to use a flash, and be prepared to do so before you show up.
While I seem to be one of the few people that want to rail against the Tamron 28-75 2.8, I'd suggest it for your use. I love everything about the lens but the autofocus, which is very slow. Since you're looking for bang for buck, it might be worth considering. Great color rendition, great contrast, great sharpness. I would go for a budget 2.8 above trying to compensate with high iso on the 20D, personally. It will mean that you will have to spend more time on each shot, ensuring focus is solid and predicting some events in order to get great, sharp, shots, but I think it will be a better choice. Another option is to check out Topaz Denoise 4, because with a slower lens you may need it...
I have not tried the Sigma 28-70, though I'm personally of the opinion that Sigma lenses are made better than Tamrons.
Alternately... rent a Canon...
At least on the Nikon side... there's a vast difference between the Tamron 28-75 and the Nikon 28-70. WORLD'S APART.
07/29/2010 02:45:36 PM · #3
Don't forget lensrentals.com..

I would strongly consider renting a 50 1.0 for a wedding :) As a matter of a fact it's on the short list of lens for an upcoming wedding I'm attending..

Of course the 85 1.2 is another excellent prime, but you did say zoom didn't you..

Take a look at what they have to offer, I think you might find a superb way to get amazing results while staying within your budget...
07/29/2010 07:01:14 PM · #4
Originally posted by coryboehne:

Don't forget lensrentals.com..

I would strongly consider renting a 50 1.0 for a wedding :) As a matter of a fact it's on the short list of lens for an upcoming wedding I'm attending..

Of course the 85 1.2 is another excellent prime, but you did say zoom didn't you..

Take a look at what they have to offer, I think you might find a superb way to get amazing results while staying within your budget...


OK, realistically you are probably looking at the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8 - the 85 being a superb lens. See if you can rent some lenses.

Cory, one of my assistants has the 50mm f1.0 - completely useless at apertures above f1.4 - the shallowest DOF and to be honest it isnt a very sharp lens at all. Even at f1.4 it is rather soft. Its more of a collectors item these days and not practical.

However it is one massive chunk of glass and like the 85 f1.2 the rear element is so big the contacts actually sit on the glass.. insane!

Message edited by author 2010-07-29 19:01:42.
07/29/2010 07:42:07 PM · #5
The tamron 28-75 f2.8 is a nice lens and might work for you. It's also pretty cheap to pick one up second hand.

I have one and it's sharp at 2.8 but at 3.2 it's really sharp and it's sharp right across the image.

Message edited by author 2010-07-29 19:46:03.
07/29/2010 07:47:03 PM · #6
Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Don't forget lensrentals.com..

I would strongly consider renting a 50 1.0 for a wedding :) As a matter of a fact it's on the short list of lens for an upcoming wedding I'm attending..

Of course the 85 1.2 is another excellent prime, but you did say zoom didn't you..

Take a look at what they have to offer, I think you might find a superb way to get amazing results while staying within your budget...


OK, realistically you are probably looking at the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8 - the 85 being a superb lens. See if you can rent some lenses.

Cory, one of my assistants has the 50mm f1.0 - completely useless at apertures above f1.4 - the shallowest DOF and to be honest it isnt a very sharp lens at all. Even at f1.4 it is rather soft. Its more of a collectors item these days and not practical.

However it is one massive chunk of glass and like the 85 f1.2 the rear element is so big the contacts actually sit on the glass.. insane!


You don't actually think I'd even try to shoot it above f/1.2 do you? The whole point of the 50 f/1.0 is that super dreamy look it can pull off... I do love that look
07/29/2010 07:48:06 PM · #7
Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 Sweet lens but pricey. I also agree that renting may be your best bet
07/29/2010 07:53:28 PM · #8
Originally posted by jminso:

Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 Sweet lens but pricey. I also agree that renting may be your best bet


Bit long for a wedding, but it might well prove useful for alter shots, etc...
07/29/2010 08:15:25 PM · #9
Originally posted by coryboehne:

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Don't forget lensrentals.com..

I would strongly consider renting a 50 1.0 for a wedding :) As a matter of a fact it's on the short list of lens for an upcoming wedding I'm attending..

Of course the 85 1.2 is another excellent prime, but you did say zoom didn't you..

Take a look at what they have to offer, I think you might find a superb way to get amazing results while staying within your budget...


OK, realistically you are probably looking at the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8 - the 85 being a superb lens. See if you can rent some lenses.

Cory, one of my assistants has the 50mm f1.0 - completely useless at apertures above f1.4 - the shallowest DOF and to be honest it isnt a very sharp lens at all. Even at f1.4 it is rather soft. Its more of a collectors item these days and not practical.

However it is one massive chunk of glass and like the 85 f1.2 the rear element is so big the contacts actually sit on the glass.. insane!


You don't actually think I'd even try to shoot it above f/1.2 do you? The whole point of the 50 f/1.0 is that super dreamy look it can pull off... I do love that look


Easy to achieve that Canon 50mm f1.0 look - Photoshop -> Filter -> Blur -> Guassian Blur.
07/29/2010 08:18:10 PM · #10
Originally posted by coryboehne:

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Don't forget lensrentals.com..

I would strongly consider renting a 50 1.0 for a wedding :) As a matter of a fact it's on the short list of lens for an upcoming wedding I'm attending..

Of course the 85 1.2 is another excellent prime, but you did say zoom didn't you..

Take a look at what they have to offer, I think you might find a superb way to get amazing results while staying within your budget...


OK, realistically you are probably looking at the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8 - the 85 being a superb lens. See if you can rent some lenses.

Cory, one of my assistants has the 50mm f1.0 - completely useless at apertures above f1.4 - the shallowest DOF and to be honest it isnt a very sharp lens at all. Even at f1.4 it is rather soft. Its more of a collectors item these days and not practical.

However it is one massive chunk of glass and like the 85 f1.2 the rear element is so big the contacts actually sit on the glass.. insane!


You don't actually think I'd even try to shoot it above f/1.2 do you? The whole point of the 50 f/1.0 is that super dreamy look it can pull off... I do love that look


designing the lense for 1.0 if extremely difficult and demanding. But when people say that these lenses are soft, most of these lenses are sharper than the alternative they suggest on their apertures. For example shoot 50mm F1.0 and 50mm F2.8 at F2.8 and you will see that the lense designed for F1.0 is much sharper than the one designed for F2.8.

Plus you are correct about the look that F1.0 can produce. Its an additional plus.

07/29/2010 08:20:37 PM · #11
Originally posted by coryboehne:

Originally posted by jminso:

Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 Sweet lens but pricey. I also agree that renting may be your best bet


Bit long for a wedding, but it might well prove useful for alter shots, etc...


Not at all, the 70-200 f2.8 is fantastic for portraits, candids, compressing backgrounds and isolating subjects. I would hate to shoot a wedding without it in my kitbag.


All taken on the 70-200 f2.8L
07/29/2010 09:42:28 PM · #12
Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Originally posted by jminso:

Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 Sweet lens but pricey. I also agree that renting may be your best bet


Bit long for a wedding, but it might well prove useful for alter shots, etc...


Not at all, the 70-200 f2.8 is fantastic for portraits, candids, compressing backgrounds and isolating subjects. I would hate to shoot a wedding without it in my kitbag.


All taken on the 70-200 f2.8L


Beautiful work Simms
07/29/2010 10:26:44 PM · #13
I didn't even know I could rent a lens. That may very well be worth looking into. At work now so I'll have to check later.

The Canon 70-200 IS 2.8, is that the L series that runs almost 2k? I'd love that but way out of my price range.
07/29/2010 10:31:56 PM · #14
Originally posted by bmatt17:

I didn't even know I could rent a lens. That may very well be worth looking into. At work now so I'll have to check later.

The Canon 70-200 IS 2.8, is that the L series that runs almost 2k? I'd love that but way out of my price range.
\

If you get it in the II version it's well over 2k :)
07/29/2010 10:57:47 PM · #15
Well I looked at that lens rental site and I think I'm sold. Would the 70-200 handle the entire event or would I want something with a wider angle to go with it?

This is where the wedding will take place.

//belltowerchapel.com/default.aspx
07/30/2010 12:37:07 AM · #16
Holy cow, that place is awesome beautiful, and awesome dark too...

I think I would strongly consider getting a wide fast lens too - shame you're using a crop body, I suppose you don't have the $$ to rent a 5D or a 5D mark II with those lenses huh? :)
07/30/2010 12:43:26 AM · #17
Since you're going the rental route, there's a guy on DPC that rents lenses. It's a smaller operation than the one mentioned earlier, though, so selection/availability isn't as large.
//www.rentphotostuff.com/ NVPhoto

If I remember correctly they may do specials for DPC people too. I was going to get one from them awhile back but ended up not needing to do so.
07/30/2010 12:45:10 AM · #18
I use my 17-55 2.8 along with a 70-200 2.8 and it seems to handle most of the wedding shots.
07/30/2010 12:49:59 AM · #19
Define 'budget'.

I'd recommend a Canon 28-135 IS. It's about $400 and would do a decent job since it has IS and it would be a great multi-purpose lens for a lot of other things.
07/30/2010 01:03:36 AM · #20
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Define 'budget'.

I'd recommend a Canon 28-135 IS. It's about $400 and would do a decent job since it has IS and it would be a great multi-purpose lens for a lot of other things.


I own the lens, and I can definitely say that, while the 28-135 is a good lens, and a very good value overall, your money is better spent on the $700 EF-S 15-85 IS... The optics are in a completely different class, and the IS is much, much better... Oh, and the 28-135 IS is sloppy, you can zoom to 135mm by tilting the camera to a 70 degree angle..

Really, the 28-135 is an ok lens, but with the release of the 15-85 IS, I can't see any reason to go for it..

And the 15-85 IS would still be pretty slow for use at a wedding, so I still might rent for that, but - as an all-arounder the 15-85 is amazing. really, really nice.

Note that the 15-85 IS is a very new lens, and the 28-135 is over a decade old.

Message edited by author 2010-07-30 01:06:05.
07/30/2010 02:25:01 AM · #21
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Define 'budget'.

I'd recommend a Canon 28-135 IS. It's about $400 and would do a decent job since it has IS and it would be a great multi-purpose lens for a lot of other things.


Well honestly $400-$600 would probably be an absolute max for me, unless I got lucky come tax day. My problem is I have too many hobbies and not enough time or money.

I know I want to buy a nice walk around lens for my camera. But I just got a new telescope, and it requires some new glass too. Good eyepieces go for several hundred each. I'm actually going to the Oregon Star Party here in August so maybe I'll find out I'm happy with what I have and can focus on my other hobbies.

And I know I'm gonna rent that L series and not be happy with anything else.
07/30/2010 03:16:10 AM · #22
Originally posted by bmatt17:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Define 'budget'.

I'd recommend a Canon 28-135 IS. It's about $400 and would do a decent job since it has IS and it would be a great multi-purpose lens for a lot of other things.


Well honestly $400-$600 would probably be an absolute max for me, unless I got lucky come tax day. My problem is I have too many hobbies and not enough time or money.

I know I want to buy a nice walk around lens for my camera. But I just got a new telescope, and it requires some new glass too. Good eyepieces go for several hundred each. I'm actually going to the Oregon Star Party here in August so maybe I'll find out I'm happy with what I have and can focus on my other hobbies.

And I know I'm gonna rent that L series and not be happy with anything else.


I have one L lens, and I can say, I'm still very happy with the 15-85 :) (but it's no L lens. )
07/30/2010 03:27:36 AM · #23
Originally posted by RamblinR:

The tamron 28-75 f2.8 is a nice lens and might work for you. It's also pretty cheap to pick one up second hand.

I have one and it's sharp at 2.8 but at 3.2 it's really sharp and it's sharp right across the image.


hmm that one looks pretty nice. I may consider that when I get my walk around lens.
07/30/2010 04:00:41 AM · #24
Originally posted by bmatt17:

Originally posted by RamblinR:

The tamron 28-75 f2.8 is a nice lens and might work for you. It's also pretty cheap to pick one up second hand.

I have one and it's sharp at 2.8 but at 3.2 it's really sharp and it's sharp right across the image.


hmm that one looks pretty nice. I may consider that when I get my walk around lens.


I`m an advocate for that lens. Great for the price and sharp as a tack.
07/30/2010 04:02:01 AM · #25
Originally posted by coryboehne:

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Originally posted by jminso:

Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 Sweet lens but pricey. I also agree that renting may be your best bet


Bit long for a wedding, but it might well prove useful for alter shots, etc...


Not at all, the 70-200 f2.8 is fantastic for portraits, candids, compressing backgrounds and isolating subjects. I would hate to shoot a wedding without it in my kitbag.


All taken on the 70-200 f2.8L


Beautiful work Simms


Gracias mi amigo.
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