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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding?

 

 


RustyB
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Jan 24, 2008, 2:48 PM

Post #1 of 23 (1076 views)
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What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? Can't Post

(In 35mm equivalent.) What's the longest lens you typically need? I used to have a 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 (100-400mm 35mm equivalent on Olympus 4/3), but it seemed like it would be way too short for church weddings. I sold it last year, and I'm debating on whether to buy another one for weddings.

Instead, I'm considering the much cheaper 70-300mm f4-5.6 (140-600mm), which would seem like a great zoom range for ceremonies, but way too slow for shooting in churches? At $399 and a current $50 mail-in rebate, however, it's pretty tempting....until I can afford something better.

Of course, if I keep a similar price structure as I now have with video, hopefully it will mean fewer church weddings. Then at the chapel/hotel weddings, I can just go stand front and center, 2' from the B&G during the vows, and block the videographer and every single other guest from being able to see....no telephoto needed. Laugh





the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production



Brackish
Veteran


Jan 24, 2008, 5:22 PM

Post #2 of 23 (1070 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

I recommend the Canon 200 f/2.0 IS with the Olympus-to-Canon
adapter. The adapter is a little pricey, though ... best to shop around.


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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


RustyB
Veteran


Jan 24, 2008, 5:40 PM

Post #3 of 23 (1064 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

$6K might be a little out of my budget. Laugh





the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production



Brackish
Veteran


Jan 24, 2008, 6:46 PM

Post #4 of 23 (1053 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To
I'm considering the much cheaper 70-300mm f4-5.6 (140-600mm), which would seem like a great zoom range for ceremonies, but way too slow for shooting in churches?


Way too slow for churches. Remember the PDX10.


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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


Brackish
Veteran


Jan 24, 2008, 7:06 PM

Post #5 of 23 (1052 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To
I used to have a 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 (100-400mm 35mm equivalent on Olympus 4/3), but it seemed like it would be way too short for church weddings.

"Way too short"? Curious what the photogs by you are using? I basically only shoot church weddings and, except for one photog who starts at $5000, the longest lens I've seen used is 200mm - and this is on 1.6X crop (so 320mm equivalent). A number of the photogs don't even use 200mm. Interested to see what the others here have to say about what is the longest being used in their markets.


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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


RustyB
Veteran


Jan 24, 2008, 7:20 PM

Post #6 of 23 (1050 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

In Reply To
I'm considering the much cheaper 70-300mm f4-5.6 (140-600mm), which would seem like a great zoom range for ceremonies, but way too slow for shooting in churches?


Way too slow for churches. Remember the PDX10.



Yeah, and my new FX7 is no better....it's pretty much an HDV version of the TRV950, just like the V1U is the HDV version of the PDX10.

I just shot a cheap hotel conference room wedding lit by Xmas lights, and the video is pretty much pitch black. Laugh





the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production



Brackish
Veteran


Jan 24, 2008, 10:34 PM

Post #7 of 23 (1033 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

One of the first surprises I got when I started into photo
is that you generally don't get the ceremony close-ups like
what some of us are used to with video. The main reason
is that the photo lenses that give the equivalent telephoto
zoom-in - and that also have the light-gathering capacity
needed - are very expensive and heavy.

I've only seen one photog use longer than a 200mm lens for
ceremony work. This particular photog's packages are more towards
$10,000 than $5000. Here's the lens he used:

Nikon 300mm f/2.8. The Olympus 300mm f/5.6 you talked about goes for

about $400 but when you get one like the Nikon that gives you

the 2.8 aperture you need for a lot of church ceremonies, the cost

is more towards $5000.

A number of the photogs I work with re-enact the vows and rings

from about 5 feet away with the kit lens. The only thing with

re-enactments is you don't have the priest standing right in

the center of the shot, which kind of blows the illusion that

the shot was actually taken of the real ring exchange.

Some couples maybe even prefer it that Father isn't in the

pics. Sly




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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


WLR
User


Jan 25, 2008, 2:03 AM

Post #8 of 23 (1015 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

My "right hand lens" has been the Canon 17-85 (27-136mm in the 35mm world) and for a bit extra range, the 28-135mm (45-216mm in 35mm).
But I know someone who frequents these very pages that last year acquired a 17-55 f2.8, and now within the last few days, the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS lens......


Friends don't let friends shoot jpeg.


RustyB
Veteran


Jan 25, 2008, 2:26 AM

Post #9 of 23 (1010 views)
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Re: [WLR] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To
My "right hand lens" has been the Canon 17-85 (27-136mm in the 35mm world) and for a bit extra range, the 28-135mm (45-216mm in 35mm).
But I know someone who frequents these very pages that last year acquired a 17-55 f2.8, and now within the last few days, the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS lens......



Cool. I'm thinking my Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 (28-108mm), and 50mm f2, will be good for most close-up stuff. It just amazes me at some of the mindblowing distances some of the photogs have to work at, for example, at Catholic ceremonies in the huge cathedrals (and most churches for that matter). Seems like you'd need one of the monster lenses like you see on the sidelines of the football games.Laugh

I guess the 50-200 (100-400) f2.8-3.5 should be fine for weddings, especially if the newer Olympus cams are performing better at high ISO's than mine is.





the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production



RustyB
Veteran


Jan 25, 2008, 2:41 AM

Post #10 of 23 (1007 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To
...I've only seen one photog use longer than a 200mm lens for
ceremony work. This particular photog's packages are more towards
$10,000 than $5000. Here's the lens he used:

Nikon 300mm f/2.8. The Olympus 300mm f/5.6 you talked about goes for

about $400 but when you get one like the Nikon that gives you

the 2.8 aperture you need for a lot of church ceremonies, the cost

is more towards $5000.....





But videographers charging $1500-$2500 have no problem forking out $10,000 each for EX1 Handycam kits, on top of 100's of hours of editing per job and years of backlog.

Jeez, just for the price of my consumer-grade FX7, I could get my dream lens and a new pro DSLR, and pay it all off after a couple of days of processing wedding pictures. Laugh





the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production



Brackish
Veteran


Jan 25, 2008, 3:06 AM

Post #11 of 23 (1007 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

It just amazes me at some of the mindblowing distances some of the photogs have to work at, for example, at Catholic ceremonies in the huge cathedrals (and most churches for that matter). Seems like you'd need one of the monster lenses like you see on the sidelines of the football games.


You know, Rusty, a big reason you don't see photogs using
the monster lenses for wedding work - besides the obvious
high cost of the lenses - is the problem of where to stash the
(very expensive) lens when you're not using it for the ceremony.
And also there's the problem of carrying the weight of it around, too.
And a lot of photogs don't like using a monopod/tripod, which is basically
essential if your lens weighs 6-8 pounds.

Now, if you're making $10,000 for a wedding, like that one
guy I worked with, then the price of the monster could be in the budget.
But even big-bucks "rock star" photogs - like The Pro - don't use
monster lenses. The Pro uses a 200mm at the longest for
ceremonies - and this 200mm is on a full frame so The Pro's 200mm
lens is equivalent to 100mm on Olympus or 125mm on Canon
croppers such as 20D/30D/40D.


----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


RustyB
Veteran


Jan 25, 2008, 3:27 AM

Post #12 of 23 (1001 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

In Reply To

It just amazes me at some of the mindblowing distances some of the photogs have to work at, for example, at Catholic ceremonies in the huge cathedrals (and most churches for that matter). Seems like you'd need one of the monster lenses like you see on the sidelines of the football games.


You know, Rusty, a big reason you don't see photogs using
the monster lenses for wedding work - besides the obvious
high cost of the lenses - is the problem of where to stash the
(very expensive) lens when you're not using it for the ceremony.
And also there's the problem of carrying the weight of it around, too.
And a lot of photogs don't like using a monopod/tripod, which is basically
essential if your lens weighs 6-8 pounds.

Now, if you're making $10,000 for a wedding, like that one
guy I worked with, then the price of the monster could be in the budget.
But even big-bucks "rock star" photogs - like The Pro - don't use
monster lenses. The Pro uses a 200mm at the longest for
ceremonies - and this 200mm is on a full frame so The Pro's 200mm
lens is equivalent to 100mm on Olympus or 125mm on Canon
croppers such as 20D/30D/40D.



Good points!

Shooting alone without an assistant, I really don't wanna carry around more gear than I could carry all night. With two bodies, I could carry the 14-54 and 50-200 mounted all night, and use them both. Toting a big nasty lens just for 5 shots during the ceremony, and worrying about it getting stolen all day, would be a waste. I could always buy one of the cheap/slow 70-300mm when I book a wedding at one of those ancient Catholic churches where even the photog is banished off in the balconey, 100 yards away, with the videographer.





the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production



Brackish
Veteran


Jan 25, 2008, 6:39 PM

Post #13 of 23 (951 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

With two bodies, I could carry the 14-54 and 50-200 mounted all night, and use them both.


You're going to carry two bodies on your person at the same time?
I'd like to give it a try sometime but so far I just carry one body
at a time - just like The Pro. The Pro only carries one body - and
a sack of lenses.


----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


RustyB
Veteran


Jan 25, 2008, 8:42 PM

Post #14 of 23 (948 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

In Reply To

With two bodies, I could carry the 14-54 and 50-200 mounted all night, and use them both.


You're going to carry two bodies on your person at the same time?
I'd like to give it a try sometime but so far I just carry one body
at a time - just like The Pro. The Pro only carries one body - and
a sack of lenses.




I'll have to bust out my Paki-Sak, quit being a player hater, and learn to be more like The Pro. I'll write about it on my blog.





the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production



Brackish
Veteran


Jan 26, 2008, 8:55 AM

Post #15 of 23 (932 views)
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Re: [WLR] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

But I know someone who frequents these very pages that last year acquired a 17-55 f2.8, and now within the last few days, the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS lens......


Hi, WLR.

I've worked with a photog who only uses the 70-200 for the whole day,
even prep! They don't use any lens other than that one.

Myself, I don't like that it's white - stands out too much.


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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


Postal Boy
Veteran


Jan 26, 2008, 10:33 AM

Post #16 of 23 (928 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

Oh...but if it is white, it is fancy and professional, right? Wink Actually, my next lense I buy may be white. Too bad they make their good lenses that color. Unsure


Brackish
Veteran


Jan 26, 2008, 4:51 PM

Post #17 of 23 (909 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To
Actually, my next lense I buy may be white.


Canon 200 2.0 IS? Smile


----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


WLR
User


Jan 26, 2008, 6:27 PM

Post #18 of 23 (903 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

Geeez, with a 70-200 I guess they don't shoot any group shots from........... very close. :-o


Friends don't let friends shoot jpeg.

(This post was edited by WLR on Jan 26, 2008, 6:39 PM)


WLR
User


Jan 26, 2008, 6:38 PM

Post #19 of 23 (902 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

They make 'em white so they don't heat up inside.
Flourite and low dispersion glass elements are sensitive to temperature changes, which is why they focus past infinity.


Friends don't let friends shoot jpeg.


Brackish
Veteran


Jan 26, 2008, 6:56 PM

Post #20 of 23 (897 views)
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Re: [WLR] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To
Geeez, with a 70-200 I guess they don't shoot any group shots from........... very close. :-o


Hi, WLR.

It's a 2-photog team. The second shooter is the one using just
the 70-200. The lead shooter uses a variety of lenses.


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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."


Shadow
Veteran


Jan 27, 2008, 12:40 PM

Post #21 of 23 (861 views)
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Re: [RustyB] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post

I guess there's a difference between what you need and what you want and what you like to use.

I've shot a number of weddings and never came close to using a 300mm. Usually if I want a close up I'll quietly walk half way up the isle and zoom in and take a shot. I've also seen other photogs snag a seat about 4 rows back on the end and sit from there, then move into the isle and shoot a few.

I guess if you're stuck shooting from the back then that's when you need it but I've never had either myself or another photog I'm working with have to do that, so I'm sticking with what I've got for now. I do have a 300 4.5-5.6 I could use in a pinch but haven't needed it yet.


__________________________


Postal Boy
Veteran


Jan 27, 2008, 10:21 PM

Post #22 of 23 (846 views)
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Re: [Brackish] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

In Reply To
Actually, my next lense I buy may be white.


Canon 200 2.0 IS? Smile


He he he...70-200 2.8 IS, actually is what I was thinking, but the 2.0 is intriguing...Cool


Brackish
Veteran


Jan 28, 2008, 8:10 AM

Post #23 of 23 (833 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] What's the longest lens you typically need for a wedding? [In reply to] Can't Post


In Reply To

He he he...70-200 2.8 IS, actually is what I was thinking,


You ever thought of renting the lens first just to make sure
you like it? (I do know The Pro uses that exact lens.)


----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."