Zoom or Prime for weddings?

[ajax_andy]

I posted the following in the equipment section but haven't had a response, so thought i'd post here too as I know there's a few wedding photographers post in this section (I hope that's ok mods?):

Does anyone know if it's better to have a zoom or prime lens when shooting a wedding, or is it just down to preference?

I'd imagine a prime would give better image quality and be faster for low light situations, but a zoom would allow you more freedom as to where and how far from the couple you could shot, so as not to be intrusive?

[BigFuzzy]

The thing I've seen most commonly written (and which i do myself) is a combination of the two.

I think I've seen this sort (not exact of course) of set up recommended the most (again, not fact, just my recollection)
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8
A nice prime for portraits (50, 85, etc 1.4 or so).

I personally use a Sigma 15-30mm, Canon 24-70L, 70-200L, and 50/1.8 as my go to set-up for a wedding. I feel I'm completely covered. One lens on each body and the 50mm and 15-30 can be switced on pretty quickly when needed (for me that's not usually needed until before/after ceremony, the 24-70 and 70-200 are almost always all I need during ceremony).

All of this fits on my easily as I move around.. so for me (a big dude) it's cake to carry all this all day.. others might have a problem.

[RichardTaylor]

I don't shoot weddings however I some times shoot events .
My main lenses are zooms with (usually) primes as a backup.

You may find this informative.
Canon Wedding Lens Recommendations

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

The thing I've seen most commonly written (and which i do myself) is a combination of the two.

I think I've seen this sort (not exact of course) of set up recommended the most (again, not fact, just my recollection)
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8
A nice prime for portraits (50, 85, etc 1.4 or so).

I personally use a Sigma 15-30mm, Canon 24-70L, 70-200L, and 50/1.8 as my go to set-up for a wedding. I feel I'm completely covered. One lens on each body and the 50mm and 15-30 can be switced on pretty quickly when needed (for me that's not usually needed until before/after ceremony, the 24-70 and 70-200 are almost always all I need during ceremony).

All of this fits on my easily as I move around.. so for me (a big dude) it's cake to carry all this all day.. others might have a problem.

Thanks for the info

I currently have a cheap zoom (55-200mm) and the standard kit lens (18-55mm), and am looking to purchase a new lens for shooting weddings at some point in the future... I really need a fast lens as my big zoom is fine but isn't good in low light situations (the kit lens isn't great at all), however I don't have the cash to purchase a fast zoom and a fast prime, so I need to really decide which is best for what I am doing now (shooting portraits) and also what I can then use in the future for wedding photography.

Would you say using a 50mm prime during the ceremony would be extremely difficult?

The 2 lenses i'm considering are:

Canon EF 50mm prime f/1.4 USM
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II IF

Obviously the canon prime has a better f stop, and also as its canon i'd expect the image quality to be better than the Tamron, yet the Tamron is more versitile, and is still reasonably quick at f/2.8

Its a tricky decision so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

I don't shoot weddings however I some times shoot events .
My main lenses are zooms with (usually) primes as a backup.

You may find this informative.
Canon Wedding Lens Recommendations

Thanks for the link... i've bookmarked it for future use, but the lenses on there are currently out of my budget range

[RichardTaylor]

I have shot weddings (40 years ago) with a 50mm F1.8 prime and my friends have shot weddings with 50mm primes (also 40 years ago)
It's doable, however I wouldn't do it now days if I was shooting weddings..

Re the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II IF:
I own that lens however I never ever use it for low light shooting as can be very difficult to focus with it in low light. (It really doesn't see much use at all now days as I have better lenses)

With the wedding shooting will you be the primary shooter?

[MrJones]

you can't go with only prime OR zoom. you need both.
I've been shooting small events and that combination BigFuzzy offered is the way to start.
the 24-70 f/2.8 L and the 70-200 f/2.8 (you can start with the f/4) are a MUST for weddings.
the primes can help you for portraits and shooting the little things like earrings, shoes and the table arrangements.

and before people start saying you can shoot a wedding with cheap lenses cause it's the photographer and so on.. yes you can but then again you can shoot it with an iPhone too.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

I have shot weddings (40 years ago) with a 50mm F1.8 prime and my friends have shot weddings with 50mm primes (also 40 years ago)
It's doable, however I wouldn't do it now days if I was shooting weddings..

Re the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II IF:
I own that lens however I never ever use it for low light shooting as can be very difficult to focus with it in low light. (It really doesn't see much use at all now days as I have better lenses)

With the wedding shooting will you be the primary shooter?

Hi, thanks for that info as I really need a lens that can work well in low light.

I'd probably be a primary shooter ( with a 2nd shooter helping me out) as i'm finding it impossible to get a gig as an assistant due to my existing portfolio... they basically know i'm only doing it to gain experience to be a competitor unfortunately.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by MrJones

you can't go with only prime OR zoom. you need both.
I've been shooting small events and that combination BigFuzzy offered is the way to start.
the 24-70 f/2.8 L and the 70-200 f/2.8 (you can start with the f/4) are a MUST for weddings.
the primes can help you for portraits and shooting the little things like earrings, shoes and the table arrangements.

and before people start saying you can shoot a wedding with cheap lenses cause it's the photographer and so on.. yes you can but then again you can shoot it with an iPhone too.

I understand what you are saying, and I am due to shoot an event next month which will involve printing photos SOC so need a lens with excellent image quality (one of the reasons I was looking at getting a prime lens)... however at this moment in time I honestly can't afford to buy both.

I DO plan on buying both and this is by no means me thinking I can just buy one lens for all occasions, it's more looking at which I can use more effectively until I have earned enough to purchase both.

[robwill]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

I have shot weddings (40 years ago) with a 50mm F1.8 prime and my friends have shot weddings with 50mm primes (also 40 years ago)
It's doable, however I wouldn't do it now days if I was shooting weddings..

Re the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II IF:
I own that lens however I never ever use it for low light shooting as can be very difficult to focus with it in low light. (It really doesn't see much use at all now days as I have better lenses)

With the wedding shooting will you be the primary shooter?

Richard...not sure what camera you have but my Tamron works very well in low light on my 50D.