wedding shoots... most of what ive read from wedding fotographers suggest including a 70-200 mm lens to their equipment to take along on their wedding shoots...ive done it twice and...

cbwriter Loc: benicia, CA

most of what ive read from wedding fotographers suggest including a 70-200 mm lens to their equipment to take along on their wedding shoots...ive done it twice and came away sorely disappointed...i virtually had no use for it what so ever...but relied mainly on my 18-200 mm lens instead...can anyone tell me if and what they might use the 70-200 lens for, what instance?
Roque

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

close up portraits, shots during the ceremony, shots getting ready, etc. Remember, wide angle shots are not very flattering, and brides want to be flattered. You stand back further. If you are in very small rooms, then you have to do what you have to do, but any time you can keep your shots at over the 70mm, you remove the perspective distortion that makes noses look bigger, arms closer to the lens looking huge, etc.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Welcome to UHH. I use it for almost everything. I love it.

cbwriter Loc: benicia, CA

understood but in order to get those wider angle shots of, say, a line of the wedding party that 70-200 just doesnt work...thank you for the response...

cbwriter Loc: benicia, CA

thank you sir

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

I guess everyone has a favourite lens that handles most of what they're likely to shoot. Often the favourite wouldn't measure up if they had more lenses in their bag to choose from or they tried other lenses that they don't currently have. I've used several different ones in my time and found that the absolute best range for me is 18-135mm. I've shot at least three weddings with it and got great results inside and outside, close up portraits to big groups. I do own a great 50mm prime which makes really good head-and-shoulders portraits and I would take this along on a second body if I was doing another wedding.

cbwriter wrote:

most of what ive read from wedding fotographers suggest including a 70-200 mm lens to their equipment to take along on their wedding shoots...ive done it twice and came away sorely disappointed...i virtually had no use for it what so ever...but relied mainly on my 18-200 mm lens instead...can anyone tell me if and what they might use the 70-200 lens for, what instance?
Roque

cbwriter Loc: benicia, CA

very nice....ill keep that in mind...i have two more wedding this week and this should all come in handy...

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

cbwriter wrote:

most of what ive read from wedding fotographers suggest including a 70-200 mm lens to their equipment to take along on their wedding shoots...ive done it twice and came away sorely disappointed...i virtually had no use for it what so ever...but relied mainly on my 18-200 mm lens instead...can anyone tell me if and what they might use the 70-200 lens for, what instance?
Roque

If you have the 18-200 isn't that giving you the same coverage as 70-200 but with the option of going wider. Seems to me, your covered. The only problem might be you f/stop. Not going open enough. I can see why you like the 18- 70 pluse the additional 130mm.

cbwriter Loc: benicia, CA

yes its worked quite nicely for me...but i thought maybe i was missing something...the 50mm prime sounds interesting...i have a 50mm but almost never use it...what does the prime refer to?

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

cbwriter wrote:

understood but in order to get those wider angle shots of, say, a line of the wedding party that 70-200 just doesnt work...thank you for the response...

It's just another tool that you have available. Some may use it more than others, it really depends on your shooting style and also the subject and environment. You are telling the story, so it's your vision you have to capture.

In general, some photographers may prefer to shoot close up in detail while others see the world in a wider view.

When I have gone out with other photogs on a walking shoot, some may be using a longer lens than others for the same subject matter.

cbwriter Loc: benicia, CA

on a walking shoot i see that the sky's the limit but weddings are a different animal...but yes i see the telling of one's story...thank you

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

cbwriter wrote:

yes its worked quite nicely for me...but i thought maybe i was missing something...the 50mm prime sounds interesting...i have a 50mm but almost never use it...what does the prime refer to?

A prime lens is built to one mm length, usually with a faster fstop. No hand zoom, you zoom in and out with your feet. Plus is you get better build quality for less money and you get your exercise too!

cbwriter wrote:

on a walking shoot i see that the sky's the limit but weddings are a different animal...but yes i see the telling of one's story...thank you

Yes, a different animal, and each wedding I've shot was a different animal species than the others before. But your shooting style is always consistent with who you are comfortable being in any situation, wedding or anything else.

edstubbs Loc: East Coast; 1st state, Delaware

cbwriter wrote:

most of what ive read from wedding fotographers suggest including a 70-200 mm lens to their equipment to take along on their wedding shoots...ive done it twice and came away sorely disappointed...i virtually had no use for it what so ever...but relied mainly on my 18-200 mm lens instead...can anyone tell me if and what they might use the 70-200 lens for, what instance?
Roque

Have you ever wanted to take a picture from a distance so as not to break the mood or disturb your subject; the bride, groom, parents, flower girl, etc. A good 70-200, f/2.8 will really come in handy. And if you only have one camera, master the skill of changing lenses quickly and unnoticed. One of the beauties of taking wedding photos are the ones they didn't know your were taking.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

cbwriter wrote:

most of what ive read from wedding fotographers suggest including a 70-200 mm lens to their equipment to take along on their wedding shoots...ive done it twice and came away sorely disappointed...i virtually had no use for it what so ever...but relied mainly on my 18-200 mm lens instead...can anyone tell me if and what they might use the 70-200 lens for, what instance?
Roque

Whomever told you that has never shot weddings.
Wedding are usually close range shooting not wildlife that will run away if you are close.

It would never have come to my mind to shoot from a distance in order to exploit a dubious tele-objective. Beside I was using a RB67 so...

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Rongnongno wrote:

Whomever told you that has never shot weddings.
Wedding are usually close range shooting not wildlife that will run away if you are close.

It would never have come to my mind to shoot from a distance in order to exploit a dubious tele-objective. Beside I was using a RB67 so...

OK, that means your shooting style doesn't include using a long lens.

But a blanket statement like yours is baseless because many well known wedding photographers like Cliff Mautner regularly espouse the use of a 70-200 for their wedding photography. It's another lens to employ in the right situation.