I love my 24-70L

Raymond Lin · 12 May 2010 at 23:35

Schizophonic said:
I've done a lot of background reading and its going to be difficult I know. A complete step out of my comfort zone but as I have a 2nd photographer with a zoom lens I'm hoping she will be my safety net if things go pear shape. I'm planning to use this on more of the posed shots rather than the walkabout.

How did you find the lens Jonathon, got any sample shots from the wedding? And when you say filter? Whats the reason? Just in case I stratch this due to huge glass on the front?

If another photographer got a zoom lens then i would have got something different like at 35mm.

Are you on crop as well? 85 on crop is so long for a full day IMO.

Schizophonic · 12 May 2010 at 23:43

yeah i'm stuck with a 40D

Well you suggested on msn that I should be using 50mm F/1.8!

Wanna lend me your 5D Raymond?

Raymond Lin · 12 May 2010 at 23:45

Schizophonic said:
yeah i'm stuck with a 40D

Well you suggested on msn that I should be using 50mm F/1.8!

Wanna lend me your 5D Raymond?

50mm on crop is still a bit long for weddings for an all dayer (on FF it'll be good but still need to be quite skillful and imaginative, but it can be done). I mean that kind of lenth would be okay when you are outside, or when you are at the other side of the church. But I can use the 24-70 and nothing else in a wedding, that's why it is a bread and butter lens for wedding photographers.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 13 May 2010 at 00:00

Schizophonic said:
I've done a lot of background reading and its going to be difficult I know. A complete step out of my comfort zone but as I have a 2nd photographer with a zoom lens I'm hoping she will be my safety net if things go pear shape. I'm planning to use this on more of the posed shots rather than the walkabout.

How did you find the lens Jonathon, got any sample shots from the wedding? And when you say filter? Whats the reason? Just in case I stratch this due to huge glass on the front?

Its a dream lens. It simply out performs anything else I've used in image quality.
I actually fancy it. Think its a sexy thing otherwise I would deffo go for the f1.8 as you can't fault it and you'll get more in focus shots thanks to its speedy focus.

Yes protect the front element! Its a massive piece of glass to have to replace. Saying this, its not the first element you'll scratch. Its the rear element thats the most delicate. It really is huge and sits flush meaning you'd easily catch it when attaching it to the camera (which you'll be doing quickly at a wedding as Raymond pointed out.. Its a massive telephoto to use)

These were all captured with the 85mm F1.2 L II on a 40D

Just simply to show how usable ISO 1600 is when an image is well exposed with quality optics. (40D. Not this 5D Mark II people keep ranting on about)

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Finally to echo Raymonds valid points. The lens (not to mention on a crop body which this was) in incredibly zoomed out. I had to be really really far back to get this moment which I wanted. I think you can see the shot I was going for but a brickwall had something to say about it. Really annoying as a zoom lens would have given me this shot. It would have been better to have the zoom here over the massively expensive 85 prime. Its important that you know your limits. I am sure Raymond will echo me here.
You learn your equipment well in advance of looking through the viewfinder. Its like an extention to your arm and you know when and how you can or can not use a specific lens.

End

Johnny.