Best Lenses for Wedding Photography – our choices

As a photographer, your lenses will be one of the most important purchases you’ll make.  This posting is a list our personal favourites and recommended lenses for wedding photography.  Our primary focus will be zoom lenses because we love the flexibility on a zoom.

 

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens – $2499

Made from metal and hard plastic, this lens is a workhorse and staple in any wedding photographers bag.  The 24-70mm focal length makes it great for wide-angle shots, group pictures, and even portraits. We love the sharp images that this lens produces, and f/2.8 makes it great for dark places like reception halls.  At f/2.8, it’s faster than the 24-105mm f/4, but unlike the 24-105mm, it has no image stabilization.

PROS

• Image Quality
• Build Quality
• Wide f/2.8 Aperture
• Very Fast Autofocus Speed & Accuracy
• Weather Sealing

CONS

• Price
• No image stabilization

 

Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 DI VC USD – $1299

Not made by Canon and slightly less sharp in corners, but this Tamron is no slouch.  The Tamron 24-70mm is a made of metal and hard plastic which gives it a sturdy feel comparable to the Canon.

The Tamron takes beautiful images and one-ups the Canon with the inclusion of Image Stabilization known as VC (Vibration Compensation).  VC allows for great blur-free images at slower shutter speeds.  When you factor in that this lens is half the cost of the Canon, it’s a fantastic choice for any photographer.

PROS

• Image Stabilization
• Image Quality
• Build Quality
• Price
• Wide f/2.8 Aperture
• Very Fast Autofocus Speed & Accuracy
• Weather Sealing

CONS

• Not as sharp as the Canon version

 

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM – $2750

Stand from a far and take stunning images with this lens.  With a versatile focal length, this lens is great for portraits, weddings, and sports. Another staple in every wedding photographers bag.  f/2.8 also makes it great in dark environments.

PROS

• Great Portrait Lens
• Image Quality
• Build Quality
• Wide f/2.8 Aperture
• Fast Autofocus Speed & Accuracy
• Weather Sealing

CONS

• Price

*Also Consider the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 that is a great lens at half the cost.

 

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM – $800

Slower than the 70-200mm f/2.8 version but costs three times less and is half the weight.   You also won’t have to sacrifice quality since this lens is still very sharp and has a metal body.

PROS

• Great Portrait Lens
• Price
• Image Quality
• Build Quality
• Very Fast Autofocus Speed & Accuracy

CONS

• No Weather Sealing
• f/4 aperture

 

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM – $460

If you get only one prime lens, this may be the one.  50mm is a great focal length for portraits and f/1.4 is great in low light environments while producing excellent bokeh (background blur).  At four times less the cost of the 50mm f/1.2, this is our 50mm choice.

PROS

• f/1.4 Aperture
• Price
• Image Quality
• Build Quality
• Very Fast Autofocus Speed & Accuracy

CONS

• No Weather Sealing
• Soft at f/1.4

 

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens – $130

Known as the “nifty 50” or “the plastic fantastic” at $130 you can’t go wrong.  This is the lowest cost Canon lens and produces great images.  Just don’t drop it.

PROS

• f/1.8 Aperture
• Price
• Image Quality

CONS

• Build Quality
• No Weather Sealing
• Noisy Auto Focus
• Small Focusing Ring

 

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens – $1500

Often compared with the 24-70mm f/2.8, this lens is not as fast, but has image stabilization and an extra 35mm.  That makes it’s a great lens for walking around.  It’s also produces some of the best images amongst Canon lenses.  Just keep in mind that at f/4 it’s not the best lens for darker areas like reception halls.

PROS

• Image Stabilization
• Build Quality
• Price
• Very Fast Autofocus Speed & Accuracy
• Weather Sealing

CONS

• f/4 Aperture
• Image Quality

 

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens – $1300

One of the best macro lenses on the market.  This lens in great for tight shots of rings, flowers, and other wedding day details.

PROS

• Image Quality
• Build Quality
• Wide f/2.8 Aperture
• Weather Sealing
• No image stabilization
• Light Weight

CONS

• Price

* Canon also makes a non-L version that retails for $720

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