35mm 1.4 L or the 24-70 2.8 L for portraits and weddings?

I'm really trying hard to figure out which way to go on this one. I use only 1.6 crop bodies (t1i, 7D, and 20D) and I mainly shoot portrait and wedding work with natural lighting. I love the bokeh that my 50mm 1.4 lens gives me but I sometimes wish I was shooting just a tad bit wider that way I wouldn't have to step that extra step back, but at the same time I try to keep most of my portraits within that 1.4 to 2.8 range unless I have more than two people in the frame. I know the 35 L is an awesome lens and honestly that's what I'm leaning more towards but I'm second guessing my decision because I feel like the 24-70mm L maybe a better decision for the wedding aspect because it's more of a broad range and would require me to change lenses less... All in all I'm looking for any thoughts or picture examples to help me narrow my decision down... Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...


Here's also a link to my blog so you can get an idea of what I shoot usually...


http://mikeandlora.squarespace.com/


Mike

My suggestion--Go with the 24-70mm f/2.8 L. I realize it doesn't have as wide of an aperture, but with the T1i and 7D, you can push ISOs a bit and still get good results. When it comes to weddings, you want to be able to get the shot when it happens--and many times having a zoom (enabling optimal framing) can mean a world of difference.


If you buy the 24-70 and still long for the 35L, try buying the 35mm f/2. The build quality and image quality isn't quite as good as the "L," of course, but it's much cheaper and will get you in the ballpark.

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Originally Posted by mikeylivingston

I know the 35 L is an awesome lens and honestly that's what I'm leaning more towards but I'm second guessing my decision because I feel like the 24-70mm L maybe a better decision for the wedding aspect because it's more of a broad range and would require me to change lenses less

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I started out shooting weddings with the 24-70, but after I got some experience I switched to primes. Now I shoot weddings with one other photographer and a huge sack full of primes between us (and one zoom, the 70-200 f/2.8 IS). Wedding shooters need at least two bodies anyway (you have three), so just get used to shooting two at once (if you aren't already). That gives you two primes, which will cover a lot of situations.


So I suggest the 35mm f/1.4 L over the 24-70.


However, have you considered the Sigma 30mm f/1.4? You can buy three of them for the price of a single 35mm f/1.4, and the image quality is very good for the price. The main problem is reliable autofocus, but with microadjustment on your 7D, I think you could make it work.

Yea all good points I honestly prefer shooting with primes anyway so I think I will go for the 35mm I highly considered the sigma 30mm but I kind of wrote that out because within the year I would like to switch over to all full frame gear and so honestly I would like to take my investment now and still be able to use it when I transition. I saw on your page that you have the 24mm 1.4 L would you recommend that over the 35mm cause that is a tad bit wider and I've heard great things about that as well..

I use to own the 24 1.4 L mkI and I loved it on a 1.6 (38.4 mm). When I upgrade to 5DmkII I found it too wide for personal liking. Now I crave the 35 1.4 in a very bad way.


I also own the 24-70 and I love this lens but if you don't need the versatility, I'd recommend the 35 1.4.

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Originally Posted by mikeylivingston

I saw on your page that you have the 24mm 1.4 L would you recommend that over the 35mm cause that is a tad bit wider and I've heard great things about that as well..

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Yes, I do recommend it over the 35. I like to shoot lots of ultra wide at weddings, so I would want a 15mm on crop.

Reading the thread. Good comments. I think it depends a lot on you. I have always said the best zoom is a prime and a great pair of legs. I agree you should go with the 24mm 1.4 L. It is slightly wider than normal for your cameras. If you have older legs like me go with the zoom.


Mark

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Originally Posted by clemmb

Reading the thread. Good comments. I think it depends a lot on you. I have always said the best zoom is a prime and a great pair of legs. I agree you should go with the 24mm 1.4 L. It is slightly wider than normal for your cameras. If you have older legs like me go with the zoom.


Mark

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Funny. I often find myself zooming in on a great set of legs.[;)]

I finally took the plunge and ordered the 35 1.4 L. I was looking through some older shots of mine and the ones I truly love were shots I took with my 24 1.4 L on my 40D. I painfully wanted to get back a similar perspective with the fast aperture on my 5D2. 2.8 just doesn't get shallow enough.


I'm sure they will announce the Mark II any day now.

Thanks everyone for all of your helpful advice all though after actually going down the local camera store and messing with both lenses I decided to go with the 24-70mm because I could get a lot more general purpose use out of it and it's friggin tack sharp. I loved the bokeh on the 35mm but I think I'll wait to another time and instead get the 85mm 1.2 so all in all thank you guys for your help I really appreciate all the advice.

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Originally Posted by Keith B

I use to own the 24 1.4 L mkI and I loved it on a 1.6 (38.4 mm). When I upgrade to 5DmkII I found it too wide for personal liking. Now I crave the 35 1.4 in a very bad way.
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Keith. As soon as you're able, you need to treat yourself. We all need you to treat yourself [:D]





Nevermind, I just scrolled down and saw that you did. Good for you! *high five*

Yeah I caved. I was tired of you taunting me.


I cleared of my Bill Me Later account and took the plunge. I've only shot about 20 shots with it goofing around but I'm already in love. I don't think I ever take it off 1.4.


It is so much better than my 40D/24 1.4 combo. The bokeh is so much smoother and the images are way sharper.

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Originally Posted by Keith B

Yeah I caved. I was tired of you taunting me.
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<p style="CLEAR: both"]You're welcome!
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Flexibility i would go for 24-70mm

You will get better bokeh with the 24-70 over the wider angle any day of the week. It has a minimum focal distance of close to 1ft which will be great for your detail shots also. It is a great lens and you will love it.

I always have the EF24-70mm f/2.8 L USM on the 5D MKII at weddings. I noticed a couple of folks say they use primes at weddings, but for me, that's just a beating.I spend too much time moving to fix composition with prime lenses and for the most part my EF50mm f/1.4 only gets used on the tripod when I'm doingfixedproductshots.


For studio portraits off the tripod, the prime may be a nice lens, but I still like to recompose with the zoom.


My wedding set-up right now is as follows:


1D MKII with EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM


5DMKII with EF24-70MM f/2.8 L USM


50D with EF300mm f/4.0 L USM (tripod camera for the ceremony)

Dallas,


Does that 50D + 300 f/4 combo with its associated 480mm EFL allow a full body portrait from the back of the church?

Zoom flexibility is great, but not as important asaperture flexibilityin my opinion. I would go for the 35L on a cropped sensor.


On a side note I got a 5D Mark II and with the 85mm 1.2L it really is great for portrait (but autofocus is not that great, slow + struggling in low light). I am hardly using my zoom lenses anymore (17-40L, 24-70L, 70-200L IS).


I have to admit it's a question of taste as well.

I sold my 24-70L in favor of the 35L and 85L I purchased a while back, which together see 95% of the use for any given wedding. The 24-70L only got used for macro shots and sometimes the cake cutting. If I still need a zoom I can bring out my old Tamron 28-75.


The 24-70 is a good lens for many things, but it's not a great lens for anything I do. it's also big and heavy.


If I wasnot doing professional work I would probablyconsider the Sigma 30mm for crop sensor cameras because of price.Nowadays, Ioften want a 24L to get wider than my 35L (I use full frame and crop sensor). The 24L will probably be my next lens.

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Originally Posted by HiFiGuy1

Dallas,


Does that 50D + 300 f/4 combo with its associated 480mm EFL allow a full body portrait from the back of the church?
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Off the balcony at University Christian in Fort Worth, yes, but it depends on the size of the venue. I usually use the 300 regardless of the framing and supplement with the other cameras if I can't get a ful portrait.


For some reason, my non-IS copy of the EF300 f/4.0 L is ridiculously sharp. It really rivals the copy of the EF400 f/2.8 L IS USM that I use. I end up using the 300a lot because of the WOW image quality.

Fist off Mike, let me say I love your site! Nice style on your photos too... I love them!


I really agree with many points on here. I have rented the EF 24mm f/1.4 II several times and am absolutely IN LOVE with that lens, though it's a bit pricy. I would, though, recommend that over the 35 f/1.4 because it's newer and better quality, wider (which is good I think for your needs) and just a sweet lens all around.


The 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM is a nice lens but I just wish it didn't reverse-extend and also wish it had IS. There is much talk of a new version coming out soon... maybe wait for the new one? :) I agree that primes are the way to go, especially in weddings. You do have three camera bodies, so why not? The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 was mentioned, and I was considering purchasing that lens, but didn't just as I was scared to give a new Sigma a try when it's quality-control sucks so much. I used to own a Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 and it worked great... but still hesitant. I went with the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM but that isn't wide enough for you. You said you have it anyhow.


Alternative to the 24-70 L: much cheaper and almost as good quality, very versatile, would be the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM. I hear the quality is L-like (uses some same parts of L-series lenses) and takes amazing photos. You wouldn't be saving a ton of money as it's still near a grand, but it is an alternative.


Personally, I'd go with the EF 24 f/1.4 II or the 30mm f/1.4 from Sigma and just wait on a 2.8 zoom until a new one comes out.





- Jordan Murphy


www.freshphotohawaii.com


Equipment: Canon 7D, 50D, EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM, EF 100-400, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye, EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro, Kenko extension tube 3pc set, 2 430EXII Speedlites, Manfrotto monopod and tripod with video pan head.

I've had 5 different 24-70 lenses, none of them really worked well on my crop cameras. For a crop camera, why not get a 17-55mm IS. You'll love it, and if you ever go to FF, they are easy to resell.