Suggestions for a wide zoom Wedding/Event lens?

Hello photo peeps,



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I'm expanding into shooting more events and now some weddings and I want a wide zoom that will cover around the 17-40 range that can handle low light like a champ. It's mostly for groups but if it could pop out some nice portraits as well that would be a plus. I'm looking to spend 900-2000 if the higher price can be justified.


Thanks for any and all thoughts!!!


Mike


Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.4, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, Sigma 1.4 EX, 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS, 430 EX II



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Mike


Welcome to the forum. I would recommend the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM.



Probably the best all around lens for a crop body


Mark

I second the recommendation for the 17-55mm - IMO, it's the best general purpose zoom for a 1.6x body.

I

+ 3 for the 17-55. It

Wow, thanks everyone, I never would have expected such a conscious opinion. I'm waiting on the next big step up in 5Ds to come around but I do plan on upgrading to a full frame within a year or two. Would the 17-55 still be a worthy investment? Can I even use it on a full frame?

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Originally Posted by Stad Creative

Would the 17-55 still be a worthy investment? Can I even use it on a full frame?
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You can not use it on FF but I would keep the 40D and 17-55 as backup to the 5DMK?.


Mark

You'll miss a lot of shots without a quality lens in that focal range until you go FF. You could always sell it down the line - high end lenses like the 17-55 hold their value pretty well (especially if you buy during a rebate and sell when there's not a rebate available).


But Mark's suggestion is the best one - if you're doing a shoot for pay, you really should have a backup camera!

Yes, I will for sure be holding onto the 40D as a backup and I do like the concept of the 17-55 holding some resale value. You have all helped me a lot, especially since I wasn

Both are great lenses, but IMO best suited to a FF camera. 24mm is technically not even wide angle on a 1.6x body, limiting the utility of a 24-xx L lens as a general purpose zoom on crop. Similarly, 35mm on crop is

Agreed. The 24-70mm is a great focal length on FF but no so much on a 1.6x crop body. Same goes for the 16-35mm.


The 10-22mm is a far better option for an ultrawide lens on a crop body but as John mentioned it won

I

I would vote for the 24-70mm f/2.8L as it

As rule if thumb I advise against buying EFs glass for the simple fact that they can only be used on 1.6 crop APS-C bodies. If you use more than one body and the other is an APS-H 1.3 crop sports body or a FF the EFs glass is useless. It can be mounted but you wont like the results if you try to click the shutter and now find yourself in need of a new mirror box. EFs glass also deosnt have as wide a FOV as the EF glass so the vignetting non apparent on and EF mount on crop body is back to being a problem. I will agree that the EFs 17-55 is an awsome piece of glass, probably the best EFs mount made, it is limted to use on the crop body only. IMO some folks get carried away on the wide end glass. saying its never wide enough. When I find I can use a 16-35 on a crop body and stand 1 ft back from a 24x36 painting in an art gallery and fit the whole thing in the frame Im thinking that is more than wide enough. Same goes if I can stand 10 ft back and get a large wedding party framed with a 35 1.4L that is wide enough. I remember trying to do head and shoulder portraits with a 35L on a MKIV. To get it framed correctly I had to totally redo the strobes as I had to get so close that my shadow was cast on the subject. They could literally reach their hand up and touch me. Too close for me, makes me feel like a Dr with and eye exam lighted magnifier. Personally for my shooting style I seldom go anywhere near the wide end unless its either landscapes or extremely tight quarters.