So what lenses do you bring...

[john_deerfield]

<p>So I am organizing equipment for another weekend of shooting and I was just curious as to what lenses everyone else brings to a wedding? I always want to pack lighter but I can't seem to do so! For me....<br>

Nikon 17-55 f/2.8, the "main" lens<br>

Nikon 24-85D f/2.8 - 4.0 as back up (but I keep meaning to try the Macro on it).<br>

Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 Besides my primes, this is the lens I prefer to shoot with when I can. <br>

Nikon 10.5 f/2.8 Fisheye - this only gets brought out a few times<br>

Nikon 105VR - my standard Macro lens: ring shots, etc<br>

Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. When you need it you need it. It sounds wider than it is! 17-24 fx equivalent.<br>

Even with all the above, I still love to shoot my primes. And I can't really pick a favorite...<br>

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 <br>

Sigma 50mm f/1.4<br>

Nikon 85mm f/1.8<br>

I will usually start with the 17-55 on one camera and the 85mm on the other. I usually try and do the after ceremony photo session with the B&G with the 30mm and the 85mm. Receptions vary, but I change lenses a lot at the reception. Usually shooting the 30mm and the 85mm but I keep the 11-16 in a belt pouch. This could all be solved if somebody would make a 10-200mm f/1.0 macro with VR weighing less than 3 pounds, oh heck, make it less than two pounds! I think someday I am gonna to shoot as an assistant and only shoot the primes and see what I miss...</p>

[frolickingbits]

<p>I bring all my lenses with me just in case, and also because they're all packed in one case, mostly for my commercial shoots.<br>

20mm f1.8, 35mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8, 100mm f2.8 macro, 24-75 f2.8 pretty much all stay in the case<br>

I put the 24-70 on my 5D, and the 70-200 on my 30D, and I rarely use any of the other lenses-things just move too quickly for me to have time to be switching lenses, even with an assistant. And the 24-200mm range covers just about everything I need. I may put the 100mm macro on for some detail shots, but other than that, it's all done with the two zooms.<br>

I like the safety net of having everything in the car, though-that way if one of my lenses fails, or I can't use flash, I can do the job with primes or my backup zoom.</p>

[William Michael]

<p><strong><em>"I always want to pack lighter but I can't seem to do so!"</em></strong></p><p>My Base Digital Kit is Canon and consists of</p><p><strong><em>Cameras:</em></strong> 20D + 30D + 5D (Working Cameras 20D and 5D; 30D is back up)<br>

<strong><em>Zooms:</em></strong> 16 to 35F/2.8; 70 to 200F/2.8<br>

<strong><em>Primes:</em></strong> 24F/1.4; 50F/1.4; 135F/2<br>

<strong><em>Additional:</em></strong> x1.4MkII</p><p><strong><em>My Standard Working Format:</em></strong><br>

20D + 16 – 35<br>

5D with one Prime loaded.<br>

Second and third Prime sit ready: one in each of my two coat pockets.</p><p>So basically, I go the whole day with two cameras and four lenses and I carry them everywhere, always.<br /><br>

30D sits with 70 to 200 loaded in bag. The x1.4MkII in the bag also.</p><p>I bring other lenses as and if necessary. Sometimes I carry my 85F/1.8 anyway: even though its FoV is superfluous to requirements, I like the 85mm (artistically) more on my 5D than the 50mm on either of the APS-C bodies. I am yet to work my way around this “85 problem”.</p><p>WW</p>

[wedding-photography-denver]

<p>My go to kit:</p>

<p>D300's x 3 (just got a couple D300s' too)<br>

One has either the 14-24 or a Tokina 16-50/2.8, the other has either the Tokina 50-135/2.8 or the 70-200 Vr.<br>

D700 and D3.</p>

<p>The D3 has the 24-70 all the time (for formals and ceremony).</p>

<p>The D700 has the 85/1.4 all the time (low light/ portraits/ sneaky shots etc).</p>

<p>I have the 24-85 macro as backup too. I like its macro ability pretty well, though its not as good as my 50/1.8 and Kenko tube.</p>

<p>Other lenses come along, but more for the fact that I like redundancy.</p>

<p>IMO, the must haves for Nikon shooters are the Zooms. 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200. Add to those a couple fast lenses like the Sigma 50 and 85/1.4 and you have a great setup.</p>

<p> </p>

[picturesque]

<p>5D, 40D with:</p>

<p>Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 for the 5D</p>

<p>16-35mm f2.8 for the 5D or as a 'normal' zoom on the 40D ( immediate back up)</p>

<p>50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8 and 135mm f2.8 SF primes: These can go on the 5D or 40D, but most of the time they live on the 40D for ambient light shots, and are on the 5D when I want a wide aperture, such as during the ceremony inside.</p>

<p>1.4x extender: On the 40D, it will take me to 300mm, on the 5D, 200mm (approx).</p>

<p>Canon close up lens for ring shots.</p>

<p>I have another 28-75mm lens, which I can use on the 40D for a different range, say, for outside weddings in bright light where the zoom is preferable over wide aperture. I don't bring it with me all the time, and a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 lens is in my back up gear case in the car.</p>

 

[ar_fonseca]

<p>Usually.... 2 D70's, an N90s, a Fuji GA645i, 50mm 1.8, 28mm 1.8, and a 28-70 2.8<br>

a couple of sb800's, an sb28dx, and a couple of sunpak 120J's..... that's it<br>

the fuji and the sunpaks stay in a separate bag...<br>

oh and of course cards, film & a box of AA's...<br>

I used to carry WAY more stuff... but realized there's no point, cuz 1/2 the stuff<br>

I carried I only used once maybe twice on a job, and that was only out of guilt.<br>

no monopod, no lightstands, I do keep a tripod in trunk tho..<br>

as long as you have the required back-up gear.... less is better</p>

 

[zotz]

<p>I bring all of my lenses, which amounts to only five:</p>

<ul>

<li>Canon 17-55/2.8 IS </li>

<li>Canon 70-200/2.8 IS L</li>

<li>Canon 24-104/4.0 IS L</li>

<li>Canon 50/1.4</li>

<li>Canon 85/1.8</li>

</ul>

<p>I'm still shooting APS-C, my bodies being a humble 40D and 20D. Regardless of flash use, these are my usual combos:</p>

<ul>

<li>Engagement: 40D/70-200, 20D/17-55</li>

<li>Preparation: 40D/17-55, 20D/85</li>

<li>Ceremony: 40D/70-200, 20D/17-55</li>

<li>Reception : 40D/17-55, 20D/85 (or 24-105 if outdoors) </li>

<li> Formals: 40D/24-105, tripod, CB QRS-H2 rotator bracket</li>

</ul>

<p>The 50? It's rarely used, as the 17-55 covers its range, and 2.8 is as bright as I'll normally go. I bring it along as a backup prime.<br>

<br /> The rest of my kit? That's another thread...</p>

[markonestudios]

Canon XTi (aka 400D)+17-40L+50 f/1.8+580EXII when travelling light.

[fotografz]

<p>My kit has evolved a bit. It's all mix and match ... which I don't recommend to beginners at all ... maybe not anyone, LOL!</p>

<p>1 Nikon D3X: AFS 14-24/2.8, AFS 24-70/2.8, 2 SB900s, a Nikon wireless Commander. This camera is used for all must have shots where I want everything captured to two CF cards ... processional, some ceremony shots, cake cutting, all formals. </p>

<p>1 Sony A900: Zeiss 24-70/2.8, 85/1.4 and 135/1.8, 1 Sony flash. This camera is used mostly with the fast telephotos for portrait work and candids because of it's incredible optics and the fact that the Sony has in-camera image stabilization so all lenses are IS/VR ... which is a hand-held advantage with super fast 85 and 135 prime lenses that the Nikon doesn't offer. </p>

<p>Having a 24-70 lens for both cameras provides the back-up redundancy just in case ... I could easily shoot most any wedding with just this zoom. If the Sony flash failed, I can use the 2nd Nikon SB900 set to A.</p>

<p>All this neatly fits into a Think Tank Airport Airstream rolling bag, which is pretty small (small enough to be a carry-on for international airline flights).</p>

<p>I may also carry a small separate shoulder bag with a Leica M8 and 3 small M lenses ... mostly used for discrete candid work in available light: getting ready shots, some ceremony, cocktail hour, reception candids, available light of key events. It is also a welcome relief from using a heavy DSLR and zoom lens.</p>

<p>Lastly, should there be a long throw for ceremony shots, a Sony 70-200/2.8G APO zoom with a 1.4X will go into the church ... but be left in the vehicle at the reception venue.</p>

<p> </p>

[thinkvividly]

<p>I use a 5D Mk. II with a 40D backup. Below are the lenses that I use</p>

<p>Canon 24-70 2.8L - wonderful on 5D, very sharp and love the macro abilities for ring shots.</p>

<p>Canon 70-200 2.8L IS - mostly for ceremony, when I put this puppy on a 40D I hit 320mm.</p>

<p>Sigma 24-60 EX DG - Backup lens</p>

<p>Canon 50mm 1.8 - If situation calls for it.</p>

<p>...and a couple other back ups lenses that all fit within my 24-320mm range. Very rarely do I use anything wider then 24mm due to barrel distortion and unflattering effects.</p>

[wedding-photography-denver]

<p>Hey Marc,</p>

<p>what do you think of the latest intro from Sony, the A850?</p>

[matthew_newton]

<p>What I am taking with me are a pair of OM-1 bodies, 28mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/2, 70-210mm f/2.8, monopod and flash. I've batted around the idea of taking either my 50/2.8 macro or 21-35/3.5-4.2, heck even thought of bringing my 28-70/2.8 as well. I keep coming down on the side of "too much gear".<br>

All of the above except the 70-210 and monopod and extra body will fit in my Lowepro Nova 2 AW, the extra body will stay slung over my shoulder with one of the lenses on it and the 70-210/2.8 and monopod when not in use will stay in my backpack with some extra film and batteries that won't fit in pockets or in my camera bag.</p>

<p>I like primes, I prefer primes and I work the best with primes, so that is what I am doing. The 70-210/2.8 is coming along because I don't have anything longer then the 85/2 in a prime that is fast (a 135/3.5 and that is the only prime I have until you get up to 400mm).</p>

[cip]

<p>I like to keep it simple:<br>

2 x 30d<br>

Sig 15-30mm f3.5/4.5<br>

Sig 50mm f1.4<br>

Canon 135L f2<br>

2 x 580EX<br>

I'll keep backup lenses 24-70L and 100-400L in the truck in case...</p>

[cjogo]

<p>one camera ~ one zoom -- backup in the car</p>

[fotografz]

<p>Hi David ... that A850 is something isn't it? 24 meg for under $2K. ... are you kidding me? Those Sony FF cameras make beautiful files right out of the camera. Being able to use Zeiss AF lenses does hurt either ... LOL!</p>

<p>It's all good for competition ... keeps Nikon and Canon on their toes.</p>

[ken c oshkosh, wi]

<p>I go with:</p>

<p>2 5D Mk2's (all day), 5D (backup only), 40D (ceremony only), 14L, 24L, 35L, 50L, 85L, 135L 100 macro, 24-70L (formals only), 70-200 IS L (ceremony only with 40D), 300 2.8 IS (again 40D only during ceremony in big churches), pair of 580EX's (rarely get used)... All this fits on one rolling bag...</p>

[maximphotostudio]

<p>I use 1DMKIII and 5D, with 1DMKIIn as backup. I bring:<br>

15 fish<br>

16-35 2.8 L<br>

24-70 2.8 L<br>

50 1.4<br>

85 1.2 L<br>

70-200 L IS<br>

180 Macro 3.5 L<br>

300 2.8 L IS for closeup shots from the end of the church during ceremony<br>

3-580IIEX<br>

4 PW Transcievers</p>