I have a wedding coming up Feb 12th and about $500 to spend on a new lens for my Canon 20D. Had no plans on being the photographer for them and tried to back out (because I am more a portrait shooter and hate the pressure), but am told if I don't do it nobody will. I just got the camera this month with the 18-55 kit lens...

Any recommendations or favorites for shooting an indoor church wedding. I am sure I will get as many as I can outside if at all possible, but the ceremony and reception are indoors. Oh and they prefer no flashes in the ceremony. I am thinking IS for sure...

Originally Posted by T4Tots I have a wedding coming up Feb 12th and about $500 to spend on a new lens for my Canon 20D. Had no plans on being the photographer for them and tried to back out (because I am more a portrait shooter and hate the pressure), but am told if I don't do it nobody will. I just got the camera this month with the 18-55 kit lens... Any recommendations or favorites for shooting an indoor church wedding. I am sure I will get as many as I can outside if at all possible, but the ceremony and reception are indoors. Oh and they prefer no flashes in the ceremony. I am thinking IS for sure...

you should be thinking *fast* glass mostly, i.s. secondary imo. at $500 your choices are somewhat limited... perhaps the 50 f/1.4, though it's sort of tight indoors. provided you can use sneaker zoom to step back, it should do you fine. it's about $300 or less i believe.

Originally Posted by andy you should be thinking *fast* glass mostly, i.s. secondary imo. at $500 your choices are somewhat limited... perhaps the 50 f/1.4, though it's sort of tight indoors. provided you can use sneaker zoom to step back, it should do you fine. it's about $300 or less i believe.

I should have mentioned I have a 50 mm f 1.8...but think I need to get a better f 2.8 to zoom

I found another thread that was very helpful and am thinking towards the Tamron 28-75 2.8 since its in my budget

Originally Posted by T4Tots I should have mentioned I have a 50 mm f 1.8...but think I need to get a better f 2.8 to zoom I found another thread that was very helpful and am thinking towards the Tamron 28-75 2.8 since its in my budget

The Tamron is supposed to be very good, and the price is great. Andy is right, however. You want fast glass, not image stabilized glass. You will want shutter speeds of 1/100, with faster being better. Otherwise you get a touch of motion blur as people move about, and it is not a pretty effect. With shutter speeds that high, image stabilization is of zero value. Remember, IS only stops the camera from moving, it cannot keep your subject from moving.

You already have a 50/1.8. Go to a place of similar lighting and see what aperture you need to get 1/150 th shutter speed at the ISO you want to shoot at. Is it 2.8 or higher? Then get the zoom. Is it 2.0, 1.8, etc.? Then consider a fast wide prime, like a 35 or 28mm lens. Being at the church will also let you know what focal length you need. Therefore, less guessing when you go to buy. :)

Originally Posted by mercphoto The Tamron is supposed to be very good, and the price is great. Andy is right, however. You want fast glass, not image stabilized glass. You will want shutter speeds of 1/100, with faster being better. Otherwise you get a touch of motion blur as people move about, and it is not a pretty effect. With shutter speeds that high, image stabilization is of zero value. Remember, IS only stops the camera from moving, it cannot keep your subject from moving. You already have a 50/1.8. Go to a place of similar lighting and see what aperture you need to get 1/150 th shutter speed at the ISO you want to shoot at. Is it 2.8 or higher? Then get the zoom. Is it 2.0, 1.8, etc.? Then consider a fast wide prime, like a 35 or 28mm lens. Being at the church will also let you know what focal length you need. Therefore, less guessing when you go to buy. :)

Thanks...I think I am definetely headed over to the church to shoot some before I decide.

Originally Posted by T4Tots Thanks...I think I am definetely headed over to the church to shoot some before I decide.

If F/2.8 is enough, consider the canon 28-70 second hand. It's nearly as good as the 24-70 (the new version) but much cheaper as people have traded up for the extra 4mm on the short end

[I would go with the zoom.
The D20 is so good at noise I would crank up the ISO get the zoom a good flash and shoot away.

I second the suggestion for the 50mm 1.4!

Originally Posted by FramesMedia.com I second the suggestion for the 50mm 1.4!

Oops.. Ignore the above post (50mm 1.4). Just read that you have the 1.8. You already have a fast glass. I don't see the need for 2.8 plus zoom!

I found the Tamron 28-75 2.8 on sale for $299, so I got one. Still watching an auction for a 1.4 since it seems to be a favorite and I would love to have one anyway :) The 1.8 is great, but after reading a lot of reviews this week and a comparison between the 1.4 and 1.8, I think the 1.4 is a must have for me...I shoot a LOT of natural indoor light.

Perfect excuse to get the 85/1.2!!!

caveat: i'm not a wedding photog (yet)...


Fast primes are nice inside and you'll certainly use it for posed shots, but for candids, you really can't beat a fast zoom. Good candids require environmental awareness, technical familiarity with your gear, and fancy footwork. The last thing you need to worry about is getting a full frame shot. With a fast zoom, you can focus on lighting, angles, background aperture, composition, etc, and just twist a ring to fill the frame and/or switch from a headshot to a full body shot. Worth their weight in gold, imho.

YMMV, of course.

Where's mongrel? i'd like to hear his take on this.

Originally Posted by T4Tots I have a wedding coming up Feb 12th and about $500 to spend on a new lens for my Canon 20D. Had no plans on being the photographer for them and tried to back out (because I am more a portrait shooter and hate the pressure), but am told if I don't do it nobody will. I just got the camera this month with the 18-55 kit lens... Any recommendations or favorites for shooting an indoor church wedding. I am sure I will get as many as I can outside if at all possible, but the ceremony and reception are indoors. Oh and they prefer no flashes in the ceremony. I am thinking IS for sure...

Hmm...I would suggest the 50/1.4 as one choice (price). Something like a
70-200/2.8 would make candids a little easier. Another good choice would
be the 24-70. I know the latter two are well over your budget. I'd seriously
think about the 50/1.4 for the ceremony--epsecially if you have to go with
no flash.

Are you doing posed pictures afterward? If so, can you use flash
then? If you don't have one, you should think about an off-camera
(and perhaps on a flash bracket too) unit.

Do you know what the venue is like? Where will you shoot from? These and
other questions might help you decide what to buy.

Good luck!

Ian

Just wanted to say thank you for all the advice! It worked our really well. I hope to not be asked to do that again mind you! But if so, I am so much more prepared now that you guys help me make those important decisions!!

Just a sample of what I did at the wedding last weekend if you wanted to see some results.

I used the new Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 for most of the pictures. I grabbed a few choice shots with the Canon 1.8. And since they actually turned the lights OUT in the ceremony and only used candlelight, I set up a tripod and hid out in the choir loft (with permission)

Congratulations Tina, looks like you did yourself proud

This is a great thread. A couple friends of mine will be married in May, and want me to shoot. This of course leaves an amature/hobbyist scared stiff! Those were great shots t4tots, and great tips from everyone else!

I still get nervous when shooting weddings for friends. Good luck!

Originally Posted by luckyrwe I still get nervous when shooting weddings for friends. Good luck!

Nice job

Ian

Great pictures! Way to work with what you have and get some great shots. I love the closeup of the ring.

Originally Posted by luckyrwe I still get nervous when shooting weddings for friends. Good luck!

Thanks. Results will be posted mid-may, if I don't goof them all up.