A Primer on Lenses
Lenses are every photographer’s favorite subject to discuss--we get pretty passionate about lenses, and everyone has an opinion. This post is going to focus on prime versus zoom lenses, and what type of glass creates that really special look that we are able to achieve as professional photographers.
First of all, what effect does the quality of glass in a lens have on a photograph? The answer is sharpness and bokeh. Prime lenses are known for their high quality glass, which renders crisp, clear images of the subject while leaving the background and foreground beautifully blurred or out-of-focus. In most cases, prime lenses have a larger maximum aperture than zoom lenses, which allows them to capture more light. Sometimes wedding venues have low levels of light, so a prime lens is ideal.
Lens quality affects the look and feel of the background and foreground portions in the photograph as well. The aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus section in a photograph is called bokeh. A high quality prime lens can create beautiful bokeh by capturing more light and giving the background and foreground areas in a photograph a soft, romantic glow. Poorer quality lens glass can result in distracting background blur in a photograph, rather than enhancing it.
Some of the sharpness and bokeh that a prime lens offers is sacrificed with a zoom lens in order to allow for the convenience of being able to adjust focal length quickly. Zoom lenses contain many moving parts to allow for this adjustment, so the quality of the image is always compromised. Prime lenses are designed to capture the highest quality image from one specific focal length, so they are much more specialized. Here at the studio, we use prime lenses for the vast majority of occasions (we do usually have one or two zoom lenses at the ready just in case as well). This means that we sometimes have to carry several different prime lenses of varying lengths with us, but it is worth the extra weight because we want to be able to capture those special shots.
As I mentioned earlier, lenses are every photographer’s favorite subject. If you are a photographer or aspiring to be one, let’s hear from you--what type of lenses do you prefer and why?
I prefer some of the cheaper(non-L)series of lenses, they are lighter, and relatively fast enough given the higher ISO's in the new cameras, and the loss of sharpness gives my images a more "film" look.
50 1.4 28 1.8 85 1.8
L's are overrated.
I now only take 2 lenses to the weddings I go to: - My favourite Nikon 50mm F1.8 .... a bargain at the price. On DX bodies that's an equivalent +/- 80mm lens. Beautiful sharp photos and works well in low light. Never shooitng on anything but F1.8 - A Lensbaby for some more creative selective focus shots, risky as you do tend to miss some moments but when you get it right they can be stunningly emotive shots :-)
I leave the zooms at home now, it's better to use the primes and move around, back and forward, to get the shot.
I love my newest lens, the Nikon 50mm f/1.4. It is the most expensive lens I now own, and I love using it for portraits. When I graduate from school, I plan on purchasing the Nikon 85mm 1.4, which I know will be even better for portraits. I love prime lenses, but sometimes like to bring zooms with me on vacation so I don't have to lug around three different lenses.
My three most used lenses at a wedding are the 24/1.4, 85/1.2, and 70-200/2.8IS. I have a bag full of others that sit in the car as backups but these are my go-to lenses for sure.
As a videographer, I don't have the luxury of working with films lenses. But in my film school days, I always loved the 50mm lens at 2.8. For me, it provided the perfect perspective with the right about of depth of field.
If you were stuck with only one lens to shoot a wedding, what would it be?
I absolutely love the Nikon 85mm f/1.4 and the 105mm f/2.8 Macro. The macro is versatile enough to do very close in work or fantastic portraits, and the 85 is just gorgeous all around.
This is a great post with wonderfully sound advice. My arsenal includes the 85mm f1.2, the 50mm f1.2, the 24mm f1.4 - all Canon and all prime. The only zoom lens I own is a 70-200mm f2.8 IS and is only used for ceremonies that only allow photography from a balcony or other far away location. I'd love to know if anyone has another option for that which works better so that I can go to working with all primes.
I use 24mm 1.4, 24-70 and 70-200 IS. I wish I could only use the 24. Best lens I ever known.
after a few months with the M9 and 35mm summilux i'm really close to just shooting with that one lens! so perfect. two steps back and its wide enough...and two steps forward and your close. of course this is just my personal like...
During the ceremony and reception, I tend to prefer the 24-70 and 70-200 for their versatility in composition. The Nikkor 70-200 VR II in particular is absurdly sharp and vivid at all focal lengths and even wide open at f/2.8.
A variety of other moments call for primes, the 85 1.4 and 24 1.4 being my current favorites. I love the ability to attain narrow DOF at 24mm and the 85 ... well, it needs no introduction or explanation.
The three most used lenses at the weddings I shoot are the 24mm/1.4, 85mm/1.2, and maybe my favorite of all the 200mm/f 1.8. For low light and great bokeh. On the other hand when working with a flash fill in dark rooms the 24mm-70mm/2.8 comes in handy if I want to travel light and move fast with just one lens.
Love your work, great website and fantastic blog - Lenses...we love using the 14mm 2.8 for a couple of images on every job, the 24mm 1.4 is so beautiful for the getting ready and capturing the candid moments, including environmental portraits of uncles, dad's, guests before the ceremony - doing whatever it is. Especially in the grand scottish venues.
Also just after the ceremony, the couple walking down the stairs and leaning in for a kiss! Guests reaction, cuddles and smooches @ 1.8 2000 sec, cuts through the 2-3 p.m light and gives a commercial hyper real sense.
The 35mm 1.4 just is the weapon for the boys in the morning - portraits in the window light (super contrast) and trying tie's in the mirror (contrast) walking to the Church, and informal groupings.
The 50mm 1.2 for all headshots, portraits and details. Is one of my favourites for walking about portraits of the B+G,
The 135 f2 for couples, Informals and just showing off how amazing it is for less than £1000! Don't believe me if you like - but I know for a fact that the Images look and feel more romantic than anything shot on medium format film!
(I can see why Christian prefers the 85mm 1.2 just by looking at the street scenes around NY) But buy this lens!
Also the 24-70, 70-200 and 100mm Macro sit in the Bag should we need them. 2nd camera use or when the Venue is restrictive! Get close and zoom with your feet - it is tiring sometimes, more fun and the energy of them wedding is better.
As for only using 1 lens. It could only be the 50mm and yes we have covered an entire wedding with only this lens. I wouldn't considering being stuck with it!
I bought the 35mm 1.4 thinking it would be good discipline to learn how to go super standard. But to think and consider the Images more. And yes I have covered an entire wedding with this one too...
My question is would you go to a wedding using a Hasselblad H series? And if so could you cover the whole job on the 28mm? Surely this would be more tricky than the 50mm :-p
Cheers
Robbie