Help choosing a wedding and portrait lens

[Aknight0053]

im purchasing canon 80d. There is a kit that comes with the 18-135mm lens. I already have a canon 18-55mm. Just wondering if I would be better to buy the kit or purchase the body alone and then an lens that would be more sutituble for weddings and portraits. I'm not familiar with which lens would be best to buy any advice?

 

[Designer]

I'm not familiar with Canon gear, so perhaps someone will respond with a recommendation. My thought is; how much will the retailer take off the deal if you don't elect to take the lens? My hunch is that the retailer is not going to discount the deal by the equivalent price of a new lens.

 

[FotosbyMike]

For the most part it is always best to buy body and lenses separately. That way you can buy what you want and need. For weddings I would Canon 16-35 f/4, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8 and 50 1.4 or 1.2. There are third party lens companies that make comparable focal lengths; Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina.

 

[ronlane]

Depending on the lighting conditions of the venues in your area, the 80D may struggle with low light when compared with a full frame of the 6D, 5D Mk III, 5Ds, 5DsR and the 1Dx. But then again those prices get high really quick on that list.

Mike gave a good list of lenses that would be good for weddings and portrait but I will also add in the 85mm f/1.8. This is another really good lens for portrait work and would be equally good for weddings.

Another "specialty" lens would be the 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. This will be useful for detail shots, like of rings or table settings, shoes....

 

[table1349]

24-70mm f 2.8
70-200mm f2.8
85mm 1.2

 

[goodguy]

Before I will recommend gear I want to ask you
Did you shoot a wedding ?
A birthday ?
Any kind of event ?
Been shooting for well over 7 years now the last 3-4 years very seriously, been volunteering as second shooter for over 6 months and I can tell you I still dont think I am ready for a wedding to shoot all by myself.
Dont think gear is what does the job or dont think good gear will mean you are ready to shoot.

As for gear, yes you can shoot a wedding with an APS-C camera and the 80D seems like a good APS-C camera but I would not recommend it, not as a main body, only as second body.
In low light situation where you cant shoot with flash or flash not very effective a FF camera will be worth its weight in gold.
6D or preferably 5D III will be the better tools.
I would recommend shooting a wedding or any event with 2 cameras, one with wider lens and second with longer range.
Assuming you want Canon lenses then I will recommend
Canon 24-70mm 2.8 II
Canon 70-200mm 2.8 II
And for at least one fast prime lens 50mm 1.8
2 Flashes

With 2 bodies one FF another APS-C and these lenses you cover the most basics for serious event photography.
I would not recommend going for slower lenses because you will have to raise your ISO through the roof in many occasions or you will not have the ability to shoot wide open and get good separation which I think is even more important then the extra light you get when shooting open.

Buying this new will cost you around 7000$ but you can get the cameras and lenses used or refurbished and lower your expenses or buy third party lenses like Tamron or Sigma.

And again remember most important thing is to get the skills and this takes years of learning and practicing.

Good luck

 

[DanOstergren26 2]

For portraits, I would consider these prime lenses: 85mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2 or f/2.8, or 135mm f/2. The 85mm focal length is the best choice in my opinion if you are still learning the ropes to portrait photography.

I don't shoot weddings, so I can't really offer any advice there.

 

[jaomul]

Not 100% sure all these fullframe recommendations are helpful for someone purchasing a 80d. I'm sure budget has been considered.

To OP, I'd get the 18-135 with the camera as likely you'll get it cheap and it will be a lot more useful than the 18-55mm, I am sure quality will be similar, that is likely a very good lens in good light, not so much in lower light.

A 50mm lens is generally considered a nice focal length (on a crop camera)for portraits, combined with a fast aperture. There are various 50mm lenses from canon and canon fit from sigma that are f1.8 or f1.4. One of these should be nice, as are the 85mm mentioned earlier but you'll need distance to fit people in at that focal length.

Weddings- are you a guest taking the odd shot, or intend on shooting the wedding, because without being a smart ass, if you need to ask what lens for wedding you probably are not experienced enough to shoot one just yet

 

[gsgary]

Not 100% sure all these fullframe recommendations are helpful for someone purchasing a 80d. I'm sure budget has been considered.

To OP, I'd get the 18-135 with the camera as likely you'll get it cheap and it will be a lot more useful than the 18-55mm, I am sure quality will be similar, that is likely a very good lens in good light, not so much in lower light.

A 50mm lens is generally considered a nice focal length (on a crop camera)for portraits, combined with a fast aperture. There are various 50mm lenses from canon and canon fit from sigma that are f1.8 or f1.4. One of these should be nice, as are the 85mm mentioned earlier but you'll need distance to fit people in at that focal length.

Weddings- are you a guest taking the odd shot, or intend on shooting the wedding, because without being a smart ass, if you need to ask what lens for wedding you probably are not experienced enough to shoot one just yet

Every post he recommended full frame

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

 

[spiralout462]

In my honest opinoon, the 18-135 stm is much better than the 18-55 (any version). I would get it with the body. I will second ronlanes's 85 f1.8 recommendation. I also agree that shooting a wedding with ONE crop body is a brave decision! Of course I don't know the details. If it's a small ceremony for good friends or family, go for it, learn something.

Edit: a bride hiring a hack beginner has no effect on me whatsoever.

 

[spiralout462]

Wedding Photographer Sued