Best main wide-to-mid zoom for an outdoor wedding on a Canon 7D?
Asked 7/25/2011
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2 answers
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I’m shooting my first solo outdoor wedding with a Canon 7D and need a reliable main lens in the wide-to-midrange. Budget is around $1500. I already have macro lenses, an 85mm portrait lens, and a telephoto to 300mm, and I expect to carry a 35mm or 50mm on a second body during the wedding.
I’m considering lenses like the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 and 24-105mm f/4L, but on a crop body they may not be wide enough for groups and general coverage. IS is not essential since the wedding is outdoors, and it’s a fairly small event so I don’t need much reach. I’d prefer Canon options, but I’m open to the best fit for sharpness, color, and wedding use on APS-C.
What would be the best all-around choice?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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On crop sensor cameras such as the 7D, 60D, etc Canon only makes one lens that really fits the bill. The Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is the bread and butter of this range. Many full frame photographers keep a crop sensor camera around just to be able to use a lens with IS in this range, with this aperture, on a zoom. The 24-70mm f/2.8 L is the closest comparison, but it is obviously for full frame bodies if you consider the focal length, but it does not have IS as the 17-55 does.
I would look at the 17-55mm, and add a fast prime in the 35-50 range. That, along with a 70-200mm of some kind, is really the kit that you need to shoot a wedding.
A great place to start is the-digital-pictures's list of recommended wedding photography lenses. It is hard to argue with any of the selections on this list.
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a Canon 7D, the strongest all-around wedding zoom in this range is the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. On APS-C, its focal range is much more practical than a 24-70 or 24-105 as a single main lens because it gives you useful width for groups and general coverage while still reaching into normal/short-portrait territory. The constant f/2.8 is also helpful for subject separation and lower light.
The 24-70mm f/2.8 can work well if your priority is portraits and candids, but on a crop body it may feel not wide enough for tighter spaces or group shots. The 24-105mm f/4L gives more reach, but you give up a stop of light.
If you want one lens to stay on the 7D for most of the day, 17-55mm f/2.8 IS is the safest recommendation from the options discussed. Pairing it with a fast 35mm or 50mm on a second body covers most wedding situations well.
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