Canon 24-70 2.8 II or Canon 35 1.4 II as a Wedding/Event Photographer

Hello! I am an event/wedding photographer and deciding which lens will be more critical as my budget will only allow me to buy either one of the lens at this time. The 35/1.4 will be a great addition to my arsenal as you see my current setup doesn't have anything larger than 2.8 aperture. I could see myself using the 35/1.4 wide open in an indoor situation with the bride and also some portraits. On the other hand, 24-70/2.8 surely gives me the range but it doesn't provide the same degree of 3D pop, bokeh as the 35 when doing portraiture. Would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

My current gear: 6D, 40/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200 2.8 II.

Hello! I am an event/wedding photographer and deciding which lens will be more critical as my budget will only allow me to buy either one of the lens at this time. The 35/1.4 will be a great addition to my arsenal as you see my current setup doesn't have anything larger than 2.8 aperture. I could see myself using the 35/1.4 wide open in an indoor situation with the bride and also some portraits. On the other hand, 24-70/2.8 surely gives me the range but it doesn't provide the same degree of 3D pop, bokeh as the 35 when doing portraiture. Would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

My current gear: 6D, 40/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200 2.8 II.

IMO this is a decision only you can make as it will be defining to your style as a wedding photographer. Some will say that the 24-70 is a must for a wedding photographer. That may be true for some but there are some who do weddings without it. On the other hand, the 24-70 is going to be sharper and provide a little more subject isolation than your 24-105, but the 35l II will have a look that your 24-105 simply can't do. Tough decision.

diness wrote:

Hello! I am an event/wedding photographer and deciding which lens will be more critical as my budget will only allow me to buy either one of the lens at this time. The 35/1.4 will be a great addition to my arsenal as you see my current setup doesn't have anything larger than 2.8 aperture. I could see myself using the 35/1.4 wide open in an indoor situation with the bride and also some portraits. On the other hand, 24-70/2.8 surely gives me the range but it doesn't provide the same degree of 3D pop, bokeh as the 35 when doing portraiture. Would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

My current gear: 6D, 40/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200 2.8 II.

IMO this is a decision only you can make as it will be defining to your style as a wedding photographer. Some will say that the 24-70 is a must for a wedding photographer. That may be true for some but there are some who do weddings without it. On the other hand, the 24-70 is going to be sharper and provide a little more subject isolation than your 24-105, but the 35l II will have a look that your 24-105 simply can't do. Tough decision.

Yes it's truly a tough decision. Frankly I could get it done with my current 24-105/4 but as you said it doesn't give you that kind of sharpness as compared to the 24-70. So I am leaning towards to the 35 1.4 II but I am not 100% decided yet and would like to hear more from you guys.

ahson wrote:

Hello! I am an event/wedding photographer and deciding which lens will be more critical as my budget will only allow me to buy either one of the lens at this time. The 35/1.4 will be a great addition to my arsenal as you see my current setup doesn't have anything larger than 2.8 aperture. I could see myself using the 35/1.4 wide open in an indoor situation with the bride and also some portraits. On the other hand, 24-70/2.8 surely gives me the range but it doesn't provide the same degree of 3D pop, bokeh as the 35 when doing portraiture. Would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

My current gear: 6D, 40/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200 2.8 II.

Did you listen to this review by Dustin Abbott? If not, it might help some.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqk9-lthEPg

First, I hope you have a second camera body. If you don't, get that first.

It sounds like you really  want the 35mm and maybe that is what will make you happiest. But the 24-70 f/2.8L II would make an incredible workhorse replacement to the kit 24-105. I find it a near-ideal lens for parties, galas, events and whatnot.

ahson wrote:

Hello! I am an event/wedding photographer and deciding which lens will be more critical as my budget will only allow me to buy either one of the lens at this time. The 35/1.4 will be a great addition to my arsenal as you see my current setup doesn't have anything larger than 2.8 aperture. I could see myself using the 35/1.4 wide open in an indoor situation with the bride and also some portraits. On the other hand, 24-70/2.8 surely gives me the range but it doesn't provide the same degree of 3D pop, bokeh as the 35 when doing portraiture. Would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

My current gear: 6D, 40/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200 2.8 II.

The 35mm is not a good lens for portraiture.

Get the 24-70 2.8 II and build from there.

(If you want something that is real great for portraiture, you

can add the 85mm 1.2L II later, which is also versatile enough to serve

other purposes during a wedding, due to its focal length, or the 135 mm 2.0 L)

J A C S wrote:

Fog Maker wrote:

ahson wrote:

Hello! I am an event/wedding photographer and deciding which lens will be more critical as my budget will only allow me to buy either one of the lens at this time. The 35/1.4 will be a great addition to my arsenal as you see my current setup doesn't have anything larger than 2.8 aperture. I could see myself using the 35/1.4 wide open in an indoor situation with the bride and also some portraits. On the other hand, 24-70/2.8 surely gives me the range but it doesn't provide the same degree of 3D pop, bokeh as the 35 when doing portraiture. Would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

My current gear: 6D, 40/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200 2.8 II.

The 35mm is not a good lens for portraiture.

Nothing wrong with 35mm for weddings. Search for "35mm lens for weddings".

Of course not. But he mentioned ''portrait'' twice.

(I still have y 24-70 for work, but other than that I all for primes and plan to get rid of it when a new 50mm is released)

ahson wrote:

Hello! I am an event/wedding photographer and deciding which lens will be more critical as my budget will only allow me to buy either one of the lens at this time. The 35/1.4 will be a great addition to my arsenal as you see my current setup doesn't have anything larger than 2.8 aperture. I could see myself using the 35/1.4 wide open in an indoor situation with the bride and also some portraits. On the other hand, 24-70/2.8 surely gives me the range but it doesn't provide the same degree of 3D pop, bokeh as the 35 when doing portraiture. Would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

My current gear: 6D, 40/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200 2.8 II.

It seems like you are reaching for objective input on a matter completely subjective to your own needs and style.

Your concerns seem to address image quality first and foremost. I can't imagine any current Canon L class lens that would not provide you with good IQ. If you are a fan of wide apertures, then surely the 24-105 L would not be your first choice. But I would question the notion of the 35L delivering substantially more "3D pop and bokeh" than the much-lauded 24-70 II L. And, it would seem to me that you would be losing quite a bit of the wide end (which can be essential for some wedding shots) by going with the 35 prime, unless you end up right back with the 24-105 L alongside it. Meanwhile, the 24-70 L still gives you a respectable f2.8 while still maintaining a bit of versatility.

It is probably prudent for you to secure a second body at some point soon. I cannot imagine going to shoot a wedding without proper backup. If things fail (and they do, especially with 1000+ shot plus wedding days), you'd be up the creek if nearly any part of your kit fails. Photographers are frequently sued when they do not deliver, whatever the reason. If I were in your same shoes, I'd be looking at an inexpensive used second body BEFORE I looked at expensive alternative lenses.

Best of luck

Ahson

for official pictures ( static ) you can use a prime

For candid pictures at the party you need a zoom lens

I'd get another body before I bought a new lens. If you've got 2 bodies get the 35, you could do with something fast.

FYI I have couple other bodies to use which we all share together as a team. So yes thanks for the concern, I have another body alongside my own 6D to work.

meland wrote:

ahson wrote:

FYI I have couple other bodies to use which we all share together as a team. So yes thanks for the concern, I have another body alongside my own 6D to work.

Are you replying to me?

To anyone who's in this post in general. Not you specified, or else I'll reply with quote.