LOS ANGELES WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER – RUSTIN MICHAEL BLOG » Rustin Michael is a Los Angeles based wedding and portrait photographer

Life has been pretty crazy the past couple weeks gearing up to shoot “Absentia.” I am only a couple days aways from DPing my first feature film!

Here is the first of what will be several posts about the tools I typically use at a wedding and many of my film projects. I figured I would start off with my favorite lenses, my Canon L primes.

Shown from left to right are the 24mm 1.4L, 50mm 1.2L, 85mm 1.2L II, and 135mm 2.0L.

Fixed focal length lenses, or prime lenses, offer many advantages over zoom lenses. I think sharpness and a larger aperture are the biggest ones. Prime lenses are typically the sharpest lenses you can get. I shoot with my prime lenses so much that when I use one of my Canon L zoom lenses (post coming soon) the images almost look soft in comparison. The larger aperture allows me to shoot in lower light than I could with a zoom lens, it also allows me to get a shallower depth of field than I could get with a zoom.

Keep reading below for a few notes about each lens and a few favorite images I took with it.

Canon EF 24mm 1.4L Even though there are wider lenses, I think the 24L does pretty well. It gives you a nice wide view without as much distortion that you would get from a wider angle. I love using my 24L for many parts of the day. I most frequently use it while the bride is getting ready, but also for select portraits and details.

Canon EF 50mm 1.2L I most frequently use my 50L when the bride is getting ready, for select portraits, and details. The 50L focuses much fast than the 85L but I still think I prefer the compression and angle of view of the 85L compared to the 50L.

Canon EF 85mm 1.2L II The 85L is an amazing lens that requires much practice to master. The lens focuses really slow, due to the build and design used in this heavy lens yet allowing it to still stay relatively small. I tend to use my 85L most during portraits and the first dance, and details. If the room is big enough I also like to use it while the bride is getting ready. It also comes in handy in low light churches.

Canon 135mm 2.0L Honestly my 135L is one of my least used lenses in my bag. I had even considered selling it at one point. Most of the times I need to a lens longer than 85mm I am usually using my Canon 70-200 2.8L. I do love how fast the 135L focuses though, and it is nice to have the 135L in my bag as back-up for my 70-200. It was hard finding images I shot with the 135L. Here is one

I could nearly shoot a whole wedding just using the 24mm 1.4L, 50mm 1.2L, and 85mm 1.2L II. If fact if you ever see me working at a wedding or engagement shoot I probably am using one of those 3 lenses, since they are on my camera most of the day.

Stay tuned for a post about my Canon L zoom lenses.

VIEW MY WEDDING PORTFOLIO