My Gear – Canon L Zooms

You might remember a couple months ago I posted about my Canon L prime lenses. This is the second post talking about the tools I typically use at a wedding and many of my film projects. You might remember how much I loved my Canon L primes lenses from my previous post, well here are my Canon L zoom lenses pictured below.

Shown from left to right are the 17-40mm 4.0L, 24-70mm 2.8L, and the 70-200mm 2.8L IS.

Zoom lenses offer some advantages over prime lenses. Two advantages are they are lighter, and offer more flexibility. The 3 lenses I have listed above, are essentially all you need to shoot weddings, giving you a range of 17mm (wide) to 200mm (telephoto). Any time anyone asks about what lens to buy next I always ask if they have this range covered with zoom lenses before buying primes. Zooms make it easier to move quickly and get shots by “zooming-in” when you don’t have the time or ability to get closer to get the shot. One of the disadvantages is that they are not as good for low light, compared to prime lenses, with their smaller apertures.

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

Canon EF 17-40mm 4.0LThis is actually one of my least used lenses in my bag. I probably would use a wide angle zoom more if I had the Canon 16-35mm 2.8L which would give me another stop of light. When I do use my 17-40mm I tend to use it for group shots. Here is one of my favorites.

Canon EF 24-70mm 2.8LI have been using this lenses less and less recently. Maybe because I prefer my prime lenses, and also I let my assistant use it when I don’t need it on a wedding day. Actually many of my friends in the industry have sold this lens and no longer have it in their gear bag on a wedding day. I like to keep it as back-up for my primes, just in case. This lens comes in handy for group shots since group sizes tend to change constantly, so it is much quicker to zoom and reframe than move back and forth constantly.  Another nice feature is it’s macro capability, which is great when you are pressed for time and don’t need to use a true macro lens.

Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8L ISOut of all my L zoom lenses, this is the one I use most. This lens is my workhorse during the ceremony. I also use it at times during the reception, group shots, and shots of the bride and groom together. The IS (Image Stabilization) feature is really helpful during indoor ceremonies or low light reception halls. The zoom range is great for capturing nearly everything during the ceremony.

If you are thinking about adding one of these lenses to your collection please use the links below.