50mm 1.4 or 28mm 1.8?

[Keith Forman]

Originally Posted by Bryan Cantwell

If it's the AF noise you're worried about, it won't be a problem, since you'll be focusing manually, right? ;-)

Hopefully you wont be using a dslr camera for a ceremony.

[Kelly Huffaker]

I use the Canon 17-55mm 2.8 Its a solid lens that I purchased more for photography just because of the quick auto focus and sharp "L-like" glass. I do use it for video sometimes, but I actually prefer my Canon 50mm 1.4 and Tokina 11-16mm more.

[Chris Westerstrom]

if i had to choose one over the other, I'd go with the 28

why?
1) closer to the natural eye
2) more range

[Geoffrey Chandler]

Originally Posted by Mark Von Lanken

I would recommend getting both the 50 1.4 and the 28 1.8 for shooting weddings. That is not all you will need, but those two lenses will be great for shooting the reception. I have gone to shooting with fast primes for the reception, mainly because zoom lenses are limited to 2.8. I tried using 2.8 lenses, but for dark receptions, it just wasn't fast enough.

I like to have one camera getting closeups and a second camera getting wide shots during the first dance and parent dances. The 28 will work well for wider shots, as long as you do not want a super wide shot, but the 50 may be limiting for close shots, unless it's a really small dance floor. For the last several months I have been using an 85 1.4 for close shots of the special dances and it is great.

Are there short focal length prime lenses that have "vibration control" or "image stabilization" or is that strictly a feature of zooms?

[Chris Estrella]

The only prime I know of that has IS is the Canon 100mm F2.8L IS Macro lens. Looks like if you're looking for a lens faster than F2.8 with IS, you're out of luck.