Just wondering what lenses you guys like best for shooting indoor/night receptions. Thanks for the input!

My 17-55 rarely leaves the camera during receptions. I will however pull out the 85 for candids when I want a little distance between myself and the subject.

same with 85mm thats my favorite lens, generally i use 16-35, 24-70 and 10-22, in some occacion i even used the 70-200 IS it all depends.

I usually keep my contacts in. Glasses tend to get scratched when the rubber eye cup thingie pops off. And it's harder to see through the viewfinder because I can't get my eye close enough. If I don't have contacts or glasses, I never know if things are in focus. Which is how most folks remember the reception, but looking at the pictures while sober they get a little peeved.

The 17-55 on a DX camera works well. The 85, too. That's pretty much all I use these days for everything. The two lenses and one camera make for a nice package.

+1...those are the only two I use usually

Thanks so much! Just debating about which lens to purchase next....decisions, decisions!

17-55mm 2.8 always and forever

Love shooting our 85mm f/1.2 at iso 3200 with in camera B&W. You get some amazing moments. beyond that I would have to say the 70-200mm f/2.8 with IS.

I use the 24-105 for indoor receptions (I shoot full frame). I like the wide range and I like shooting at F4 to get at little more DOF for more accurate focusing while they are moving around. 24mm can get a whole lot in and 105 can get in tight on their face without shoving my camera in it. It also isn't a bad lens to get some macro stuff for details, cake, etc... I have found it works well for me and I like it more than my 24-70 for receptions.

Guess we should be asking what system you use? Are you a Canon or Nikon girl? Do you use a full frame camera? The 17-55 2.8IS is a sweet lens, but if you use a 5D, not an option.

+1, 17-55 2.8. Hardly leaves the camera.

Andy

I shoot Canon. I'm researching which body to buy also..so that might play a role.

The 5D and 24mm f1.4L are my favorite combo for receptions. I usually keep something longer on the other camera, like the 50 or 85 to get some reach.

16-35 and 70-200

along with a 50mm on 5D bodies are what we shoot almost exclusively during receptions. We have found the 85mm focusing too slow in low light to make it as useful...


Frank

+1. 24 1.4 and 50 1.4 for most with occasional 85 1.8 and 135 2.0.

+1 on the 50 or the 85. And I also really like using the 24-70 2.8 or sometimes 70-200

Bwhahahahahaha!!!!!! I can't believe I didn't get the joke when I read this thread earlier. I just read this, laughed at the guests remembering the reception "out of focus," but kept on going.

NOW, at nearly four o'clock in the morning, I come back to the thread and get the joke!

I need to go to bed!

I like my 85 1.8 (great lens!) on FF and sigma 30 1.4 on crop but am selling this as I am going 2x5D shortly and I will be getting the 35L 1.4 so that will be on one 5D, and 85 1.8 on the other. I'm a prime girl apart from the ceremony.

+2! except 50 1.2

I want the 85 and 50/1.2's and eventually (yeah, it's overkill) the 200/2.

Receptions, especially dark ones like I had last night... 24-70 was the best at lowlight focusing on the 5D, with the assist light from the flash on.. but I also ended up using flash because it was soooooo dark. It was a high end restaurant in Chicago that just started doing receptions, so it was lit like a restaurant not a reception hall and the DJ had No lights.

I tried every so often to use my 70-200/2.8IS. Problem, it's SLOW to focus, even with limiting the focus range, which is hard because it's usually in the 1.4M - 2.x (whatever it is) range not 2.x and over... so it can hunt and when it does it takes FOREVER.

I used to have the 28-75/2.8DI Tamron and I can recall it was pretty good at receptions. I'll eventually send it back for repair (was broken when a kid nailed me in the family jewels at a wedding, I know.. TMI)

50/1.4, focus was hit or miss. I think it needs to go back to CPS for a good look-see.

85/1.8 was ok but it didn't seem as peppy as the 24-70.

So overall, I think in low light, unless I'm using manual focus on the 70-200, the 24-70 is my fave for receptions...