I’m shooting a few weddings this season with a Canon R3 and I’m trying to narrow down a “main” lens (or two) that can handle most of the day without constant swaps. I usually work in dim churches and receptions, and I want reliable autofocus plus good subject separation for portraits, but I also can’t miss candid moments during the ceremony. I’m debating between something like a 24-70 f/2.8 vs 28-70 f/2, or pairing a 35/50 prime with a 70-200. If you were building a wedding kit around the R3, what lens(es) would you prioritize and why?
Same boat, watching this
This^ I’d go boring/reliable too: Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM + Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM—less swapping, IS saves ur butt in dim churches, AF is *stupid* dependable. Add Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS Macro STM as a safety prime.
> “I basically lived on … 24-70 + 70-200 … the 28-70 f/2…”
Not to disagree, but I’d skip the big f/2 zoom as your “main” if you’re trying to keep swaps + cost down. I think a stabilized 24-70-ish zoom + a 70-200-ish zoom is the boring best value on the R3… then add ONE small prime (35/50 vibe) for low-light vibes + separation (at least thats what worked for me). The lighter kit = more keepers, seriously.
Big if true
Saving this thread
Building on the earlier suggestion, the two-zoom setup really is the most practical for R3 performance. I tried mixing primes. It sucked. Missing a shot because I was swapping glass felt worse than having a slightly less artsy look.
- Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM: The AF is instant and IS helps when things get dim. Its the safest bet for the sensor and much lighter than the f2 version.
- Canon RF 28-70mm F2 L USM: Insane performance, basically a bag of primes, but heavy. No IS makes it harder if your hands get shaky by the end of a 10 hour day.
- Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM: Essential for ceremony candids. Fast and sharp enough that you wont really miss the primes. The 24-70 plus the 70-200 combo just works. Its not flashy. You wont miss key moments because of weight or slow swapping. Good starting point tbh.
Oh man, been there—after one candlelit church where swaps killed me, I basically lived on Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM + Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM; fast AF, IS, covers 95% of a wedding with zero drama. Lesson learned: the Canon RF 28-70mm F2 L USM is amazing for portraits, but it’s heavy and you’ll still want the 70-200 for ceremony candids.
I have spent quite a bit of time with these setups and unfortunately the weight-to-performance ratio just is not as good as expected for long wedding days. It actually reminds me of a disaster gig I had last summer at a historic estate where the gear choice ended up mattering much less than the logistics.
- The main gate was locked when I arrived
- I had to park nearly half a mile away and carry everything by hand
- The catering staff accidentally spilled red wine on my backup bag That whole experience was such a mess that I barely remember which focal lengths I even used that day. It really shows how the venue can ruin your workflow more than the kit itself. Anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.
