The best lenses for social or event photography

In today’s article I am going to talk about the most recommended objectives for social photography. Because if you have to photograph a social event, contrary to what many people think, the most important thing is not only the camera, as much as it helps. The crux of the question is more in the objectives. That is where you should focus your efforts if you are considering dedicating yourself to social or event photography. Most of today’s DSLR or EVIL cameras can offer you moderately enough quality to cover all kinds of events. But without the right goals you can miss half the event

If you want to go deeper in general about lenses, their characteristics, terminology, compatibilities, etc., don’t miss the mega buying guide that we have prepared for you.

But… what is social photography or event photography?

The social photography it is the one that puts the focus on the human subject and when we talk about event photography it includes any celebration that involves a gathering of people (in smaller or larger number), so it can be from a wedding to a concert.

In this article we are going to focus on the social photography of events that is mainly dedicated to immortalizing weddings (here you will find the most complete guide to get started in wedding photography), baptisms and communions, although birthdays, anniversaries are also included in the package. and any other celebration worth immortalizing.

What objective to choose for social photography?

Before leaving you with the recommendations, so that you can decide for yourself, I am going to tell you what you should take into account when choosing.

Fixed lens or zoom?

Both fixed and zoom lenses have their advantages and disadvantages. The former are usually brighter and offer softer backgrounds, as well as being more compact and lighter. This makes your presence less intrusive. The latter allow you to get closer without moving. With the same objective you can cover different types of planes and/or distances.

To cover a big event, the ideal is to take a fixed lens for portraits and documentation and a zoom lens to be able to respond more quickly to different situations.

If you can’t take more than one lens, a varifocal (zoom) lens will be the best option.

Opening

Especially if the light conditions are poor or you do not use the external flash, you will need a very bright lens. The larger the opening, the better. Mario’s favorite is the king of lenses, and his f/1.4 maximum aperture is one of the main reasons. Later I will tell you about it, because it cannot be missing from today’s list.

When using a zoom, if you can choose one that has a fixed aperture, much better. That is, that it has the same maximum aperture if you photograph at 50mm as at 105mm, for example. Take a good look because this is not normally the case and the maximum aperture varies according to the focal length.

Stabilizer

Having a stabilizer on the lens is especially important under the following circumstances:

• When the camera does not have a stabilizer in the body.
• When lighting conditions are insufficient.
• When using telephoto lenses.

Focal distance

The focal length of the lens is what will determine the type of photography you can take. We always say that the photo is taken by the photographer, but we cannot forget about the tool. Can you imagine peeling a watermelon with a spoon? Well, taking a photograph of a very large group with a telephoto lens in a small space would be something similar. Each situation requires a specific type of goal.

To take portraits, the best lenses are those with a focal length between 50-135mm, to photograph the context, a focal length between 24-50mm would be more suitable. If, for example, you want to photograph the entire interior of a church or a large group of people, you need an angle of approximately 10-14mm. To photograph from afar and achieve close-up shots, you have no choice but to use a telephoto lens.

In the following graph you will see a summary of the different focal lengths and the angle of view they cover.

How many lenses should I bring to photograph an event?

Obviously, the equipment you need to photograph a wedding is not the same as a birthday. The more important and unrepeatable the event, the more you have to cover your back, and not because an objective could fail you, which may seem strange, but hey, you never know, accidents are not planned 😉 , but because of what we mentioned at first.

So far I don’t know of an objective that will solve an entire wedding for you. Like the baptism of your cousin yes, but a wedding is big words. And not only because it is unrepeatable, but because the variety of situations is such that you have to have a team that responds to each and every one of them. From the preparation of the bride and groom at home to the reception and the dance, going through the church or the court, the family portraits or the details that they prepare with such care.

Neither is an outdoor wedding the same as an indoor one. An event in a small space that is very large.

In short, you will have to assess what type or types of events you are going to face and as what, to choose which objectives you take with you. Planning is always essential.

The best lenses for social or event photography

As always, the goal(s) you choose will depend on the event and needs. Being the photographer hired at a wedding is not the same as photographing your child’s birthday or your parents’ 50th anniversary. It is not about losing your head or letting yourself be led blindly by the objectives recommended here. If you are not going to take photos at a professional level, take photos with what you have, which in the end is what it is all about. If you are considering making the leap to professional photography, you know, start scratching your pocket and invest in good material.

50mm f/1.4

This lens is the most similar to human vision, but not because of the viewing angle, but because it does not cause distortions. It is ideal, for example, to portray in a more documentary way or when there is a lot of clutter in the space and you want clean up the scene closing the frame. You can learn more about this king of goals in this special article.

Toasting in 50mm

Next, I leave you the link to this lens for Nikon, but there are also those for CanonPentax and Sigmathe latter also for Sony (Mount A) and Canon. for Fujifilm It is with a maximum aperture of f/1.2.

85mm f/1.8

For more posed or planned portraits, it is ideal, as it is a lens that brings you very close to the subject and generates a greater privacy.

Here I leave you with the recommendations for each type of mount.

• Canon EF: Canon Prime lens for professionals, with f/1.4 aperture, excellent image quality, image stabilizer up to 4 stops and fast and precise focus.
• Canon R: Samyang lens with f/1.4 aperture for Canon mirrorless, with aluminum mount and 584g.
• Nikon Z: Eye detection AF and multi-focus system, ultra-quiet dual-motor AF motor, 67mm filter diameter and 470g weight.
• Nikon F: For use with FX and DX format SLR cameras, excellent optical performance, SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for quiet and precise autofocus, and 350g (approx.).
• sony e: VILTROX brand, with silent STM focus motor, metal structure, 72mm filter diameter and 484g weight.
• sony e: Sony Prime lens for professionals, with an aperture, in this case f/1.4, extreme sharpness and heart-stopping bokeh.
• Samyang f/1.4-22 AS IF UMC: 8-blade diaphragm for smooth bokeh, internal focus or anti-reflective coating are some of the features of this quality lens at a reasonable price. For Nikon F mountsCanon EFFuji XMicro Four ThirdsOlympia 4/3Sony ASony E and Pentax.

Bride portrait in 85mm

24-70mm

This variable focal length is quite versatile and allows you to take pictures in small spaces, covering a more or less wide scene and also take portraits or get a little closer to the scene. Many photographers agree that they started with this focal length. If you use a camera with a cropped sensor (not Full Frame) this focal length is better than the following 70-200mm.

Graduation event in 24mm

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG

for CanonNikon and Sigma.

Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8

Versatile, with stabilizer, fixed f/2.8 aperture and compatible with CanonNikon and Sony E (28-75mm).

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM

With stabilizer and fixed f/4 maximum aperture, it is from the Canon L-series (premium series).

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

It is not exactly an economic objective but its valuations are excellent. f/2.8 aperture, 9 diaphragm blades and 15 elements in 11 groups make up an optical construction with excellent results, here you can see some examples taken by users of this lens.