Canon RF 70-200 f2.8L IS  at Weddings

I have to be honest and admit I really did not want to buy this Canon RF 70-200 f2.8L IS lens. I bought my EF 70-200 2.8L IS in 2007 and was still in love with it when the new RF 70-200 2.8 L IS arrived. I was very happy with my well worn ef copy and was concerned about the zoom barrel. I loved having internal zoom and no outwardly moving parts. I was concerned about dust and also concerned about the lens flopping into the zoom position on my Moneymaker straps.

I generally shoot weddings with two cameras and for years it was a 35 prime and a 70 -200 most of the day, or a 24 -70 2.8 L and the 70-200.

I did fall in love with the ef85 1.4 l IS and when that came out my 70-200 2.8 saw little use on wedding day unless there was an outdoor ceremony.

So small and light!

When I finally went to a local camera store to consider upgrading my old EF lens to either the EF version 3 or the RF, I was instantly sold on the RF when I saw how well it fits in my bag. I use a think tank roller bag and the ef lens had to be off the camera to go in standing and took a lot of space if left on camera. The rf on the other hand could stand in my bag attached to a camera body and was so light.

There was still the zoom when I used it but for portability it was a no brainer. I was also very pleased to see the research I had done on the performance was correct. I know I was going from a circa 2006 EF lens and not the newer version 3, but it was so incredibly sharp compared to my old EF lens.

I had to learn to snap the zoom limit with when I put the camera on my holdfast straps, but it was soon part of reaching down to put it up or down and I just learned to flick it on and off fast.

I am glad I upgraded and I am so happy with this lens. I use it a lot more at outside weddings where I need a lot of zoom range and I use it during speeches at receptions so I do not have to be on top of the couple and person speaking. I am always aware of guests and staying out of their view at receptions where possible.

With the introduction of the new internally zooming version with an adaptable zoom rocker for video I had to re asses my choice.

My choice has been to keep the little zoom rf 70-200 and not upgrade. Sure the new one is amazing and can fit teleconverters. If I was doing video and photographed sport for a living I would swap, but I do weddings and portraits mostly and never need a teleconverter. I also carry so many other lenses and flashes I value portability more. From what I have seen online the new one may be a tad sharper, but it seems minuscule and nothing a clients would notice. I see charts showing this but not many real world differences.

I do not use my Canon RF 70-200 f2.8L as much as my RF 85 1.2 L at most weddings now, but I still use it at most outdoor ceremonies on one camera with my RF 35 1.4 or the RF 28-70 f2 on the other camera. It helps me catch those candid responses from the bride or guests without being noticed of too close. I especially use it to get the grooms face if they did not do a first look. I still pull it out at indoor receptions for speeches and first dances now and again if there is a huge space and I do not want to be on top of the couple and block guests view.

So that’s my thoughts on this little lens. I love it and have no plans to upgrade in the foreseeable future.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Canon RF 70-200 f2.8L

Pros:

It is light and small

It is sharp and the IS is amazing

Cons:

It cannot take a teleconverter

It does zoom externally and may not be quite as tough as the internal zoom.

It is not cheap. (but it’s worth every cent)

Here are some sample images from weddings where I have used this lens.

I am so glad I had the Canon RF 70-200 f2.8L IS on my one camera when this flower man came in. I was able to get some awesome candid photos from the entrance all the way down the aisle. I could zoom in as he came in and back off as he got closer. I was also able to snap some crowd response photos. I wrote a blog about this moment here.

No doubt my RF 85 1.2L would have done a good job of capturing him too, but I would have less images as I would have been limited to one zoom length as he got closer and would have had to crop a lot at the start.

This photo of the bride entering the reception area with her dad is one of my favorite photos in years. I saw this gap before they came down and I wanted to stay close enough to get the grooms face. The 85 mm lens would not have allowed a good view of both. I focussed on the groom at 75 mm and was able to turn and zoom in to get them as they passed this gap. This is the perfect time for a fast zoom lens.

This shot on the steps needed a long zoom as they had two videographers I had to shoot around. I could stay back and zoom past them both.

I use the Canon RF 70-200 f2.8L IS Review for formals too now and again. It may not have quite the bokeh of an 85 1.2 L or the 135 f2, but it has great bokeh still and isolates the couple on a busy background still.

Father of the bride as the couple stood at the front of the ceremony. A timeless candid!

If you liked this Canon RF 70-200 f2.8L IS Review for weddings you may like my review of the RF 85 1.2L lens too.