My Most Used Lens of 2023 Is….
Now that the 2023 Wedding Season is over, I thought it would be interesting to examine my lens choices for the year.
I shot 17 Weddings in 2023, yielding a combined delivery total of 7,322 images. That’s an average of 430 images per wedding (though I did some multi-day weddings, longer and shorter, of course).
The results are in, regarding the lenses and in descending order, it is:
Fujifilm 18mm F1.4
Fujifilm 56mm F1.2
Fujifilm 50mm F2.0
Viltrox AF 27mm F1.2
Fujifilm 33mm F1.4
There are a few caveats that should be mentioned here. I only rented the Fujifilm 50mm F2.0 for a few months, so it was used at four weddings. I only had the Viltrox 27mm towards the end of the year and used it at one Wedding.
So, I’m going to briefly describe the role of each of these lenses and how they might help you if you are a Wedding Photographer.
There will also be a LOT of pictures.
The Fujifilm 18mm F1.4
I’m not at all surprised this came out on top. When I purchased and started using that lens, I knew that the 23mm F.14, my staple in previous years, would be redundant.
Interestingly, I took the 23mm lens to every wedding last year - but didn’t use it once. It’s become my backup lens, I guess.
As a documentary wedding photographer who captures candid moments, I've found the Fujifilm 18mm F1.4 (review) lens to be an indispensable addition to my photography kit this last year.
Firstly, the 18mm focal length provides a wide field of view, allowing me to capture the details of the venue and the vibrancy of the celebrations without intruding on the intimate moments.
This perspective is essential for documenting the atmosphere and setting, giving viewers a sense of place and occasion. Despite its wide angle, I feel the lens maintains a natural perspective with minimal distortion, which is critical for accurately portraying the guests and the unfolding events.
This lens's F1.4 aperture is another feature that significantly enhances its capability for candid photography. It allows for exceptional performance in low-light conditions, which are often encountered in wedding venues.
The bokeh produced is pleasingly soft, adding a beautiful aesthetic quality to the photographs.
The Fujifilm 18mm F1.4 lens's autofocus system is impressively fast and accurate. In the dynamic and unpredictable environment of a wedding, the ability to quickly focus on a subject is invaluable. It ensures that I rarely miss a fleeting expression or a spontaneous moment. Moreover, the lens is remarkably quiet, crucial for maintaining the unobtrusive presence necessary for capturing genuine, unposed moments.
The build quality is excellent, offering peace of mind when working in various environments, from crowded dance floors to outdoor settings.
Its compact size and light weight make it an ideal lens for long days of shooting, allowing me to move freely and react quickly without being weighed down by heavy equipment.
The Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 Lens
The Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 (review) lens has been a mainstay of my camera bag for years. When the new version arrived a couple of years ago I immediately purchased it.
The combination of its focal length, wide aperture, and the exceptional image quality it delivers makes it an essential part of my camera bag.
The 56mm focal length strikes a great balance, offering enough distance to allow subjects to remain comfortable and unaware of the camera, yet close enough to capture the emotion and detail of intimate moments. This focal length results in images that feel natural and immersive, drawing the viewer into the moment.
The F1.2 aperture is a brilliant for low-light photography, a common scenario at weddings, whether during indoor ceremonies or receptions held at dusk.
This wide aperture not only allows me to shoot in challenging lighting conditions without sacrificing image quality but also creates a beautifully shallow depth of field. This isolates my subjects from the background, making them stand out with stunning clarity while rendering backgrounds with a dreamy, soft-focus effect that adds a romantic quality to the photographs.
Autofocus performance is crucial in the fast-paced environment of a wedding, and the Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 Mark 2 lens does not disappoint. Its autofocus is swift and precise. This reliability ensures that I never miss the subtle glances, tears of joy, or laughter that define the day.
The lens's bokeh, or the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph, is another standout feature. The F1.2 aperture produces a bokeh that is not just pleasingly soft but also adds depth and dimension to the images. I feel this quality enhances the emotional impact of my photographs, making them more engaging and evocative.
The Fujifilm 50mm F2 Lens
The Fujifilm 50mm F2 lens (review) with its F2 aperture, while not as wide as some other lenses in the lineup, still provides ample light gathering capability for most wedding environments.
Its autofocus is quick and quiet, crucial for snapping those fleeting moments without drawing attention. The lens's size and weight are also significant advantages; it's so light and unobtrusive that I can carry it all day without fatigue, ensuring I'm always ready to capture the action as it unfolds.
The Viltrox 27mm F1.2 Lens
The Viltrox 27mm lens for Fujifilm X-mount (review) with its affordability, combined with excellent performance, makes it an attractive alternative to more expensive lenses without compromising on the quality essential for capturing such significant moments.
The 27mm focal length offers a slightly wide-angle perspective, perfect for capturing the broader context of wedding scenes while still maintaining a natural look to the images. This focal length is versatile, allowing me to document lots of elements of a wedding.
With its wide aperture, the lens performs admirably in low-light conditions.
The autofocus of the Viltrox 27mm is both fast and silent, a must-have feature for any lens used in wedding photography.
Although not as widely recognised as some Fujifilm lenses, the Viltrox 27mm doesn't skimp on build quality. It's robust enough to withstand the demands of a wedding day, from bustling preparations to energetic dance floors.
In essence, the Viltrox 27mm lens for Fujifilm X-mount is a fantastic choice for candid and documentary wedding photography if you are on a budget.
It offers a compelling combination of wide-angle versatility, low-light performance, and discrete operation, all in a package that's both affordable and portable.
The Fujifilm 33mm F1.4 Lens
I rarely use the 33mm F1.4 lens. It’s more of a backup, but does have a place sometimes.
The autofocus system is reliably quick and accurate. This lens, like many in Fujifilm's lineup, is also known for its exceptional build quality, offering durability and confidence in its performance.
Its extremely compact and lightweight, the 33mm lens is unobtrusive and easy to carry, allowing for discreet shooting that doesn't interrupt the natural flow of the wedding.
But I don’t really like the focal length.
