Hi
I use my zoom lenses during the procession (70-200) and for reception (17-55). Most of the time I use 17-55 for its versatility- group shots on the table, dance floor shots, etc. I use primes like 105 macro for my ring shots, bouquet and cake images. 50mm for some portrait shots (I use DX Nikon so 50mm is just perfect). Another zoom I use is my 11-16 wide lens for album cover shots, like architecture of the church, venue and some creative shots. I use 2 cameras all the time so I prevent missing the a-ha shots of the wedding from changing lenses. or to get a full frame effect shot I do photo stitching (some call it Brenizer thingy) by using my 70-200mm zoom or 85mm prime.
So I don't know if this can help just wanted to share, thanks
Rams

i break out the primes in loooow light.

Truemoments & kennykodak - Thanks for the replies.

I want to find practical & compelling reasons why I should use prime lenses vs Zoom lenses during an event. Say I have 3 bodies, with 3 zoom lenses (wide angle, normal zoom & tele zoom). When would you remove a zoom lens (and loose the versitility) in favour of a prime lens?

* Macro lens (e.g. Nikon 105mm) for close-up shots of rings, bouquet, etc. This makes perfect sense & I would change one of the zooms for a macro lens.

* Low light (when do you actually replace a f/2.8 17-50mm zoom lens with a 35mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8 ?

In low light - Why would you replace a zoom lens with a prime lens, if you can use flash?

* Depth of field ?

* Image quality ? (When is the image quality of a prime lens prefered above the flexibility & quality of a good zoom lens (e.g. Nikon 24-70mm) ?

* Portraits? Is a prime lens really better? ( Most of the portraits on this website was shot using a Nikon 24-70mm lens. )

it depends if you focus (pun intended) on quality or quantity...wide open at 1.2or 1.4 aint nothing like 2.8 with three bodies I'd use 24mm 1.5, 85mm 12. and 135 mm 2.0

most def depth of field and isolation from background

assuming your zoom lens is at best a 2.8 then a 50/1.2 or a 35/1.4 will connect focus wise a lot easier. you might even catch a garter or bouquet in the air at an outdoor event. a slower zoom is going hunt (focus search) like a coon dog in spring. there's the bokeh thing of open aperture and then there is tack sharp timely focus that's captures the moment.

For all my weddings to date I've used the 3 Nikon zoom, 14-24, 24-70 & 70-200, but for the first couple I had the 85mm f/1.4D and the third I rented the 24mm f/1.4

I find that the vast bulk of the wedding is covered by zooms, I don't have the experience to know what prime to have on for certain times so play it safe and use the 24-70 and 70-200 on two bodies nearly all the time. If I see a shot, for example wide shot from the back of the church, or large group shot, I'll throw on the 14-24mm.
I used the 85mm for portraits, once I have a few portrait shots in the bag, and time allowed I'd put on the 85mm and take a few with that.
During the first dance I'd use the 85mm and also the 24mm when I rent it that one time.
When I look back on the weddings to date, and take into account the shots the couples liked the most, and what I think are my best shots, the primes come out top in terms of percentage, not sure why, is it the dept of field, out of focus area, not sure why to be honest.

For the last wedding I sold the 85mm f/1.4D before it and did not rent the 24mm, just shot with zooms. The photos seems just as good and the bride was delighted with the shots and album, from the photography side of things I felt the zooms struggled with the low light at the first dance so I had to settle for a mixture of higher noise than I'd like or use flash a couple of times. But to be honest the couple did not care.

Two articles that you might find interesting, first if by Jeff Ascough who gives a straight to the point articles or if he uses primes or zooms at weddings. Second is by Neil giving some info on the lenses he uses at weddings.

http://blog.jeffascough.com/photographers/2011/11/zooms-or-primes.html#more

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/08/18/lenses-for-wedding-photography/

From Reviews Written by Glenn Carpenter

" ... the most important quality of a fast prime is its ability to take photographs using a large aperture: without this ability there are any number of excellent consumer and professional zooms that are capable of doing the same job. Its essential distinguishing quality, then, is its ability to make images at apertures wider than f/2.8 ..."

http://www.sujoyrdas.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/fast-lenses-are-meant-to-be-shot-wide.html

" In my book fast glass should be used wide open, otherwise why pay the premium for a fast 1.8 prime lens? "


" Bokeh

An issue which is not often discussed is the bokeh or the out of focus background with a fast lens. The creamy bokeh of a Nikon 85 1.4 is to be seen to be believed and well worth the investment in the lens if you need photos of this type. "