Selects: Top 3 Lenses for Event Photography

When you start with event photography, there are many factors to consider—from managing clients and preparing for an event to working within a creative brief and actually photographing on the day. The lenses you need will depend on the type of events you’re planning to shoot. So, which lens should you buy first? It’s all about finding the right balance between performance and price. In this guide, we’ll look at our three recommended types of lenses for event photography: the 24-70mm and 70-200mm zoom lenses, and the 50mm prime lens.

1. The 24-70mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens

The first lens you’ll probably want to use to photograph events is a 24-70mm zoom. These lenses are versatile—so you can also use them to shoot landscapes, portraits and street photography—and usually compact and lightweight, ideal for carrying around all day. 

For DSLR shooters, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM or Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G IF-ED are excellent choices. Or, if you’ve moved to mirrorless, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM, Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR and Panasonic 24-70mm f/2.8 are all safe bets too.

2. The 70-200mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens

If you find you need more reach from your lenses—particularly for sports photography, wildlife photography and larger-scale events—you can add a 70-200mm zoom to your setup. Some, like the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM, feature a constant f/2.8 aperture. This gives you plenty of freedom to work in low light and to create a shallow depth of field. The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR and Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS both offer constant apertures across the 70-200mm focal range. If you're using a Fujifilm camera, try the XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS for even greater reach.

3. The 50mm f/1.4 Prime Lens

Thanks to their larger apertures, prime lenses are excellent choices for creating bokeh and using a shallow depth of field. The 50mm focal length is really versatile, ideal for capturing wider scenes and portraits of attendees. You can't go wrong with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, Nikon 50mm f/1.4G or Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM. For Fujifilm, there's the XF 35mm f/1.4 R.

After a few events, check your EXIF data. If you tend to shoot at a specific focal length or focal range, then it might be worth adding a prime lens, fixed at that focal length, for improved low-light performance and portability. Your event photography setup isn’t set in stone, and it’s always easy to switch things up depending on your creative requirements. 

Read more tips and techniques on the MPB content hub.