Art and Photography

What Canon lens to get for wide group photo shots

  • Last Updated:
  • Feb 9th, 2010 2:22 am
Tags:
None
Deal Guru
User avatar
Dec 3, 2004
10943 posts
430 upvotes
Markham/Mississauga
sylpherware wrote: XSi, 18-55 IS Kit Lens, pop-up flash. Pretty much as ghetto as you can get. Not the prettiest (in terms of WB and noise), but gets the job done :p

80+ people in a basement...
That's gotta break a few fire codes - but great example of the kit lens!

@ 22mm - "planned" shot
[IMG]http://www.mattvphotography.ca/RFD/rfdgroup1.jpg[/IMG]

@ 70mm - "unplanned" shot
[IMG]http://www.mattvphotography.ca/RFD/rfdgroup2.jpg[/IMG]

@ 130mm - definitely "unplanned" shot
[IMG]http://www.mattvphotography.ca/RFD/rfdgroup3.jpg[/IMG]
Banned
User avatar
Nov 19, 2005
2985 posts
6 upvotes
Markham/Kingston
sylpherware wrote: XSi, 18-55 IS Kit Lens, pop-up flash. Pretty much as ghetto as you can get. Not the prettiest (in terms of WB and noise), but gets the job done :p
[IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/433 ... 5854_b.jpg[/IMG]

80+ people in a basement...
That shot is actually pretty epic.
Toronto Wedding, Fashion & Lifestyle Photographer
www.spencerfu.com
Deal Addict
User avatar
Nov 26, 2003
2302 posts
952 upvotes
Canada
lz7j wrote: Some randon samples on full-frame

14mm
[IMG]http://www.nikkophotography.com/rfd/group_sample2-2.jpg[/IMG]

16mm
[IMG]http://www.nikkophotography.com/rfd/group_sample2.jpg[/IMG]

24mm
[IMG]http://www.nikkophotography.com/rfd/group_sample2-4.jpg[/IMG]

50mm
[IMG]http://www.nikkophotography.com/rfd/group_sample2-3.jpg[/IMG]

200mm
[IMG]http://www.nikkophotography.com/rfd/group_sample2-5.jpg[/IMG]


As you can see, you can do group shots with any focal length. I recommend 24mm (L prime) due to its versatility and its image performance (very low distortion, no pincushioning, etc. -- a 24-105L @ 24mm will noticeably skew bodies on the edges of the frame)... this is of course on full-frame and if you have the $.

For a cropper, I highly suggest the 17-55IS. Yes, it's expensive, but it's an awesome lens and will save you $ in the long run (from upgrading). If you can't afford this, go for the 17-40L. I would personally stay away from third party lenses (especially sigma).



These are really good. For the group shot in the church, how did you light it up?
Deal Guru
User avatar
Sep 21, 2007
13046 posts
11387 upvotes
...
lz7j wrote: For a cropper, I highly suggest the 17-55IS. Yes, it's expensive, but it's an awesome lens and will save you $ in the long run (from upgrading). If you can't afford this, go for the 17-40L. I would personally stay away from third party lenses (especially sigma).
Why do you suggest I stay away from third party? Just curious.
"An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail." -- Edward Land
Deal Fanatic
Feb 2, 2007
5823 posts
346 upvotes
Toronto
faken wrote: Why do you suggest I stay away from third party? Just curious.
Probably his personal experience was bad.

My experience with Sigma has been great so far.
Excellent customer service for warranty with my lenses.
Bring it in, comes back no hassles.
Even with a lens of mine that I don't have a receipt for.

Sigma really gives Canon a run for their money. They're great for people like me, who are poor and broke. :cheesygri
M-e-X-x wrote: Booty call AND you get gas money? Sweet!
My HEATWARE
100% Positive
Deal Addict
Dec 13, 2007
1590 posts
9 upvotes
Toronto
true wide angle lenses cost ~1000k...

i think what you should use is the 18-55 IS kit...the next best thing is the 17 - 50 Tamron VC 2.8...im surprised noone has mentioned this yet...this is pretty much one of the best walkaround lenses and is not too big a hit on the wallet

the combination of VC and 2.8 makes this very good for indoor shots, and its cheaper than the canon equivalents
Deal Addict
User avatar
Oct 15, 2002
2879 posts
134 upvotes
Markham
Here are a couple of randoms I pulled up:

5D & 35 1.4L
35mm f/5 1/125s
[IMG]http://www.shanehophotography.com/photo ... DjC4-L.jpg[/IMG]

5D & 24-70 2.8L
43mm f/4 1/50s
[IMG]http://www.shanehophotography.com/photo ... RwRT-L.jpg[/IMG]

5D & 24-70 2.8L
40mm f/8 1/250s
[IMG]http://www.shanehophotography.com/photo ... Qcft-L.jpg[/IMG]

30D & Canon 10-22
13mm f/4 1/30s
[IMG]http://www.shanehophotography.com/photo ... HuQR-L.jpg[/IMG]

20D & Canon 10-22
10mm f/5.6 1/250s
[IMG]http://www.shanehophotography.com/photo ... 2J4w-L.jpg[/IMG]

5D & 24-70 2.8L
24mm f/6.3 1/100s
[IMG]http://www.shanehophotography.com/photo ... 6DQ5-L.jpg[/IMG]
Sr. Member
Oct 29, 2005
972 posts
55 upvotes
faken wrote: Why do you suggest I stay away from third party? Just curious.
I've owned half a dozen of Sigma lenses in the past. Out of 6 lenses, only 1 worked properly out of the box. The others went back 1-5 times for warranty repair. Sure, the service support you get from Gentec is top notch but it's such a pita, especially if you need your equipment to work when you call for it. Sigma lenses (30 1.4, 50 1.4, 10-20mm, 12-24mm, 18-50 2.8) are unreliable from my experience (these issues are well documented across the web)... decentered images, poor focus (back/front), AF motors dying for no reason, aperture blades getting stuck and the list goes on...
Imagine an equipment/lens breaking down on you during a vital shoot (worse, all your back-up is Sigma too)... what would you do? Probably upgrade to a Canon :cheesygri

If you can afford to take the risk - then go Sigma.

If your budget doesn't allow it, get a 18-55mm kit lens
Sr. Member
Oct 29, 2005
972 posts
55 upvotes
zoomzoom wrote: For the group shot in the church, how did you light it up?
Thanks.

For the church group pic, I used 1 x SB25 @ 1/2 power /w 60" reflective umbrella on camera left & right.
Banned
User avatar
Nov 19, 2005
2985 posts
6 upvotes
Markham/Kingston
lz7j wrote: Thanks.

For the church group pic, I used 1 x SB25 @ 1/2 power /w 60" reflective umbrella on camera left & right.
The women on the left is on her cell phone! mhahahaha.
Toronto Wedding, Fashion & Lifestyle Photographer
www.spencerfu.com

Top

Thread Information

There is currently 1 user viewing this thread. (0 members and 1 guest)