Large group shot lens advice please?

Snowgirl

Hi. In a couple of weeks I will be doing a family shoot that will involve about 25 people. Arranging the group, getting myself and my camera above them, lighting should all be ok. My question is - what's my best lens choice for this situation?

For choices I have:
50mm f/1.8; 20mm f/2.8; 24-105 f/4; 28mm f/1.8 or 70-200mm f/2.8

Thoughts and recommendations?

angevin1

Snowgirl wrote: »

Hi. In a couple of weeks I will be doing a family shoot that will involve about 25 people. Arranging the group, getting myself and my camera above them, lighting should all be ok. My question is - what's my best lens choice for this situation?

For choices I have:
50mm f/1.8; 20mm f/2.8; 24-105 f/4; 28mm f/1.8 or 70-200mm f/2.8

Thoughts and recommendations?

Actually, I would think that the lens/angle distance would be the primary consideration around which you would set lighting. So what are you thinking overall on your set-up?

Snowgirl

angevin1 wrote: »

Actually, I would think that the lens/angle distance would be the primary consideration around which you would set lighting. So what are you thinking overall on your set-up?

It's going to be an outdoor shoot at a small pavilion in the park. Unless the weather changes drastically in the next couple of weeks, (oh god PLEASE let it change - right after the shoot) there's a ton of snow on the ground for good light reflectivity.

I have a double umbrella set up with a 580EXII on one and a 480 on the other and I want to keep it as simple as possible. It's also going to be COLD out there. I was thinking of arranging the family on the steps of the pavilion and climbing a ladder (at least if I fall the snow will cushion me and I can hold my camera high) to shoot slightly down on the group. there are 3 steps plus the floor of the pavilion to work with.

I have lots of room to work so there are no distance restrictions, but I want to be as close as will work in order for everyone's face to be seen. My thinking is that the snow will make a great and huge light reflector.

So - which lens do you think will best serve my purpose? Oh, and the camera is a 1DMKIV

pathfinder

24-105 F4 IS L - will be the most versatile.

If it is not wide enough on the 1DMk, then your only choice is the 20mm.

But I would start with the 24-105, it is a great lens, even if it isn't that fast.

With flash and a group, you are not going to be shooting with an aperture larger than f5.6 or even f8, I would suspect anyway. F2.8 or f4 will not give you the depth of field you will want for a group.

Sam

Ima thinking 50mm or 85mm at f8 and whatever ISO is needed to get a shutter speed of 125 to 200.

By using a longer focal length and backing up you should reduce any distortion near the image edges you will get if using a wider angle lens and shooting closer.

You could also as a back up shot shoot two portrait orientated images closer to your subjects and stitch them together.

Sam

Snowgirl

Thanks everyone. Sam, I like that idea of vertical shots stitched as backup.

Always good ideas here. Thanks.