E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

When photographing large groups of people, the negation of perspective and distortion issues are important factors in choosing a focal length. Usually the NORMAL focal length for your camera is advisable- 35mm of a crop sensor and 50mm for a full frame camera.

Unless you are working in very limited spaces, I usually do not recommend the use of wide angle lenses or zoom focal length settings.

If you need to arrange the groups in rows of people standing behind one and other, with a wide angle lens, especially a very short focal lengths, the "head sizes" of the folks in the rear rows will appear smaller.

You can use steps, risers, chairs benches or inclined land to stagger and elevate the back rows but you may require some elevation to clearly include all of the subjects. If you need to shoot downward toward the group a NORMAL lens will exhibit less foreshortening distortion. Also normal lenses are less like to introduce any distortion at the edges of their field.

If you are really squeezed for space, a very moderate wide angle setting is advisable. If you have time to plan the time, place and environment for the shots, make certain that you have ample space and the facilities for elevation at your disposal. Depending on how you pose and compose your shots and how many people are included, a working distance of between 12 and 17 feet should be sufficient back up space. I usually plan for a minimum or 25 feet of backup space- just in case. Bring along a safe step or platform ladder.

SandraLovesPhotography

Thank You everyone!!

SandraLovesPhotography

Great information - Thank You!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Before you jump on the advice to go wide or wider - consider the discussion in this article:

https://fstoppers.com/portraits/group-shots-sometimes-you-should-leave-your-wide-angle-bag-3115

And then consider the technique described in this video, using a full frame camera and a 28-70 set to 48mm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gTZPPDwlFA

A 24-70 should be all you need, but if you go too wide, you'll end up with this problem, common to all wide and ultra wide lenses:

https://www.dxo.com/us/photography/tutorials/understanding-volume-deformation

My suggestion is a 24-70

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Your equipment is fine. Since you are outdoors, you can set up around 40 feet away, f4 70mm and you cover your 40 people with nearly 26 foot depth of field with 17 of it behind the focus point. Even at 30 feet away you have 14 feet with 8.5 behind the focus subject but you may have more trouble keeping them in frame. Use a tripod and a remote release (even a wired release is fine)

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Camera? (With a 4 X 5, I'd start with a 90mm.)
Range? (At 100 yards, you may be OK.)
Lighting? (Hint: Don't wail until the dark of the moon.)
Budget? (Anything less than $99.95 might present a problem.)
😎😱😇

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

In one of the tutorials, all of the images are of a single line of people so the was no need for elevations. Even so, on one of the groups made with a wide ang lens, there is foreshortening- that is the folks seem shorter in stature that they are. Of course there's a change of perspective and the relationship of objects in the background with a change of distance and focal length.

In the second link there is mention of panoramic treatment which may not apply to the OPs question.

In the third link there is a visual explanation and illustration of the distortion that I alluded to in my post- especially the kid of curvature of field that oftentimes occurs at the edges, even with better quality wide angle lenses.

Certain kinds of distortion is acceptable and even dynamic in some photographs of architecture, objects and landscapes, however, when photographing people foreshortening and distortion of their facial features is not aesthetically pleasing.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

If the group consists of multiple rows of people, shooting a f/4 is a bit risky in terms of depth of field. Also shooting from 40 feet away could be problematic in that verbal communication with the group in attempting to get everyone's attention, good expressions and their eyes open.

A group of 30 people arranged in 3 rows of 10 persons, photographed with a 50mm lens should yield a good composition at about 15 feet away at f/ 8 and you are in acceptable focus between approximately 8 to 50 feet. Focusing about 1/3 into the group should work well.

I will usually have the front row seated, the second row standing behind them and the third row standing on chairs behind the second row. If the folks in each row are placed between the shoulder of the people in front of them, each person will show up well without being blocked.

SandraLovesPhotography

Great!! Thank you for all these tips.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I wouldn't go wider than a 24-70. You don't necessarily have to get a 2.8 lens if you don't need anything that fast, but the range is extremely useful.

miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida

If you have an APS-C then I would use a 10-20mm wide angle, if a FF then maybe a 16 or 17mm lens

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

A 24 to 28 mm should do the job depending on how far you can back up to take the shot. Outside the 28 would do the trick. Inside in limited space the 24 should do it.
A 20 used too close will distort the folks on the outside of the group. You could get a little distortion on the 24 but as long as you are back you should be fine with it.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

more important than the lens is how are you going to arrange the group!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Depth of field increases with the distance from the subject. At 40 feet and f4 you have plenty DOF, especially if you focus on the center of the second row. At 50mm, 15 feet, and f8 you have less DOF (16ft) than at 70mm, 40 feet, and f4 (26ft). In fact at 70mm, 40 feet, f2.8 you have 17.6 feet DOF, still more than your suggestion (though I would not recommend 2.8 for this use).

Further at 70mm, 40 feet, and f4 you can probably shoot at ISO 100 without trouble on a moderately sunny to partly cloudy day.

I use a wireless release. Which can be had for around $50.00, this is less expensive than buying or renting a new lens.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Not only is DOF narrower with a wide angle from close up, the relative difference in distance from the sensor of those on the outside of the shot is greater than shooting with a longer lens from further away.

To use a WA for a large group shot from a relatively short distance, you may end up needing to curve the group to keep them in the field.

I do use WA lenses when shooting groups indoors. But if I can shoot with a longer lens from further away, I do for the better DOF, faster aperture within that DOF and the better ISO it allows.