francesca3 Loc: Sausalito, CA

I am shooting my first wedding in a week and have not yet determined the best lens to use for the formal shots:

WHAT IS THE BEST LENS TO USE (RENT)FOR TAKING FAMILY GROUP SHOTS STARTING WITH 16 PEOPLE, down to just the bride and groom.
(My camera body is a D90 and cost less than a lot of the other gear I have. ANyway, there's the crop factor with this camera, so I need to leave space on the edges of my shots!)

There are conflicting reviews about using my 70-200 f2.8 lens for the above kinds of photos.

The 50mm f1.4 sounds pretty good, but I already have an 18-55mm lens, so perhaps the dif. is in the glass, or is there something in the prime vs zoom lens that makes mine not so good?

A 24 mm. seems as though it might be distorting.

ALSO, the group photos will be indoors if it rains and the max distance from them would be approx. 12-15 feet, really, max. If it doesn't rain, then I can take the pics outside. (I've already been to the house twice and scoped out the best places, actually the only places, to do the formal family photos.)

My lenses are: 70-200 f2.8 GII ED
1.4 teleconverter
18-55 f3.5-5.6 AF-S G
55-200 f4-5.6 AF-S ED

I am also concerned about which lenses to use during the ceremony. It is going to be (hopefully) on an outside deck, and I imagine the 40+ guests will be standing, rather crowded, around the vow-taking. (I don't mind using my elbows in a discreet way!)

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I have a Canon 30D and a 18-55 lens, set at 18mm. 15' distance and my view in the image is about 15-16' wide.
That would be 8 people sitting with 8 people standing behind.
Do your own test to see your results. You can try your other lenses and see how they work. While you are doing this, test your flash to see if there are any problems that need solving.

Hope this helps!
Pat

francesca3 Loc: Sausalito, CA

Thank you.
I did, actually, realize that my 70-200 will work for more personal photos, and so I shall take it with me.
Am thinking to rent a 24-70 f2.8 lens for the group shots.
(Would love to also rent a 14-24 f2.8 wide angle.)

Your posted photograph is stunningly beautiful! The light!

francesca3 Loc: Sausalito, CA

Did you use a polarising filter in the above photo?

Frank0001

I totally agree with PhotoJosh on the focal length of the lens for groups. I also would recommend talking to the wedding officiator to see if he/she minds if you work in close and what your boundaries are (photos from the side and back). If you need to be elevated at any point careful standing on a step stool.

Sensei

I use a 28-300 zoom for almost everything, but find that sometimes I can not get back far enough with it to get a wide group shot. An 18 has also been too narrow at some times. Make sure you have you a wide enough field of view, or you can step back far enough to get them all in.