Which Wide Angle Lens
Discussion
maxpaul said:
Have a family wedding in a few weeks have a nice spec Nikon and a 18/55 and 70/200 what would you recomend for the wide angle shots, groups and random pics?
The last thing you want for groups is a wide angle if you can possibly help it, because the people at the edges will go funny shapes...Unless you're going for striking effects I'd say that 18mm is wide enough. I have a Sigma 10-20mm but only use it for about 1% of shots. IMHO your weakness is speed, but that won't be cheap (eg 17-55mm f2.8). What about a decent flashgun instead?
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 14th June 11:57
RobPhoboS said:
Simpo Two said:
Taking distorted photos so that you can spend ages undistorting them later doesn't seem like a good idea to me. It's much simpler to take a few paces back (space permitting).
It takes all of 5 seconds to do that.As good as Photoshop is, it's not great at correcting distortion when people are at the extreme corners of the photo. For architecture/landscapes etc it's ok, but not people IMHO.
SamHH said:
toothrot said:
photoshop, permitting sloppy photographers to recover s
t since 1998
How would you get an ultra wide angle shot?t since 1998f
k it use a lensbaby and be done or step back OR use the 70-200 and if poss get far enough back. Wide angle only required at short distance and what I would do to combat the effect of distortion is angle the lens up or down slightly and try to even it out over the entire shotwhy what would you do?
toothrot said:
are you suggesting we need ultra wide and ps to avoid the distortion?
fk it use a lensbaby and be done or step back OR use the 70-200 and if poss get far enough back. Wide angle only required at short distance and what I would do to combat the effect of distortion is angle the lens up or down slightly and try to even it out over the entire shot
why what would you do?
Ultra-wide angle lenses distort no matter which way you point them. Yes, you can compose to minimise the impact it has artistically, but if for whatever reason you want an ultra wide angle photo without distortion you've either got to use Photoshop or similar to correct it, or stitch multiple shots from a normal lens together, again requiring a photo editing program. IMO neither of those options equates to being a sloppy photographer and I don't have a problem with using Photoshop, so I'd do whichever was most practical. f
k it use a lensbaby and be done or step back OR use the 70-200 and if poss get far enough back. Wide angle only required at short distance and what I would do to combat the effect of distortion is angle the lens up or down slightly and try to even it out over the entire shotwhy what would you do?
I was curious about how you would do it if you believe that a distorted photo is s**t and using Photoshop means you're sloppy.
Gentlemen, I think you're arguing from two different viewpoints (literally!)
The OP was talking about group photos at a wedding. I presume he means fairly sensible group photos, in which case it doesn't require a genius to work out a decent place to stand and choose a lens that will fill the frame with the group. All my group photos are taken with a Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8. If I used the 10-20mm they'd be distorted and look stupid, and if I used the 70-200mm I'd have to stand so far away they wouldn't hear me and the flash wouldn't reach.
However, if you're trying to squeeze a mountain or landscape into the frame, then yes, you need a wide angle lens - and any distortion is either of minor importance or actually helpful to add drama.
It's nothing to do with Photoshop, it's simply photography, field of view and common sense.
The OP was talking about group photos at a wedding. I presume he means fairly sensible group photos, in which case it doesn't require a genius to work out a decent place to stand and choose a lens that will fill the frame with the group. All my group photos are taken with a Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8. If I used the 10-20mm they'd be distorted and look stupid, and if I used the 70-200mm I'd have to stand so far away they wouldn't hear me and the flash wouldn't reach.
However, if you're trying to squeeze a mountain or landscape into the frame, then yes, you need a wide angle lens - and any distortion is either of minor importance or actually helpful to add drama.
It's nothing to do with Photoshop, it's simply photography, field of view and common sense.
Nero601 said:
whats wrong with using a 50mm ??
Nothing, for smallish groups - but wedding groups can get quite large and you'd be surprised how far back you need to go to get them all in. And if it's indoors, no chance.Just looking at a typical group of 10 people I took recently, the 17-55 was at 30mm - but I use DX format so it's equivalent to 45mm with full frame.
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