I am leaning toward the 35 mm....
thanks all

They are right about super wides (Im just lazy and tend to shoot crowds indoors)

In fact any lens wider than a 50mm equiv will slightly keystone if you have people positioned near the end. With that said I've never had a problem(noticeable distortion) with the 14-24mm on any of my Dx bodies. On Fx it is obvious...

Modamer said:
it's for stable group or for a family of 4 -6 persons Max.

For a Max of 6 I would generally use a 50mm equiv FX (35mm DX) at f/8 for depth of field. Whether that comes from a 24-80, 24-120, or 35mm prime I'l not that concerned. I find Distortion is the devil in group shots and really try to stick to primes as I rather get it right at the shot rather then in post to try to straighten lines.

I'm with Golf007sd and I wouldn't touch the super wides for groups. Although they are great, they still have too much distortion for groups - for my taste that is. I have a Tokina 28-70 2.8 that I only use on group shots. I really don't like that range on DX but for groups it works well and give a comfortable working distance. The newer 24-120 f4 vr could be a good option as well and is something I keep looking at to move too.

My two cents worth on set-up - Get the camera high - it removes/reduces the double chinny, chin chins. :) Thinking of which, now where the hell did I put that doughnut...

TaoTeJared said:
...I would try the 35mm 1.8 (50mm equiv). It is a no-brain-er lens to get with DX. ....I'm not sure why so many are suggesting the $2,000 24mm 1.4. Great lens but for 2 grand, on a D90? I would update your camera well before getting that one.....You also will run into the group being in partial focus if you are in close quarters and use anything under f5.6.

+1

First things, first, welcome to NR Modamer.

Second, be careful when you say "Price is not an issue or concern" in here, before you know it your little group shoot will set you back thousands and the gear you end up getting will collect dust and not be put to its full potential.

Third, forget about getting or using a wide-angle lenses (i.e.14-24 2.8 or your 11-16 2.8) they just don't do it for me and given your own experience with them you feel the same. With that said, I would recommend you considering these lenses for your project: Nikon 35 1.8 or 24-70mm 2.8. They are both fast and very sharp.

Here are some things for you to keep in mind when shooting groups:how far will the group be from you, the aperture you will be shooting at, and light source. When I shoot 4 or more people, I usually shot at F8-F11 depending on what the background looks like; hence, whether I want it be part of the shot or if I want to blow-it-out (i.e. bokeh effect). When it comes to lighting: for indoor, if the lighting is good or not, I will use a flash and bounce if off the ceiling to get a more even light on my subjects. For out door, a reflector is very handy tool to have (I have 43" 5-in-1) add in a little flash fill to ensure all the group has proper lighting and you are good to go. Distance to subject is all up to you, the lens you pick will help dictate your distance as well.

Good luck with your project.

Cheers...

Seems like you probably have lots of choices here really. Depending on how close you want to be to the people or more indoors or outdoors. For a zoom lens the 17-55 F2.8 might be the most versatile in situations where you might be shooting inside ones and then outside next time. Another zoom might be the 24-70 if you want some more distance between you and the subjects outside. For primes pretty much any between the 24 F1.4 to a 35mm prime. If you don't have a very big room I always feel a little cramped with the 35 F1.8. If you had a studio or larger room it would be no problem to get the whole group in.

Just for reference I was shooting Christmas pictures of my family inside a moderate sized living room and my pictures were from 18-95mm. Most falling within the 18-55 range.

Small groups then.

A moderate wide angle, move back to get them into most of (but not all the way to the edges of) the frame and use a soft light - window and a reflector or fill light. Depending on how 'creative' you want to get, a back light too or even use a backdrop cloth.

At work, I try to put small groups like that with the office they work in behind them (out of focus if possible), or with the outside of the building they are in or some other notable feature behind them and lenses 80 to 105mm or longer help with that, especially the fast (f2.8 or wider) ones. Of course, they are the more expensive lenses but I have got some terrific results using the boring old and really cheap 80-200mm kit lens, where space permitted me to go back far enough, so don't think you *MUST* spend $3,000 to get the shot. Careful set up is worth all the money you can spend on an extra half a stop...

Dear All,
Thanks for all of the replies , it's realy appreciated.

bjrichus

As TaoTeJared says, very often the specifics depend on the size and static (or not) nature of the group. Can you tell us more?

it's for stable group or for a family of 4 -6 persons Max.
Thanks again for every body.

Modamer said:
Hi there...
Can you recommend me a Group Portrait lens for a D 90 ?
Price is not an issue or concern, quality & fast lens is .
I have a 50 mm 1.8 & 85 mm 1.8mm.
I mean by group,more than 3 persons,I will be using it inside & outside .
I have the Tokina 11-16 f 2.8,but i don't like it for such kind of a task.
Any Suggestions ?
NB : I prefare NIKKOR Lens,However, I am open to all Suggestions regardless the price.

I went through a phase of doing group portraits (sports teams, groups from offices etc). Got quite good at it too (Hey - waving the flag for me is ok here...) and to this day, I have to say that it was almost the toughest of all the photo situations I have found myself in. Trying to get 50 or so disinterested nut-jobs to all look at the camera (or my hand, or my attractive assistant or whatever) on command without one of them poking out his/her tongue is a hard task indeed. You quickly learn to preempt the moment, to tell a joke and when most are laughing, THAT is when you take the shot etc, etc.

The *BIGGEST* lessons for me were that the people issues are the hardest of all things to manage on a shoot like that and secondly that the best lens for this stuff is the one that lets you get the entire group in without being zoomed all the way out.. Can you say barrel distortion? LOL!!! Move the camera back so you don't work the lens at it's limits (do a little cropping in post) and you'll get better results.

And whatever else you do, with a big group, use a tripod and remotely fire the shutter. You can jump around and get everyone smiling while you fire away and they are not aware of what is going on as they are watching your antics. Opposite is true for small (under about 6 people) groups, where the spontaneous, happy feeling is the thing. By the way, I shoot a lot of the smaller type groups at my employer (a university) for magazine and web publication.

As TaoTeJared says, very often the specifics depend on the size and static (or not) nature of the group. Can you tell us more?

It can really depend on what you are using it for - staged/static "group" where you can use a flash, or groups at friends homes/nightlife/etc.

You do have two Telephoto range lenses (on DX) - I would try the 35mm 1.8 (50mm equiv). It is a no-brain-er lens to get with DX. If you like primes, possibly a 20 or 24mm 2.8 if you do not want zooms.

If the option of moving is usually not available - Tamron has a great 17-50 VC (vr) for DX that would be good and not break the bank.

I'm not sure why so many are suggesting the $2,000 24mm 1.4. Great lens but for 2 grand, on a D90? I would update your camera well before getting that one. The issue with wide angles is that it distorts and widens everything making people look "fuller." I actually prefer a the range of 50-105mm and just move back further for a more natural look. You also will run into the group being in partial focus if you are in close quarters and use anything under f5.6.

I shoot groups with my 24-70 at 24mm, you could get that lens or you could get the 24mm 1.4 lens depending on if you wanted a faster lens or a zoom.

Depending on the group size, I would go with a set of primes: 24, 35, 50. Another possibility is 24-70. I think 85 is probably not necessary since it is a bit long.

If you are doing shooting in fairly low light, remember you will not be able to use too wide an aperture or you risk having some people not be in sharp focus. How much you will need to stop down depends on the group size, your focal length, the group arrangement, n addition to your expectations and the end use of the images.

If light is not an issue (eg broad daylight, or if you are using monoblocs, etc.) then you will typically stop down to 11 or 16, and thus any lens you can use will give you nearly identical results (and everyone should be in sharp focus as well). Thus, if you are open to it and if it would be practical, I'd suggest getting a set of monoblocs rather than a more expensive 1.4 lens (since you probably won't be using it at 1.4 anyway)

Modamer said:
I am open to all Suggestions regardless the price.

Get a D4 and a 24mm f1.4

I shoot a D90. 35mm 1.8 often works but 20mm 2.8 always does the business. If money is no object, I've never heard a bad word uttered about the 35 1.4 (which I've borrowed: nice lens!) and the 24 1.4 (which I've only seen through a shop window).

Try a Nikon 35mm 1.8. Surely it will be fast enough. The issue will be whether it will be wide enough and that all depends upon the size of the room which dictates how many steps you can take back from the group you are photographing.

14-24mm f2.8.... Pros: wide, fast, tack sharp... Cons: cropped on a D90, freakin huge!

Hi there...
Can you recommend me a Group Portrait lens for a D 90 ?
Price is not an issue or concern, quality & fast lens is .
I have a 50 mm 1.8 & 85 mm 1.8mm.
I mean by group,more than 3 persons,I will be using it inside & outside .
I have the Tokina 11-16 f 2.8,but i don't like it for such kind of a task.
Any Suggestions ?
NB : I prefare NIKKOR Lens,However, I am open to all Suggestions regardless the price.