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Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

Started Nov 6, 2019 | Questions
lilriver New Member • Posts: 2
Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

I have a Canon T2i crop body.  A friend asked me to take their family fall pictures this year. Not having shot portraits for groups larger than 2 people or 2 people holding a newborn, I'm not sure if my Canon 50mm 1.8 is wide enough to accomplish decent full body family portraits. Can anyone offer insight? What lens would you recommend?  Thank you!

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Canon EOS 550D (EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4)
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JPAlbert Senior Member • Posts: 1,296
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

EFs 18-135 ?

EFs 10-18 ?

Both are good and reasonably-priced.

FooHead Contributing Member • Posts: 546
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

Do you have room to backup or are you limited?

Maybe a 35mm?

 FooHead's gear list:FooHead's gear list
Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 80D Canon EF 35mm F2.0 Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM +2 more
OP lilriver New Member • Posts: 2
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

FooHead wrote:

Do you have room to backup or are you limited?

Maybe a 35mm?

It will be an outdoor shoot, so I have room to backup. Just never shooting more than 2 people in a frame with my 50mm I’m not sure if it’s realistic to try to shoot a family of 4 with that lens. I don’t have 4 people to practice on right now, but trying to practice and gauge it seems like I’ll have to stand ridiculously far back. Just wanted to know whAt lens people would usually recommend for this type of shoot with my T2i or if anyone has done it successfully with a 50mm. Thank you!!

jvc1 Senior Member • Posts: 2,202
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body
1

I wouldn't consider anything wider than 35mm. Wider may result in some unpleasant distortion. I think your 50mm would be fine, especially as you can back up some if needed.

-- hide signature --

I keep some of my favorite pictures here,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129958940@N03/

 jvc1's gear list:jvc1's gear list
Canon EOS Rebel SL2 Canon EOS 90D Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM +10 more
JPAlbert Senior Member • Posts: 1,296
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

Seems to me the crop factor with APS-c and a 50mm lens is going to result in a left-to-right field-of-view far too narrow for more than just a couple of people (50mm is the equivalent to about an 80mm full-frame lens).

Also, one other thing I've heard about taking group portraits is to take several shots in quick succession. If you take only one, someone's eyes might be closed at that moment.

jvc1 Senior Member • Posts: 2,202
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

JPAlbert wrote:

Seems to me the crop factor with APS-c and a 50mm lens is going to result in a left-to-right field-of-view far too narrow for more than just a couple of people (50mm is the equivalent to about an 80mm full-frame lens).

My comment that the 50mm might be fine is based on my use of one and their mentioning that they would have some room to back up.

Also, one other thing I've heard about taking group portraits is to take several shots in quick succession. If you take only one, someone's eyes might be closed at that moment.

Good advice, especially with kids in the picture.

-- hide signature --

I keep some of my favorite pictures here,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129958940@N03/

 jvc1's gear list:jvc1's gear list
Canon EOS Rebel SL2 Canon EOS 90D Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM +10 more
FooHead Contributing Member • Posts: 546
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

JPAlbert wrote:

Seems to me the crop factor with APS-c and a 50mm lens is going to result in a left-to-right field-of-view far too narrow for more than just a couple of people (50mm is the equivalent to about an 80mm full-frame lens).

It might, depending on what aperture you use. Maybe Google for  dof chart/calculator to help.

Also, one other thing I've heard about taking group portraits is to take several shots in quick succession. If you take only one, someone's eyes might be closed at that moment.

Not a bad idea.

 FooHead's gear list:FooHead's gear list
Canon EOS 1100D Canon EOS 80D Canon EF 35mm F2.0 Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM +2 more
Tze Hong Regular Member • Posts: 153
Re: Lens Rec. for Family Outdoor Portraits on Crop Body

Hi Sir, I've been doing free photoshoots for families for some time now back here in Singapore.

I've used the 35mm f2 IS USM with my 100D all the while.

You can look at my website for some sample photos.

https://foreverfreephotography.weebly.com/

Best Regards

 Tze Hong's gear list:Tze Hong's gear list
Fujifilm FinePix X100 Fujifilm X100S Nikon Z5 Nikon Z 24-70mm F4 +4 more
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