Need some help asap..

I'm hoping to get a quick response. My sister just informed me last night that they wanted me to take some family portraits today.. There will be about 15 bodies there. All I have is the kit lens with my xt and 430ex flash... I'm thinking of renting the canon 16-35mm f2.8 from a local shop. I will be taking pictures outside and inside. It's pretty sunny outside. Question is, will that be a good portrait lens? How well will my xt handle the lens? Here is a list of lens that they have for rental. Any other suggestions for lens? Thank you all in advance..

24mm f3.5L TS-E


50mm f1.2L USM

50mm 3.5 Macro

10-22mm 3.5-4.5


16-35 f2.8 L

24-70 f2.8 L

24-105 f4.0 L IS

70-200 2.8 L IS

28-135 3.5-5.6 IS

70-300 4.0-5.6 IS

300mm f2.8 L IS

100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

Which kit lens do you have? Group pictures or individual?

quack332002 wrote in post #6915480
I'm hoping to get a quick response. My sister just informed me last night that they wanted me to take some family portraits today.. There will be about 15 bodies there. All I have is the kit lens with my xt and 430ex flash... I'm thinking of renting the canon 16-35mm f2.8 from a local shop. I will be taking pictures outside and inside. It's pretty sunny outside. Question is, will that be a good portrait lens? How well will my xt handle the lens? Here is a list of lens that they have for rental. Any other suggestions for lens? Thank you all in advance..

24mm f3.5L TS-E

50mm f1.2L USM

50mm 3.5 Macro

10-22mm 3.5-4.5

16-35 f2.8 L

24-70 f2.8 L

24-105 f4.0 L IS

70-200 2.8 L IS

28-135 3.5-5.6 IS

70-300 4.0-5.6 IS

300mm f2.8 L IS

100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS

from the list you present that would be my choice. but you should be okay with the kit lens too since you are using flash.

ed rader

Use the kit lens and the flash.

another vote for kit lens and flash

Thanks for the quick response!

family portraits..your kit lens and flash should be fine...just diffuse (or bounce) your flash to avoid the harsh light =)

DDCSD wrote in post #6915516
Which kit lens do you have? Group pictures or individual?

I have the canon ef-s18-55mm F3.5-5.6. It'll be a lot of group photos.

quack332002 wrote in post #6915914
I have the canon ef-s18-55mm F3.5-5.6. It'll be a lot of group photos.

Yeah, just use the kit lens. It'll be fine. Good luck!

Pay attention to not have any of your subjects at the left and right edge of the frame due to distortion if shooting at 18mm. Better to not fill the frame but crop later, if that's what you want to do.