Recommended wide lenses for Nikon D80?

[Alexis Roberts]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can suggest a wide lens for Nikon D80. It is for use in at weddings primarily (dark Church). I have a Nikon AF 50mm 1.8D which has been very useful but I find it a bit restrictive, a wider version at a similar price would be my dream ticket!

Can you recommend anything - budget is around £150.
thanks

[OsmosisStudios]

Well there is the 35mm f1.8, but thats not really WIDE. How wide do you want?

[Alexis Roberts]

It is really for when I'm at the front of the Church or Registry office - quite close to the couple where I want to get a bit more than them in the shot. I'm not sure that 35mm would give much more flexibility than the 50mm I already have, wider would definately be better but is getting wider a possibility with the under £200 budget? I don't mind switching manufacturer away from Nikon as long as its compatible with Nikkon D80 and a good lens.

[dcclark]

Is it not possible, in that situation, to go backwards a bit? Or will you be restricted by, say, a street or something?

You need to be very careful with ultrawides, because they severely distort things near the edges of the frame -- perspective distortion looks great on ruins and skies and such, but it really messes with people's faces. :P

You may want to go as wide as, say, 20mm -- but even then, you'll have to be VERY careful about the composition.

[Alexis Roberts]

Most of the time their is a restriction - the rooms in Civil weddings are quite small so you've a wall immediately behind you and to the side, Churches can be awkward too, better than Civil but still some are restrictive - also the Priest is normally very precious about where you have to stand! So what you are saying is 20mm is good if the focus is in the middle (ie: the couple), but off centre may be dangerious?

[dcclark]

I wish I could find the example I'm thinking of.

I saw a photo once which someone had taken of a wedding party. It was of the groom and groomsmen, in one of the usual jaunty outdoor poses (all in a line, leaning on each other's shoulders, hands in pockets, etc.). The photographer had used a very wide angle lens, and took a photo from closer to one end of the line than the other (so, looking down the line at an angle, but not much of an angle). The groomsman nearest to the photographer appeared to be about twice as large -- height, width, weight, EVERYTHING -- than the next guy over.

It was hilarious, but if I'd gotten that from my wedding photographer, I'd also have punched the guy!

Also, there's this, for an example of what can happen in an extreme case: I'm so photogenic.

[Alexis Roberts]

Well yes that sounds funny, but also frightening! I don't want any disasters with my shots so do you recommend a 28mm and if so, do you have any suggestions which ones?
I'm appreciating your help and clear explanations!