Need wider lens/zoom lens recommendation (have 50mm f/1.8)

[theregoesjb]

I have a canon T2i, the kit lens, and the 'nifty fifty' 50mm f/1.8 prime lens. The quality of the images that 50mm takes is so freaking good, the sharpness and the color, its just so narrow. I would love a zoom lens with similar quality.

 

[weepete]

Primes are usually just as good or better than zoom lenses.

A really sharp zoom would be the canon 24-70mm f2.8 L but it comes with a heavy price tag and is not as wide as is useful on a crop sensor camera.

The canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS or the sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 OS HSM C or a 17-55mm f2.8 are good options for your camera depending on what you want to use it for.

 

[scorpion_tyr]

weepete is right. Primes are usually sharper because they're simple and they have less glass elements. There are some pretty sharp zoom lenses out there. Generally any canon L series lens is going to be pretty sharp. One of the best non-L zoom lenses I've ever used, and still do, is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. It's tack sharp and is a great all around zoom. If you're looking for something wider than that the Sigma 10-20mm and the Canon 10-20mm are pretty decent lenses.