Ultrawide Zoom

jeffashman · Feb 28, 2023

I'm looking at adding and ultra-wide zoom to my bag, and have four under consideration. Has anyone used any of these, and if so, what are the plus and minus? I've read online reviews, so I have an idea of what the reviewers like and not, but would like some input from TPF folks.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Tokina ATX-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF
Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 di ii vc hld
SIGMA 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM

The Tokina is appealing because it is an f/2.8. The Canon has good reviews and MPB be has them form $229, which is a nice price point for me. The Tamron supposedly has slow AF response, as does the Sigma, and the Sigma is challenged in lower light situations. So the leaders are currently the Tokina and the Canon. Intended use, landscape, architecture, and subjects where an ultrawide would be beneficial. I'm a fan of zooms, because I can carry fewer lenses.

Strodav · Feb 28, 2023

I have the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM, which is an excellent lens. It has served me well. I see one on KEH in Excellent condition for Canon mount at $245, I also see them in f-mount.

jeffashman · Feb 28, 2023

Strodav said:
I have the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM, which is an excellent lens. It has served me well. I see one on KEH in Excellent condition for Canon mount at $245, I also see them in f-mount.

Thanks! I'll have to look at that Sigma. I didn't know they had an f/3.5. I have a Canon 90D, so an EF/EF-S mount.

jeffashman · Mar 1, 2023

While doing more research I stumbled across a Tamron 10-24mm on Adorama for under $150, so I went ahead an ordered it. The pluses that edged out the others were the mosture/dust seal and the image stabilization, which I dearly need for these shaky hands of mine, and the price was excellent for something they listed as in excellent condition.

SquarePeg · Mar 1, 2023

When I had a Nikon crop sensor I had a Tokina 11-16. It was a decent lens. I was still pretty new to photography then and didn't really know how to get the best out of it as taking a landscape shot at 11mm makes the subject very far away if you don't know what you're doing with foreground and angles. I didn't use it as much as I should have. I use my 12mm all the time now.

Thanks for posting this - in my search for an example photo I came across a whole file of photos from a family trip to San Francisco that need to be edited and added to the family album!

Lf-RpdSjnKVHH5FTVYlFRQ1tHVXagXRs_LwGG7Whx0lt5p3FaNtF0MDNDaHkFruRkkxiEJX9lcz3FqQihgdSynJ5G-XddN6PuFNzWKbXktkvx_gcYgiGxI4Z1GrjHuCcPYZtaj_4fVb40oy5LZT6f8E1oaq4YFQVN6VlEzHQNuOT5ZRu-nV6PaeJgNjUauKk0NMWF9RkzHw-Z6ENz7gid68N9c1kMM4wGEpeDlEUbnqSGXHdNLHh916VMOh-XfW7335oVv5Sj-o1B_aIjdQ4SGfBesIRprSS3QMEPUBQjZrUwhyF4ePn36cD242A2YLlXkT0BT_vGbODRSlJfFOufHmB2EiBIWOayG4cBSYoYdd3kLXxVWn8a3a-ZuwGvdkDYFPcdmJoMAbOLAeN-Dgx4mlaj9q5rHdrTJ86x4IhhD6XBsQXKng4ObAWLhiWl643efCijJ46JNfk6Fp-GksxIGbYW3PpsAeYWmmyMhrmWCBHABRuqqw1SuS7SFfSYHQd0a6pdIjEbG4jOGwvacTxfJEdfzHCnwYvDtFREvR28bWGCxNK55wdcZZnYWfgTOdQDiE5fIMUgS6N1v5Jiw5YC8Chs8Q0ZpjYu1hT1u4Q95zzu5vk1ncez8tGu4_1MbI1J1gcbfUENEw6M1r3OLtqXVnWVdqAjb3wqOzM33IR45-0G81LRePwdVi3pmelMU2k0XMjy9ULg7jL63BI7CycLCdBulzHGO2gDnRmHL0rzgdmdRXI_QMhAvhsgYPMfGGfEXtEer2amNWE4v2b0bP1IMV4QimYPe1PMg0mkPfS9Hv3lBaPN7ECICB_oV3irKBfFThMyW7qJ61064wxl3dA-t7NmogwByD1YWMDgx5_JeBWI3p5AdoO8e6F0IBo01vN-9baNpMwETQOxrXpbG6PeLZujD0abIBw4ou_xdIvFRmv8cXD=w2650-h1754-no

jeffashman · Mar 1, 2023

SquarePeg said:
When I had a Nikon crop sensor I had a Tokina 11-16. It was a decent lens. I was still pretty new to photography then and didn't really know how to get the best out of it as taking a landscape shot at 11mm makes the subject very far away if you don't know what you're doing with foreground and angles. I didn't use it as much as I should have. I use my 12mm all the time now.

Thanks for posting this - in my search for an example photo I came across a whole file of photos from a family trip to San Francisco that need to be edited and added to the family album!

Thanks! The photo link is broken, it looks like.

SquarePeg · Mar 1, 2023

Not sure what happened there! Here it is.

jeffashman · Mar 1, 2023

SquarePeg said:
Not sure what happened there! Here it is.

View attachment 264304

This is what those lenses were made for. Very nice!

John 2 · Mar 3, 2023

I can confirm SquarePeg's view of the Tokina. I used one on a Nikon for a number of years with pleasing results. It's a big piece of glass though and filters (e.g. a 10x ND) are expensive.

SquarePeg · Mar 3, 2023

John 2 said:
I can confirm SquarePeg's view of the Tokina. I used one on a Nikon for a number of years with pleasing results. It's a big piece of glass though and filters (e.g. a 10x ND) are expensive.

Oh I may have a filter floating around in my camera cabinet somewhere. I’ll take a look in case it’s the winner.

jeffashman · Mar 3, 2023

SquarePeg said:
Oh I may have a filter floating around in my camera cabinet somewhere. I’ll take a look in case it’s the winner.

Tamron was the winner. Adorama had one in excellent condition at an excellent price that I couldn't say no to. Fingers crossed it is in as excellent shape as they say, and it lives up to its reviews, but I understand that Adorama is known for being decent.

SquarePeg · Mar 3, 2023

jeffashman said:
Tamron was the winner. Adorama had one in excellent condition at an excellent price that I couldn't say no to. Fingers crossed it is in as excellent shape as they say, and it lives up to its reviews, but I understand that Adorama is known for being decent.

I’ve been very happy with all my used purchases from Adorama. Usually they are more critical when rating something than I would be.