Wide Angle Lens Suggestions?

JamieR · Jun 9, 2009

I'm looking to get a wide angle lens to add to my kit, but i don't know where to start. I'm not that bothered if it is a third party lens, as long as it isn't a "cheaper alternative" with less quality than the Canon brands. Also i need to bear in mind I'm on cropped frame camera.

Can anyone recommend any? My budget is about £400 ($650)

Thanks,
Jamie.

Big Mike · Jun 9, 2009

What do you consider to be 'wide'? 17mm...or 10mm?

I love my Canon EF-S 10-22mm lens. Fantastic lens.

A lot of people opt for the Sigma 10-20mm because it's a fair bit cheaper.

Montana · Jun 9, 2009

Tokina 11-16 2.8 would be my personal choice.

JamieR · Jun 9, 2009

Big Mike said:
What do you consider to be 'wide'? 17mm...or 10mm?

I love my Canon EF-S 10-22mm lens. Fantastic lens.

A lot of people opt for the Sigma 10-20mm because it's a fair bit cheaper.

I consider 10mm to be wide, which ideally is what i would like to get.

F-117HWK · Jun 9, 2009

I have the Sigma 10-20 and couldn't be happier with my choice.

bigtwinky · Jun 9, 2009

I have the Canon 10-22mm and love the lens.
I also considered the Sigma 10-22mm but went with the Canon due to store coupon I had was for a store that didn't carry the Sigma.

itznfb · Jun 9, 2009

+1 for tokina 11-16mm
too bad you generally have to go to ebay to find one.

table1349 · Jun 9, 2009

Montana said:
Tokina 11-16 2.8 would be my personal choice.

:thumbup:

dl4449 · Jun 9, 2009

1 more for sigma 10 20
Troy

JerryPH · Jun 10, 2009

I tried the 11-16... that 5mm range is so little that you may as well leave it on 11 and use it as a wide angle prime (though its not as good as a prime).

The ONLY thing the Tokina has going for it is the F/2.8 aperture. The Sigma 10-20mm is a way more useable lens.

Look at it this way... 90% of the time, we want wide angles because we are outside. Outside, we don't really want shallow DOF, we want deeper ones, so we are going to up our apertures to F/8 or higher (numerically speaking), and at these levels, the Sigma is just as good, if not better... and far cheaper, than the Tokina. It also has double the range, and a 1mm more advantage over the Tokina (in real life, read that as no advantage, but it looks good on paper).

The Sigma gives fantastic results with rich tones:

(Click on the photo above for a larger view of the same shot)

To add, Sigma has a newer version of this lens that is a constant F/3.5, which is a mere 1/3rd of a stop less than F/2.8... plus it has the other advantages over the Tokina.

Me, I have the 10-20mm variable aperture, and the picture above was taken with this picture... it is a VERY good lens.

(Click on the photo above for a larger view of the same shot)

itznfb · Jun 10, 2009

how new is the 10-20mm f/3.5 do you know? i wasn't aware it existed. i may have to change my recommendation

JamieR · Jun 10, 2009

Thank you JerryPH, you have persuaded me!

I am really digging those examples.

I have one question for you, how do you get your photos so crisp?

Is it down to the lens? Or do you have an awesome camera body.

Big Mike · Jun 10, 2009

and a 1mm more advantage over the Tokina (in real life, read that as no advantage, but it looks good on paper).

Hey, that 1mm is 10% at that range...which is a significant difference.

I have one question for you, how do you get your photos so crisp?
Is it down to the lens? Or do you have an awesome camera body.

It's good technique more than anything.

ottor · Jun 10, 2009

Big Mike said:
It's good technique more than anything.

I was wondering the same... These are beautiful pictures...

Technique ???

1. Tripod
2. Remote release
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?

What else can you do to help acheive results like this ?

thanks,