Wide Angle Lens

[lisameowrie]

Stupid question alert!

One of the lenses I have is an 18-55 mm lens but because the actual glass isn't curved will it not achieve a wide angle look? Specifically speaking, I love the look in pet photography where the muzzle looks really close up and distorted in proportion to the rest of the head and body. Do I need a specific type of lens to achieve this look? Thanks!

 

[Designer]

The thing to look for is the close-focusing distance. Even a 50 really close will get that "big nose" effect, but getting a lens to focus really close is what you want.

 

[Derrel]

Getting realllllly close to the subject with tend to emphasize that look. With shorter focal length lenses, the drop-off in apparent size will be more dramatic with something like a 10-22mm or 12-24mm zoom lens. Even though the difference between 10mm and 18mm or between 12mm and 18mm is not a lot in millimeters, it represents a huge increase in angle of view of the lens.

 

[Heather Koch]

Similar to this? I know I have a more in-depth image that you are talking about but couldn't find it.

DET_0017 1 by heather.koch43, on Flickr

 

[Heather Koch]

That was taken with a Nikon 10.5 fisheye lens, which is around the focal length you'll need to get these kind of photos. As mentioned above you can get them with the 18mm but it is quite hard and by the time you focus it your animal may be bored and run away...

 

[lisameowrie]

Similar to this? I know I have a more in-depth image that you are talking about but couldn't find it.

DET_0017 1 by heather.koch43, on Flickr

Yes!!!! I love this!

 

[lisameowrie]

It also doesn't have to be a fish-eye lens. I would prefer it to not be a fish-eye.

I have a hard time getting to focus that close with my 18-55 just with my cats, so what do you recommend?

 

[Heather Koch]

It also doesn't have to be a fish-eye lens. I would prefer it to not be a fish-eye.

I have a hard time getting to focus that close with my 18-55 just with my cats, so what do you recommend?

Thank you. You'll need a very wide lens. I'd so 12mm and lower.

 

[Heather Koch]

Doesn't have to be a prime, could be a 10-24mm or 12-24mm or 11-16mm, etc. Or a prime like the 8 or 10.5mm

 

[480sparky41 40]

Tokina makes a 10-17mm fisheye zoom.

 

[Vtec44]

Tamron 10-24 is a good option for cropped sensor also.

 

[480sparky41 40]

Push comes to shove, you can semi-create the effect in post. Just start off with a close-up using a wide-angle lens.

 

[lisameowrie]

I'd like to achieve these similar looks in these example photos. Will the lenses listed here do the job?
I also looked around at some old threads and saw the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM was mentioned. What about that one? It's in my price range.

 

[Derrel]

Sigma 10-20mm, sure, that sounds like a good choice for this kind of stuff.

 

[lisameowrie]

Thanks for your input everyone, much appreciated! I decided to Google what kind of shots specifically the Sigma 10-20mm would produce. Flickr The Sigma 10-20mm Pool - I am learning, slowly.... haha. I think this may be my next purchase!