best wide angle lenses!!!

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Archive 2006 · best wide angle lenses!!!

paul.kzk
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p.1 #1 · best wide angle lenses!!!

hey, i want to know what are the best wide- angle lenses? i am considering 17-40mm but do you know any even wider? i want a lens which is FF compatible

Dec 05, 2006 at 05:56 AM

JasonJ
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p.1 #2 · best wide angle lenses!!!

I think the Sigma 10-20 will work on a FF sensor. If it's not the 10-20, it's one of Sigma's wide angle lenses.

I have a 17-40 and the lens is all I could ask for. Well I wouldn't mind if it was a stop faster (ie: 16-35), but for the purposes of this lens, I hardly shoot wide open. Since it's mainly my landscape lens, I usually shoot with it stopped down. With a 1.6x crop camera, the 17mm end isn't EXTREMELY wide, but it can get the job done.

The three super wide angle lenses that I know of are (that work both on FF and crop sensors):

Canon 16-35
Canon 17-40
Sigma 10-20 (I think it's this one. It's one of the Sigma lenses for sure).

I'm not sure I know of any other wide angle lenses that work with both a crop and FF sensor.

Dec 05, 2006 at 06:02 AM

paul.kzk
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p.1 #3 · best wide angle lenses!!!

cool. thanks.. will check out on the sigma

Dec 05, 2006 at 06:08 AM

PeaktoPeek
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p.1 #4 · best wide angle lenses!!!

I believe the sigma lens that is FF compatible is the 12-24mm version.

Dec 05, 2006 at 06:11 AM

moondigger
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p.1 #5 · best wide angle lenses!!!

Yes, the Sigma 12-24 is FF compatible. The 10-20 is not.

Dec 05, 2006 at 06:48 AM

paulhodson
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p.1 #6 · best wide angle lenses!!!

And the Sigma 15-30 as well

Dec 05, 2006 at 07:03 AM

paul.kzk
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p.1 #7 · best wide angle lenses!!!

okie
is the picx quality comparible with the L's?

Dec 05, 2006 at 07:03 AM

alfarmer
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p.1 #8 · best wide angle lenses!!!

I'm partial to the Canon 20mm f/2.8, actually. Nice lens for the money, IMHO.

On a 30D like you have now, I'd recommend the Canon EFS 10-22mm. It was GREAT on my 20D.

ALF

Dec 05, 2006 at 07:33 AM

Uusilehto
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p.1 #9 · best wide angle lenses!!!

Zeiss 21/2.8. They're going for bargain prices now that there's fear of Zeiss releasing a ZF 21/2.8

And no, I don't believe in Canon wides. Mostly because there aren't any that don't suck.

Dec 05, 2006 at 09:20 AM

alexandre
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p.1 #10 · best wide angle lenses!!!

For a crop dslr - Tamron 17-50 2.8.

Dec 05, 2006 at 11:56 AM

kierontan
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p.1 #11 · best wide angle lenses!!!

16-35 2.8 works well on FF. The 17-40 has a little vignetting on full frame sensors.

Dec 05, 2006 at 12:36 PM

moondigger
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p.1 #12 · best wide angle lenses!!!

The 16-35/2.8 vignettes of full frame sensors as well. Almost all wide angle lenses do. Stopping down reduces or eliminates it.

I disagree that all Canon wideangles "suck." Besides, the Zeiss 21 doesn't help anybody take a decent wideangle shot on a crop body.

Dec 05, 2006 at 02:40 PM

BeeMan458
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p.1 #13 · best wide angle lenses!!!

"I disagree that all Canon wideangles "suck." "

Why's that?

Aside from the 16-35L and the 35L that is; of course.

Dec 05, 2006 at 03:18 PM

jmintz
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p.1 #14 · best wide angle lenses!!!

my 16-35/2.8 came yesterday, and I've been digging it so far (thanks to all the people that posted on my thread asking for help on making the decision on what to get!).

Dec 05, 2006 at 03:25 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #15 · best wide angle lenses!!!

The Canon 35mmL can definitely compete with the best out there but it is not particularly wide, especially on a crop body. The 16-35mmL? Well, it is no slouch but it is a zoom lens. I agree not to bother with exotics on a crop body.

Dec 05, 2006 at 03:29 PM

ericvgill
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p.1 #16 · best wide angle lenses!!!

jasonjoo wrote:
Sigma 10-20 (I think it's this one. It's one of the Sigma lenses for sure).

It's reduced image circle, like EF-S. Unlike EF-S, you can actually mount it on a FF body and get images, albeit with the corners chopped off (or worse).

My favorite Canon wide is the 24 TS-E, which reverses the issue. Since it's got an oversized image circle, the edges are perfect unless you actually tilt or shift it.

Dec 05, 2006 at 03:35 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #17 · best wide angle lenses!!!

AGeoJO wrote:
I agree not to bother with exotics on a crop body.

Some of the best landscape photos I took were with a CZ21 on a RebelXT. Sure, it is only a 33.6mm equivalent FOV but that is still considered "true" wide-angle, IMO. Is it super-wide or ultra-wide? No.

On FF or crop, there is simply no better WA than a CZ21 as far as image quality goes. Imagine the quality of the 85L at f8. The CZ21 can do that at f5.6. Truly remarkable. There is no Canon wide that is even in the same league except the 35L, which is decidedly *not* wide on a crop camera.

I had to sell the CZ21 due to a financial emergency, but I will own another some day. In the meantime I've been using a Zuiko 21/3.5. For the money, it is one hell of a nice little lens.

If the OP wants to maintain AF, I'd say go with the 17-40L if build quality and USM is important. If not, go for the Tamron SP 17-35. They are both excellent performers on a crop camera and are "acceptable" on FF. On a crop camera, the 16-35L will get you an extra stop of light, period. On FF, many pros describe the 17-40L as being better than the 16-35L.

Alf likes his EF 20mm/2.8. I think he must have gotten the only good one because it is easily the worst wide lens I have ever used and the reviews of it tend to echo my sentiments.

Dec 05, 2006 at 04:20 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #18 · best wide angle lenses!!!

cogitech wrote:
Some of the best landscape photos I took were with a CZ21 on a RebelXT. Sure, it is only a 33.6mm equivalent FOV but that is still considered "true" wide-angle, IMO. Is it super-wide or ultra-wide? No.

On FF or crop, there is simply no better WA than a CZ21 as far as image quality goes. Imagine the quality of the 85L at f8. The CZ21 can do that at f5.6. Truly remarkable. There is no Canon wide that is even in the same league except the 35L, which is decidedly *not* wide on a crop camera.

Paul,
I have been using one for almost two years and yes, I am fully aware of the optical quality of this lens. But to fully exploit this lens, you will have to use a FF camera as this lens gives performance all the way to the corners, which will get cropped on, well, a crop body.... Plus, the difference of 12mm in the wide angle range is huge but almost negligible in the tele range.

Dec 05, 2006 at 04:36 PM

Uusilehto
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p.1 #19 · best wide angle lenses!!!

AGeoJO wrote:
cogitech wrote:
Some of the best landscape photos I took were with a CZ21 on a RebelXT. Sure, it is only a 33.6mm equivalent FOV but that is still considered "true" wide-angle, IMO. Is it super-wide or ultra-wide? No.

On FF or crop, there is simply no better WA than a CZ21 as far as image quality goes. Imagine the quality of the 85L at f8. The CZ21 can do that at f5.6. Truly remarkable. There is no Canon wide that is even in the same league except the 35L, which is decidedly *not* wide on a crop camera.

Paul,
I have been using one for almost two years and yes, I am fully aware of the optical quality of this lens. But to fully exploit this lens, you will have to use a FF camera as this lens gives performance all the way to the corners, which will get cropped on, well, a crop body.... Plus, the difference of 12mm in the wide angle range is huge but almost negligible in the tele range.

The OP asked for a lens compatible with FF. What lenses are there? And if 20/21mm isn't wide enough, that leaves exactly three lenses in the Canon line-up. 14L, 17-40L and 16-35L and then there's the Sigma 12-24mm niche lens. I won't list the 15mm. It's great for a few specific types of photography but for general use, it's just too fishy.

If one can't decide from those options which suits his style of photography or needs, then maybe he should consider changing to a different hobby.

Dec 05, 2006 at 04:51 PM

sam0329
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p.1 #20 · best wide angle lenses!!!

so far I m happy with what I get from my 16-35 on 1D Mark II, very sharp even wide open...

Dec 05, 2006 at 05:08 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #21 · best wide angle lenses!!!

AGeoJO wrote:
cogitech wrote:
Some of the best landscape photos I took were with a CZ21 on a RebelXT. Sure, it is only a 33.6mm equivalent FOV but that is still considered "true" wide-angle, IMO. Is it super-wide or ultra-wide? No.

On FF or crop, there is simply no better WA than a CZ21 as far as image quality goes. Imagine the quality of the 85L at f8. The CZ21 can do that at f5.6. Truly remarkable. There is no Canon wide that is even in the same league except the 35L, which is decidedly *not* wide on a crop camera.

Paul,
I have been using one for almost two years and yes, I am fully aware of the optical quality of this lens. But to fully exploit this lens, you will have to use a FF camera as this lens gives performance all the way to the corners, which will get cropped on, well, a crop body.... Plus, the difference of 12mm in the wide angle range is huge but almost negligible in the tele range.

I tested my CZ21 on both a 5D and 1DsMkII and, yes, it is definately in its element on FF. Amazing, actually!!

And yes, the difference of 12mm on the wide end is huge, but does this make using the CZ21 on a crop camera somehow "less good" if a 33.6mm FOV is sufficient for the photographer's needs? It proved to be very useful to me, like I said. In fact, my widest lens is still a 21mm (for my crop bodies) and it covers my wide-angle needs quite well. Maybe the OP would find the same thing. If not, then the options are what Lasse and I mentioned and none of them will produce results even close to the CZ21. The only way to avoid sacrificing width or quality would be to stick the CZ21 (or Leica 19, or Nikon 17-35, or Zuiko 21/2 or Zuiko 21/3.5) on a 5D (or 1Ds or 1DsMkII) like I plan to do eventually.

Which reminds me, if the OP is OK with losing AF, then the best choice for both crop and FF (to get some more width on the crop and maintain excellent FF quality) would be the Nikon 17-35.

Dec 05, 2006 at 05:10 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #22 · best wide angle lenses!!!

sam0329 wrote:
so far I m happy with what I get from my 16-35 on 1D Mark II, very sharp even wide open...

On a 1.3x crop, much of those aweful corners are getting trimmed off. On FF, it is a different story.

http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1075248

Dec 05, 2006 at 05:12 PM

BeeMan458
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p.1 #23 · best wide angle lenses!!!

"If not, then the options are what Lasse and I mentioned and none of them will produce results even close to the CZ21."

This sounds more like a love affair Paul, not rational reasoning because you make it out as if exotics are the only "viable" option. Cost, adapters and inconvenience are left out of the conversation.

There's many options; Canon, third party and exotics (no AF and manual stop-down aperature). A thought: And what about those who don't need the sharpness of the CZ21/2.8 (A lense I'd like to have)? What about those who need the AF cause their eyes aren't the best anymore? What about those who need AE and AF, because they're chasing children or shooting children's sports. What about those who are just starting out in photograph and whom wouldn't appreciate what the CZ21/2.8 (doesn't notice awful corners) brings to the table?

My WA stable consists of a four lense solution; 14/2.8 Tamron, 16-35L, 35L and 28-70L because I don't see WA as a one-lense-fits-all solution. Can the CZ21/2.8 do all that?

Sorry, no zooming with your feet cause that changes image perspective.

Dec 05, 2006 at 05:40 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #24 · best wide angle lenses!!!

Thomas,

We've had this discussion before. All I can do is refer you to the topic of this post and express once again that adapters and inconvenience are a non-issue for the most part, as long as you are interested and willing to learn a bit. Also, I don't know how many times I have explained that AE is not lost with manual focus lenses.

What you say about AF is true with regards to chasing children, but I have never found myself chasing my kids with a wide-angle lens or trying to shoot sports with a wide-angle lens. YMMV.

Just as there are situations where AF lenses are necessary (as you mentioned) there are as many situations where MF is a non-issue (and often preferred). In those cases, the CZ21 is the best you can get, without a doubt, for SLR cameras.

It is up to the OP to decide which of the discussed lenses meet his needs, but it is up to the rest of us to answer his question regarding "best wide angle lenses." If the discussion did not include the CZ21, it would be severely lacking.

Some day you may have the chance to fall in love with a CZ21 as well. I hope you do.

Dec 05, 2006 at 06:14 PM

millsbury
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p.1 #25 · best wide angle lenses!!!

If you want super-wide I vote for the 10-22.
You say you want FF compatible, but here's the issue: If/when you upgrade to FF a 12-24mm lens will be ULTRA wide, really a specialty lens that you may no longer need at all and thus will want to sell at that point. Therefore it may not make sense to take EF-S lenses out of your consideration.

17-40 on FF is super-wide--I hardly ever use mine wider than 20mm, and I shoot interior spaces.

Dec 05, 2006 at 06:59 PM


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