Ultra Wide Lenses

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Archive 2008 · Ultra Wide Lenses

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #1 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I need to buy one to "replace" my canon kit lens, the 18-50. It's a good lens but in some situation i REALLY need those extra wide mm.

I already read some reviews and im leaned to choose the Canon. But still i want more opinions to help make the decision. If i can buy a lens that is cheaper but still performs well than i don't look back!

So please help me and leave our comments on these lenses please!!

Thanks all!!

Nov 23, 2008 at 08:42 PM

freetime101
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p.1 #2 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I'd choose canon over sigma due to several bad experiences with sigma - the Tokina's look interesting though, especially the f/2.8 though I have no experience with Tokina

Nov 23, 2008 at 08:46 PM

jabog6
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p.1 #3 · Ultra Wide Lenses

Pedro,

I had the Tokina 12-24 and really enjoyed it. If needed, it worked well as a walk-around since it went to 24mm at the long end. It's built like a tank, and very sharp. The controls (focus and zoom rings) felt very smooth and well-built. I did find that it didn't always go wide enough for my taste, and I ended up not using it as much because of it. I might lean towards the Canon if I had to do it again - but the Tokina is not a bad choice at all. The 11-16 is interesting, but I never found that having f/2.8 was that important for an ultra-wide, YMMV.

Boa sorte.

Ricardo

Nov 23, 2008 at 10:57 PM

mawz
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p.1 #4 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I've the Sigma 10-20. It's superb. While the lens definitely had issues early on in the production run, the design is excellent and Sigma's worked out the bugs. It also has the best AF configuration of the reasonably priced options (Yea, the 10-22's USM, but it's also far more expensive than the others)

Here's an example from the 10-20 on my D300:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 23, 2008 at 11:04 PM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #5 · Ultra Wide Lenses

jabog6 wrote:
Pedro,

I had the Tokina 12-24 and really enjoyed it. If needed, it worked well as a walk-around since it went to 24mm at the long end. It's built like a tank, and very sharp. The controls (focus and zoom rings) felt very smooth and well-built. I did find that it didn't always go wide enough for my taste, and I ended up not using it as much because of it. I might lean towards the Canon if I had to do it again - but the Tokina is not a bad choice at all. The 11-16 is interesting, but I never found that having f/2.8 was that important for an ultra-wide, YMMV.

Boa sorte.

Ricardo

Thanks. I usually read this site reviews: http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos

I don't know if there is a better site with so much lenses. In this they point out that the major rival for the Canon is the Tokina:
"Naturally it makes sense to compare the lens to a serious competitor like the Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X Pro DX. All in all the resolution figures are very similar. The Canon has less CAs and a better contra light performance whereas the Tokina shows less vignetting. The build quality of the Tokina is also a little better (the Canon is more than "good enough" though) and finally the Tokina is substantially cheaper."

But i heard Sigma's are great also.

@mawz: is that a non processed image? It's a bit unsharp.

Nov 23, 2008 at 11:36 PM

mawz
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p.1 #6 · Ultra Wide Lenses

@pedro pedras: It's not in the least bit unsharp, it's actually the opposite, there's a bit of sharpening halos in the branches which make them look blurry in the web-resolution shot as I sharpened this shot for print (I generally like a little bit of oversharpening). The buildings are tack sharp.

Nov 24, 2008 at 12:26 AM

Jman13
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p.1 #7 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I absolutely love my Tokina 12-24. Built like a tank, sharp, with great color, great handling, and a very nice and useful range.

Nov 24, 2008 at 01:34 AM

thrice
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p.1 #8 · Ultra Wide Lenses

friend of mine has the 11-16 and raves about it, I obviously can't use it on my 5D

Nov 24, 2008 at 05:31 AM

ptys
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p.1 #9 · Ultra Wide Lenses

thrice wrote:
friend of mine has the 11-16 and raves about it, I obviously can't use it on my 5D

I think you can. I've seen photos taken with this lens on a D3. It covers full frame between 15 and 16 mm, according to Ken Rockwell's site.

Nov 24, 2008 at 05:39 AM

ptys
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p.1 #10 · Ultra Wide Lenses

Pedro Pedras wrote:
I need to buy one to "replace" my canon kit lens, the 18-50. It's a good lens but in some situation i REALLY need those extra wide mm.

I already read some reviews and im leaned to choose the Canon. But still i want more opinions to help make the decision. If i can buy a lens that is cheaper but still performs well than i don't look back!

So please help me and leave our comments on these lenses please!!

Thanks all!!

Try the sigma. I have one and like it. A good copy is no worse optically than canon (from what i've seen on the net), and it's better built, it's cheaper, and comes with a hood and a pouch (and lately a center pinch cap).

Nov 24, 2008 at 05:44 AM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #11 · Ultra Wide Lenses

The problem is that here in Portugal it's not easy to replace your copy of a lens if it's not good. If you buy it, well it's bought and that's final. The stores don't care if you think that the lens is too soft!

That is the problem. I need to be relatively sure that the lens i buy will give me a good optical quality, or else i'm stuck with it for good.

Nov 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM

Andi Dietrich
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p.1 #12 · Ultra Wide Lenses

Try to get a used copy from a seller which is willing to provide sample shots and has a good feedback here on FM or on a local buy/sell place. Many people are going to upgrade to FF and have no more use for an APS lens

Nov 24, 2008 at 10:53 PM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #13 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I will probably buy the choosen lens in the US. Because this things are much cheaper on that side of the ocean! I'm going to stay in NY for a week in the end of the year. So by that time i need to have thing sorted! hehehhe

Nov 25, 2008 at 12:20 AM

nureality
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p.1 #14 · Ultra Wide Lenses

You should consider the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 DG EX HSM.

Yes, its the slowest of these lenses. But, its also the only Full Frame lens in this range. Mine is absolutely sensational. Sharp throughout, works flawlessly on both my 40D and my film bodies (EOS-3 and Elan7E). I don't find the need for a faster lens in this range 95% of the time.

I have had the good fortune to try the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 on my 40D. I rented it for a week. And if I didn't just absolutely refuse to buy crop lenses, this would definitely be in my arsenal. Theres a slight learning curve with the lens, with the focus-clutch mechanism (I kept forgetting when it was in Manual and trying to AF... DUH!!!). But its worth the time you'll spend with it. Its fast, its sharp, and my ONLY gripe about it is that its a crop lens. Of the lenses you asked about, its the one I'd get.

I own the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 DG EX HSM and I think it just might be Sigma's best lens. Its a very special hunk of glass, I never leave home without mine.

-Alan

Nov 25, 2008 at 12:24 AM

johnastovall
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p.1 #15 · Ultra Wide Lenses

None of the above since I shoot a full frame 5D. But would use a Leica R 15mm Super Elmarit if I wanted the best image quality.

Nov 25, 2008 at 02:16 AM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #16 · Ultra Wide Lenses

nureality wrote:
You should consider the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 DG EX HSM.

Yes, its the slowest of these lenses. But, its also the only Full Frame lens in this range. Mine is absolutely sensational. Sharp throughout, works flawlessly on both my 40D and my film bodies (EOS-3 and Elan7E). I don't find the need for a faster lens in this range 95% of the time.

I have had the good fortune to try the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 on my 40D. I rented it for a week. And if I didn't just absolutely refuse to buy crop lenses, this would definitely be in my arsenal. Theres a slight learning curve with the lens, with the focus-clutch mechanism (I kept forgetting when it was in Manual and trying to AF... DUH!!!). But its worth the time you'll spend with it. Its fast, its sharp, and my ONLY gripe about it is that its a crop lens. Of the lenses you asked about, its the one I'd get.

I own the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 DG EX HSM and I think it just might be Sigma's best lens. Its a very special hunk of glass, I never leave home without mine.

-Alan

Well, if i understood if only for crop slr's (my case, 20D&50D) you'll choose the tokina, if for FullFrame also you'll choose the sigma. Right?

Nov 25, 2008 at 03:01 PM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #17 · Ultra Wide Lenses

If anyone thinks that there are other better alternatives please do. I didn't place here the Tamron AF 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di II SP because in the latest reviews i read it is worst than the direct competition.

Nov 26, 2008 at 12:51 AM

Karokan
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p.1 #18 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I have used the Canon 10-22 on my previous XTi. It worked great.

Nov 26, 2008 at 12:52 AM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #19 · Ultra Wide Lenses

Do you have any topic with pics taken with it?

Nov 26, 2008 at 08:26 AM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #20 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I have another doubt that has poped in my mind! A user from other forum placed an interesting question. Isn't the Tokina 11-16 very limited in terms of zoom? I'm just thinking because the Canon is 10-22, so its much better in terms of practical use. Any toughts about that anyone?

Nov 26, 2008 at 01:45 PM

tell
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p.1 #21 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I love my Canon 10-22. Don't bother with a hood, it's very flair resistant. I do keep a UV filter on it, and unlike many of my other lenses, I see no degradation in image quality from using it. Focus is spot on. At receptions, I shoot blind with this lens all the time.

Nov 26, 2008 at 01:56 PM

Martin
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p.1 #22 · Ultra Wide Lenses

I have used the Tokina 11-16 mm in the Pergamon museum in Berlin. The images of the Pergamon alter are just great. The room is quite wide since the alter must be 80-90 feet wide. However, the room is rather shallow, so the 11 mm setting really came in handy. The usual distortion at the extreme edge is present, but that level of detail captured is great.

Martin

Nov 27, 2008 at 01:43 PM

Pedro Pedras
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p.1 #23 · Ultra Wide Lenses

But Canon 10mm are wide also. More even than Tokina. The only downgrade is the aperture. But im really not used to F2.8's, so i don't know what i'm i going to miss more, the F2.8 or the 22mm of Canon!

I do some indoor shooting on my travels, especially in churches, but not much.

Nov 28, 2008 at 12:58 PM

rsrsrs
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p.1 #24 · Ultra Wide Lenses

maybe its not ultra ulta wide.
and its a plastic cup,
but i truly recommend the tamron 19-35mm
which is realy perplexing cheap.

here on FM review side it is also ..., but better read yourself.

so its ulta in another way.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Reinhard Schneider

Nov 28, 2008 at 01:37 PM

mawz
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p.1 #25 · Ultra Wide Lenses

rsrsrs wrote:
maybe its not ultra ulta wide.
and its a plastic cup,
but i truly recommend the tamron 19-35mm
which is realy perplexing cheap.

here on FM review side it is also ..., but better read yourself.

so its ulta in another way.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Reinhard Schneider

It's no upgrade over the kit 18-55 the OP already has. Good lens for the money (it's actually the Cosina 19-35 design also sold by Tokina, Vivitar and Phoenix among others) but not really a steller performer as an ultra-wide and as a normal zoom on a crop body it's crippled by its small range and large size (77mm filters)

Nov 28, 2008 at 04:37 PM


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