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!!
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
@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.
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).
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
