Canada - do I need a wider lens?

[havoc]

Off to Canada in a few weeks, and really looking forward to the Rockies. But I'm wondering (mainly from our trip to NZ) if I need a true wide-angle or not. Current kit is:-

- Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
- Canon 50mm f/1.8
- Canon 28-135 IS f/3-5-5.6 (backup mainly - not as sharp as I'd like)
- Canon 70-300 IS f/4-5.6
(Plus 20D and 40D bodies and maybe a cheap tripod if I can fit it in the luggage)


So two questions:-
1) Is the 17-50 wide enough to do the landscape justice?


2) If not, and on a budget* (Ideally ~£300, definitely <£500, unless I can sell either or both of lenses 1 and 3 to find extra funds, but then I'd probably need two replacements), what do people recommend?




* I'd really like something along the lines of a 10-22 and a 24-105L to go with it (replacing lenses 1 and 3 above), but then wouldn't we all...

[xrrr]

I take a fair number of landscapes with my 40D and I mix between my Canon 17-55 and Canon 10-22 lenses depending on mood, what is already attached and the scene. You will certainly be able to 'get by' with the 17-50mm lens.

I don't own one but the Sigma 10-20mm is supposed to be pretty good:
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod242.html
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php...

Alternatively you could not bother with a ultra wide and buy a good set of filters instead:
http://www.davidnoton.com/ctlfilterkit.htm

[Simpo Two]

I had a similar question when facing a trip to NZ five years ago. In the end I stayed with the 18-70mm and it worked like this:



I reckoned that if I neded it any wider, I'd take two shots and stick 'em together!

[ian in lancs]

Simpo Two said:

I reckoned that if I needed it any wider, I'd take two shots and stick 'em together!

Very sensible!

I'm off to Japan, NZ and Hong Kong soon and have settled on this approach after two successive trips to Europe, testing set-ups and carrying what turned out to be heavy and unnecessary kit. So after stripping my kit down and selling unnecessary lenses I'm taking a D300s with an 18-105mm walkabout lens (backup camera) and a D700 with the wonderful 24-70mm.

As there is a family wedding is involved the 70-200mm, 85mm and 50mm will also be going. Otherwise only the much lighter 70-300 would go. Anyway, for wide angle I've tried from 2 up to 10 pictures and stitched together using panorama mode in PS it's perfectly acceptable.

[Mr E Driver]

I have bought quite a lot of stuff here and arrived next day

[RobDickinson]

I'm in NZ and habe 10-20 and 17-55.

I'm more likely to just go with the 17-55 and stitch if needed these days.

[dibbly dobbler]

xrrr said:

I take a fair number of landscapes with my 40D

Some lovely stuff on there Please post up more on the 'Random' thread

[Dogsey]

You could always hire something wide, lensesforhire.co.uk are highly recommended.

[GreigM]

ultra-wides are quite often only useful when you are very close to the subject - your 17-55 will be better for general landscapes I reckon

[havoc]

I'll have a look at lensesforhire - might be a better plan. Certainly could do without spending the money right now...

Thanks all for the advice, esp. the stuff that doesn't mean spending a lot of money!