Ultra Wide Angle recommendations?

[AndyKH]

Hi Guys, can you guys recommend me a decent replacement for my 'Kit' lens I have at the minute? I'd ideally like to be able to go wider than 18mm and have been looking at the likes of the Sigma 10-20mm, Tamrons 10-24mm etc. I'm not wanting a very very expensive lens so no suggestions of any 'L' series please. There is a Sigma on e-Bay at the minute which is described as having very very minor scuffs on the front glass which are un noticeable in the image. This is currently sub £200.
Over to you chaps.

Thanks.

[Murph7355]

Are you sure you really want something that wide?

I have a Sigma 12-24mm and found I barely use it. Replaced it with a Canon 17-55 which gets used a lot now and fits with my other lenses much better.

I'll be chucking the Sigma on eBay at some point.

[Speed addicted]

I bought a sigma 10-20 while in the states a couple of months ago, I still mainly use the 18-55 kit lens but the Sigma is great for landscapes.

I'm not a paticularly experienced photographer but I'm happy with the results. It's a nice thing to use and feels well put together.

I'll post up a couple of shots later on.



I can't find anything taken in daylight just now.

Edited by Speed addicted on Monday 13th December 18:43

[tinman0]

Check the Tokina 11-16. Bought one this time last year, and it is rarely removed from my camera. Stunning lens, stunning build quality. Recommended.

The only downside is that you don't have the zoom range of the 10-20s, but that is easily rectified by moving your feet in a forwards motion.

(Although, none of the UWAs are bad, whether they are Sigma, Canon, Tamron or Tokina. They are all rated as very good).

[BigAlinEmbra]

I've got a Sigma 10-20mm and love it. So much so that I rarely change to anything else on the DSLR. Often just use the P&S for anything in "normal" range.

If you want to have a nosey at my flickr sets then the South America and Bangkok-Hanoi sets have plenty wide angle work in them.
The wide shots should be fairly obvious, but flickr normally tells you the lens measurements if you nosey about the settings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigalinembra/sets/


Ha Long Bay in the mist.


Just to give you an idea of what you can do with interior shots.


Notre Dame in Saigon.


Saigon Opera House at dusk.


Machu Picchu in the early morning light.


Chucked in this one of Lima to give you an idea that you do get a wee bit of distortion round the edges when wide open. More noticeable on closer up stuff, and not a massive issue on landscapes.
Architecture stuff, and anything with people in it can go a bit weird round the edges of the image though.

Edited by BigAlinEmbra on Monday 13th December 21:46

[AndyKH]

Positive i want that wide, i'm a real sucker for distortion!
I'm finding the kit lens I have isn't going as wide as i'd like for some shots I do, I took this last night and had a vision in my mind of how I wanted it to look, unfortunately it wasn't quite what I was after but I ended up happy enough with the result.

[BigAlinEmbra]

IMO that's actually a nicely framed shot. Chances are with a wider lens you'd lose the lights in the background and the vegetation that's framing the shot.

Personal taste obviously, but I'm not sure "going wide" would necessarily improve things.
Where a wide lens is really handy is in a tight environment in a city or something where you simply can't get far enough back to squeeze everything in.
A wide lens is great for getting in church spires in old narrow streets.

[Kermit power]

UWAs aren't just for landscapes...



Taken with my Sigma 10-20mm at 13mm.

[AndyKH]

The shot ended up fine but in my mind I wanted to make the church appear a bit more 'imposing' .

[Mobile Chicane]

Look in the wiki for what the 10-22 can do. My favourite lens.

[david_b]

Kermit power said:

UWAs aren't just for landscapes...

Indeed Can even manage a bit of panning:

Sigma 10-20 @ 10mm, 1/80s:

Goodwood Revival 2010 - testing by david_b, on Flickr

Sigma 10-20 @ 14mm, 1/50s:

Goodwood Revival 2010 - testing by david_b, on Flickr

(Both on a Nikon D2H)

[g3org3y]

Another vote for the Sigma 10-20.

[rasputin]

Tamron 11-18mm. It always gets forgotten, but IMO it's actually a fantastic lens. And cheaper than the Sigma.

I had one for my previous Sony cameras, loved it, and now have one for my Canon.

Sharpness is fantastic and it gives really nice colours. It makes the sky look like you're using a polarising filter - all colours are really deep.

Here are some shots from my Sony and the 11-18:

Sunset over the Tay Bridge by Elad V., on Flickr


February 9th 2010: Scott Monument, Edinburgh by Elad V., on Flickr


July 22nd 2010: St Giles Cathedral by Elad V., on Flickr

And one from my Canon (just got the lens last week so not got many yet!)

December 11th 2010: Church in the Snow by Elad V., on Flickr