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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Wide Angle Prime
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 10/25/2007 10:16:51 PM · #1
I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good sharp wide angle prime lens for a Canon 40D. Something under the $500 CDN range would be perfect.
 10/25/2007 10:29:01 PM · #2
How wide do you want to go? In primes you've got (from the POTN lens archive - prices are USD):

Canon:
EF 24 f/2.8 (~$290 )
EF 28 f/1.8 USM (~$400 )
EF 35f/2 (~$230 )

Sigma:
20mm f/1.8 (~$409 )
30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM (~$399 )

Which all aren't that wide on a crop camera. In the zooms you've got:

Canon:
EF-S 10-22 (~$684 )

Sigma:
10-20 f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM (~$468 )

Tokina:
AT-X 124 AF PRO DX 12-24 f/4 (~$469 )

Which are all very good lenses, and are bonkers wide. I'm looking for an UWA at the moment, and I'm tending towards the Canon 10-22 - but it's a lot of cash.

Muz
 10/25/2007 10:42:44 PM · #3
Hmm, I think I'm leaning slightly more towards primes rather than zooms because I'd prefer something that can shoot well in low lighting situations.

Something around the focal range of 20mm or wider would be great.

How is the Sigma 20mm f/1.8?
 10/25/2007 10:55:10 PM · #4
for low light

30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

not quite your 20mm or lower, but nice & fast :)

or
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8

not that I have one, just that I looked :)
 10/25/2007 10:59:45 PM · #5
Well, you have everything covered. So why are you asking? You want something faster? You want to be limited? I would think you would know what range you like.

I would suggest gettting the USM. The non-USM lens are slow.
 10/25/2007 11:00:53 PM · #6
On the 40D 28-30 mm is a "normal" lens. You're gonna need something wider than 20mm before you are in the "wide" range.


10/25/2007 11:02:16 PM · #7
OdysseyF22 has his Tokina 12-24mm f/4.0 Lens for Canon up for sale on ebay. You may want to PM him about the product.

10/25/2007 11:17:20 PM · #8
14mm 2.8L though that might be a bit pricey.

20mm 2.8 USM - well within your budget. Both are canon primes.
 10/26/2007 12:13:46 AM · #9
Originally posted by Rum:
I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good sharp wide angle prime lens for a Canon 40D. Something under the $500 CDN range would be perfect.


Canon 24mm f/2.8

Retail approx. $250 USD
 10/26/2007 12:49:33 AM · #10
Love the Sigma 20mm F/1.8;
 10/26/2007 12:52:38 AM · #11
This one.
Manual focus, but if you set the aperture to f/8 or smaller, with 8mm focal length your DoF is virtually infinite.

There are good copies out there, for under $150 I think.
 10/26/2007 06:08:21 AM · #12
Originally posted by Shadowi6:
for low light

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8

not that I have one, just that I looked :)


I do have this lens and have used it in low light on my 40D and it is fantastic.

10/26/2007 11:49:41 AM · #13
Originally posted by Nullix:
Well, you have everything covered. So why are you asking? You want something faster? You want to be limited? I would think you would know what range you like.

I would suggest gettting the USM. The non-USM lens are slow.


I'm looking for something faster, for low light landscape shots mostly. I find the Sigma 10-20mm that I currently have just doesn't perform quick enough under low light situations, so I figured a prime wide angle would be the most affordable solution.

Has anyone had much experience with the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8? How sharp is it?

Message edited by author 2007-10-26 11:50:19.
 10/26/2007 11:59:04 AM · #14
Originally posted by Rum:

Has anyone had much experience with the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8? How sharp is it?


You can't go wrong with Canon primes. They are all sharp and optically superior lenses.
 10/26/2007 12:06:28 PM · #15
the Canon: EF-S 10-22 is an excellent lense. Well worth the cash IMO
 10/26/2007 12:09:48 PM · #16
Originally posted by JaimeVinas:
the Canon: EF-S 10-22 is an excellent lense. Well worth the cash IMO


It is, but it's not fast and the OP wants a fast lense for low light.
 10/26/2007 12:12:07 PM · #17
Originally posted by Rum:
Originally posted by Nullix:
Well, you have everything covered. So why are you asking? You want something faster? You want to be limited? I would think you would know what range you like.

I would suggest gettting the USM. The non-USM lens are slow.


I'm looking for something faster, for low light landscape shots mostly. I find the Sigma 10-20mm that I currently have just doesn't perform quick enough under low light situations, so I figured a prime wide angle would be the most affordable solution.

Has anyone had much experience with the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8? How sharp is it?


Why do you need to "perform quick" when shooting landscapes? 'Cuz 20mm isn't really very wide for landscape work. I use the 10-22mm, and rarely go longer than 15-16mm when shooting landscapes... What does 'perform quick' mean to you, exactly? Wider aperture = faster shutter speed, for non-tripod work? My response to that would be "use a tripod", which I almost always do when shooting landscapes, ESPECIALLY in low-light situations... Using the tripod is very helpful when doing UWA work, because you need to pay a lot of attention to composition with the UWA.

My .02 worth...

R.
 10/26/2007 12:12:21 PM · #18
Originally posted by Rum:
I'm looking for something faster, for low light landscape shots mostly.


Just out of curiousity, why do you need something fast for landscape shots? Are you not using a tripod or are you planning on using the lens for other applications as well?
 10/26/2007 12:29:01 PM · #19
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by Rum:
Originally posted by Nullix:
Well, you have everything covered. So why are you asking? You want something faster? You want to be limited? I would think you would know what range you like.

I would suggest gettting the USM. The non-USM lens are slow.


I'm looking for something faster, for low light landscape shots mostly. I find the Sigma 10-20mm that I currently have just doesn't perform quick enough under low light situations, so I figured a prime wide angle would be the most affordable solution.

Has anyone had much experience with the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8? How sharp is it?


Why do you need to "perform quick" when shooting landscapes? 'Cuz 20mm isn't really very wide for landscape work. I use the 10-22mm, and rarely go longer than 15-16mm when shooting landscapes... What does 'perform quick' mean to you, exactly? Wider aperture = faster shutter speed, for non-tripod work? My response to that would be "use a tripod", which I almost always do when shooting landscapes, ESPECIALLY in low-light situations... Using the tripod is very helpful when doing UWA work, because you need to pay a lot of attention to composition with the UWA.

My .02 worth...

R.

Plus, you'll also probably want to stop-down to f/8, f/11, or higher for landscapes anyway?
 10/26/2007 12:31:01 PM · #20
I have a Canon 10-22mm and for virtually every shot I have set it to 10mm. If there was a 10mm prime I'd be happy to consider that an an alternative but I don't think such a lens exists. I haven't found the f3.5 aperture a limitation.
 10/26/2007 12:36:00 PM · #21
i'm looking for a fast wide angle lens, too (for nikon mount though).
would love the sigma 20 f1.8 (especially for concert photography) but i've heard it's rather soft wide open and has bad fringing when exposing towards bright light sources. on the other hand it's the fastest 20mm on the market and is an EX lens which means i can use it with my film nikon as well (which i can't with the sigma 30 f1.4).
it's a dilemma...:(

the reviews on fredmiranda.com might help you with your decision.

ETA: i have the tokina 12-24 and i can totally recommend this lens, though it's not that fast (which is why i'm looking for a faster one...)

Message edited by author 2007-10-26 12:37:54.
 10/26/2007 12:40:08 PM · #22

Nevermind, forgot that one was a fishy...

Message edited by author 2007-10-26 12:43:30.
 10/26/2007 02:40:54 PM · #23
Originally posted by SamDoe1:
Originally posted by Rum:
I'm looking for something faster, for low light landscape shots mostly.


Just out of curiousity, why do you need something fast for landscape shots? Are you not using a tripod or are you planning on using the lens for other applications as well?


Well the thing is, I do most of my shooting after my 9-6 job, and in Toronto, this season, by the time I'm off work, there's not much light around since the sun is setting earlier and earlier every day.

I also don't tend to carry a tripod around with me because it's a bit of a pain for me to carry to work every day.

So I'm looking for something with a wider aperture, that I can use to shoot handheld in low light.

And yes I wish they made a 10mm prime! I'd be all over that.
 10/26/2007 02:49:56 PM · #24
Originally posted by Rum:
Hmm, I think I'm leaning slightly more towards primes rather than zooms because I'd prefer something that can shoot well in low lighting situations.

Something around the focal range of 20mm or wider would be great.

How is the Sigma 20mm f/1.8?


I have the Sigma. I like it. Great lens imo, acceptable sharpness @ 1.8, realy sharp @ 2.8. The Canon only starts @ 2.8. Focal length and wide aperture also make it a great indoor lens.

Build quality is also great. Filter size sucks though, 82mm pola filter is damned expensive.

General problem with Sigma is that you have a higher chance of a not-so-good copy. I was lucky with my copy I guess.
 10/26/2007 03:19:41 PM · #25
Originally posted by Rum:
Well the thing is, I do most of my shooting after my 9-6 job, and in Toronto, this season, by the time I'm off work, there's not much light around since the sun is setting earlier and earlier every day.

I also don't tend to carry a tripod around with me because it's a bit of a pain for me to carry to work every day.

So I'm looking for something with a wider aperture, that I can use to shoot handheld in low light.

And yes I wish they made a 10mm prime! I'd be all over that.


To be honest with you, lenses won't be that sharp wide open at f/1.8 or faster. That and they don't make wide lenses that fast probably for the reason that most people will stop down to f/8 for landscapes as it is anyway. You would most likely get MUCH better results by using a tripod for these shots, even a lightweight cheapo one, than a fast ultra wide at night.

Message edited by author 2007-10-26 15:21:18.
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