Recommendations for ultra-wide angle APS-C lens

rmuhlack (Richard) · #1 04-06-2013, 12:51 PM

I am thinking about getting an ultra wide angle lens for landscapes and maybe nightscapes. My current daytime camera is a 400D, and if I were to upgrade it would probably be to another APS-C camera (eg 60D or 7D).

On the shortlist is a Canon EFS 10-22 and a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX-II. A Samyang 14mm f2.8 is also a possibility (and would be handy if I ever went full frame) although for APS-C i'd prefer something a little wider.

Any others I should be considering?

Thanks

pluto (Hugh) · #2 04-06-2013, 01:53 PM

By far the best (sharpest, lack of CA) is the Tokina 11-16. Next I would say is the Sigma 10-20 and then a firm last is the Canon 10-22. Plus the Tokina is the fastest at f2.8.

For full frame you'd have a few lenses to consider but for APS-C there is only one choice, in my opinion

EDIT: Of course weigh what others say as well but if you do decide to go for the Tokina I've just discovered a friend at work is selling his as he's just got a 6D and doesn't need his APS-C lenses anymore. Let me know if interested.

rmuhlack (Richard) · #3 04-06-2013, 01:56 PM

Thanks Hugh

lacad01 (Adam) · #4 04-06-2013, 02:02 PM

For my 2cents - when I had a Canon 450D I had the Sigma 10-20 and it was great value for money.

killswitch (Edison) · #5 04-06-2013, 02:34 PM

Definitely the Tokina, great crop lens for its price..

It can work with FF but only at 15-16mm.

pluto (Hugh) · #6 04-06-2013, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killswitch

It can work with FF but only at 15-16mm.

Really!!? I assume you've tried this?? is there much vignetting?

gregbradley · #7 04-06-2013, 03:32 PM

Pentax DA 14mm F2.8 ED, Tokina 16-28 F2.8. Both are around $800 (pentax a tad less). Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 gets a lot of good reviews but a bit slow for astro unless you use a Polarie.

More expensive but the best is Nikon 14-24mm plus an adapter (I have a Novoflex adapter and it is very good).

Possibly the best is Zeiss 15mm F2.8. But these are both full frame lenses and quite expensive and heavy.

Greg.

killswitch (Edison) · #8 04-06-2013, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pluto

Really!!? I assume you've tried this?? is there much vignetting?

Yes i have. Its more of a circular fisheye at 11-13mm

See this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjuU9lpTF_c

Obviously its not the best lens for a FF body but hey it still works

pluto (Hugh) · #9 04-06-2013, 10:24 PM

Awesome, thanks Ed!

troypiggo (Troy) · #10 05-06-2013, 05:51 AM

On a crop sensor, if you're after ultra-wide, you are (as you say) looking for something in the 10-12mm range at widest. I had the Canon 10-22 when I had a crop camera, and it was a fun lens. No complaints that I recall. I know the Tokina 11-16 is highly recommended as well but have no experience with it. If I had my time again, based on reviews I've read, I'd probably give the Tokina a go.

koputai (Jason) · #11 05-06-2013, 08:21 AM

I've had the Canon 10-22mm for a few years now and it's fantastic.

Landscapes, wiiiiiide astro, indoors. Sure it's not going to be the lens
you want to use for deep astro imaging to the edges, but as a daytime
or night time landscape/astro lens it's awesome.

Don't let anyone kid you, no matter who's lens you get, at these sort
of widths you are going to get distortion.

Cheers,
Jason.

rmuhlack (Richard) · #12 05-06-2013, 08:46 AM

All very helpful advice. Thanks everyone

troypiggo (Troy) · #13 05-06-2013, 08:54 AM

My apologies. I missed the "nightscapes" part of your OP. I only used mine for landscapes, not nightscapes. So not sure of it's sharpness and performance on stars. And you might want to consider faster lenses than the f/3.5-4.5 of it.

h0ughy (David) · #14 05-06-2013, 10:46 AM

I use this lens for my widefields - Sigma 10mm f2.8 EX DC Fisheye HSM specific for APS - c cameras

boardriderz (Jimmy) · #15 10-06-2013, 12:06 PM

How about the samyang 8mm f3.5 fisheye. I haven't used it, but in reviews it has tested better than lenses 10 times the price. Optically it is great, it is a full manual lense... Manual foces and aperture. But cheap as well because of this.

gregbradley · #16 14-06-2013, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koputai

I've had the Canon 10-22mm for a few years now and it's fantastic.

Landscapes, wiiiiiide astro, indoors. Sure it's not going to be the lens
you want to use for deep astro imaging to the edges, but as a daytime
or night time landscape/astro lens it's awesome.

Don't let anyone kid you, no matter who's lens you get, at these sort
of widths you are going to get distortion.

Cheers,
Jason.

The Fuji 14mm has zero distortion which as you point out is rare indeed.
Distortion is not really much of an issue. I doubt anyone would even notice that in a nightscape. When I apply lens corrections to the RAW images the change is rather subtle (Nikon 14-24).

What seems to be noticeable in lenses is the coma, the elongated stars i the corners, the chromatic aberration they are the image wreckers.

Greg.

Greg.