Prime wide angle for Canon - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

11/04/2010 09:34:48 PM · #1

I'm really having trouble finding a viable prime wide angle for Canon in the sub $400 range??

I have the 50mm 1.4 right now and I'm looking to go wider.

I've checked reviews on the 35mm f2, the 28 1.8, the 28 2.8 and the 24 2.8 and I've heard that they're all very soft and their sharpness/contrast doesn't even match that of the zooms in that range.

What do you guys recommend to cover this range?

bspurgeon

Fujifilm x100

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

11/04/2010 11:19:53 PM · #2

I like the EF 35 f/2, relatively light, noisy, and feels like it might fall apart if you sneeze on it! I like it at the f/2 to f/4 range. It's fine for landscapes, actually better than fine. OK contrast. Plenty sharp. Lousy flare control if that matters to you.

35mm at f/2, plenty sharp for my purposes and held up at 16x20.

and at f/11

I also bought a demo Carl Zeiss 25mm f2.8 ZF for Nikon. Needs an adapter. Manual focus. $400. Spectacular lens. Rock solid, heavy, excellent contrast, mostly good in to sun. See my Monument entry for an example of flare. It's better in the corners on my camera compared to my 17-40 f/4L. Worth every penny, particular at the used price.

ETA: I know web sized images are not the best way to support a given lens, but it is for me! ;) Ignore the pixel peepers if you can. I bought the primes to shoot wide open, or near wide open, and I like the feel of the primes over the zooms.

Message edited by author 2010-11-04 23:36:34.

bobonacus

Canon EOS-7D

11/05/2010 08:54:15 AM · #3

I went through the same dilema and ended up with a sigma 30mm f/1.4 and I am very pleased with it.

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

11/05/2010 09:33:57 AM · #4

I've owned both the 35/2 and the 28/2.8. The image quality on both were excellent, even wide open. The only downside for me was the outdated design and buzzy focus motor (it's silly that I should even care about those things given the image quality, but I couldn't help but be annoyed)

11/05/2010 09:46:54 AM · #5

I know you are asking about primes but a lens to look at (if you wanting to shoot it on your 7D) is the Tokina 11-16 Æ�2.8. The zoom range is so small it may as well be a prime. I have been extremely happy with mine so far.

Here is a recent photo taken with it.

In this gallery all the static shots are taken with the Tokina.

Panasonic Lumix 20mm f1.7 ASPH

11/05/2010 12:46:10 PM · #6

Originally posted by Kobba:

Wow...didn't know about that one! Thank you. Seriously considering this on my wider end because I was originally going to go with the canon 10-22 for ultra wide but the 3.5 apterture was killing me. I like the 2.8 Tokina!

heavyj

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4

11/05/2010 12:51:21 PM · #7

I also loved the 30mm Sigma when I had it. Great lens. I also had the 11-16 Tokina, very very wide. I think my next lens will be the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM. It's not a prime but it covers a good range to compliment your 50mm

11/05/2010 12:53:59 PM · #8

Originally posted by bobonacus:

I went through the same dilema and ended up with a sigma 30mm f/1.4 and I am very pleased with it.

There's a lot of mixed reviews on that lens. It almost sounds like a gamble quality wise.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/05/2010 12:55:07 PM · #9

Originally posted by heavyj:

I've heard great things but that lens is EXPENSIVE. I'm not making $$ from my photography and economy is down...trying to keep costs low.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

11/05/2010 12:57:24 PM · #10

Not to disregard your question (prime), but I'd like to weigh in with just how happy I have been with the EFS 15-85mm, other than some vignetting, it's unbelievably nice..

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/05/2010 01:35:03 PM · #11

kgeary, I did a lot of looking and testing when I was looking for an ultra wide lens to use on my 7D. In my opinion the Tokina is the best ultra wide zoom for a crop sensor.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

11/05/2010 01:44:02 PM · #12

Another very interesting UWA is the 8-16 sigma, it's rectilinear, and stupid wide, of course it's only for the 1.6x cams... It's essentially equivalent to the 12-24 on a 5D...

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/05/2010 03:04:56 PM · #13

I'm not quite ready for the ultra-wide right now.

I'm mainly looking for something to fit the normal range (50mm)...which on my 7d would be around 30mm.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/05/2010 03:20:14 PM · #14

Originally posted by kgeary:

I'm mainly looking for something to fit the normal range (50mm)...which on my 7d would be around 30mm.

Take a look at the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. It's well within your price range, rivals primes in sharpness and offers the flexibility of a zoom.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

11/05/2010 03:53:38 PM · #15

It's a heck of a choice, for sure. Remember the old adage "fast, good, cheap - pick two"? It fits. Well, OK, maybe something like "fast, wide, cheap - pick two"
If you really want creative control of DOF with a WA lens, you really want something faster than f/2/8. That rules out the zooms.
I have not been a fan of Sigma, mainly because of the issues with forward compatibility (lenses becoming useless because they cease to work with newer bodies, and Sigma no longer supporting re-chipping of the lens). I hear about this much less than in the past, in fact rarely these days. The Sigma 30/1.4 is well-respected for IQ and is fast enough to give some creative control over DOF. The Canon 35/2 is another good choice, as long as plasticky build and noisy focus aren't killers for you. The Canon 28/1.8 is, IMO, not worth considering, and the 28/2.8 is really not fast enough, you'd be better off with a zoom.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/05/2010 06:32:56 PM · #16

I rather enjoy my 28mm f1.8...

It's not perfect by a long shot, but I'm taking pictures, not pixel peeping.

On your camera, none of those lenses are really "wide angle", they're roughly the equivalent of a "normal" lens.

Message edited by author 2010-11-05 18:35:00.

11/06/2010 07:28:01 PM · #17

Think I'm going to go with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and then the Tokina 11-16.

11/06/2010 08:01:33 PM · #18

Originally posted by kgeary:

Think I'm going to go with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and then the Tokina 11-16.

Good choice

11/06/2010 08:11:59 PM · #19

Originally posted by Kobba:

Originally posted by kgeary:
Think I'm going to go with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and then the Tokina 11-16.

Good choice

Thanks, I'll send you the bill if it doesn't work out. :)