Wide angle lens notes

At some point I may just have to get a really wide angle lens, on the order of 16-20mm in 35mm equivalent. There's nothing that can draw in the viewer like a wide shot, and no, you can't just "zoom with your feet". It's a silly notion. In theory, you could stitch your way out of it, but that's an extra step in the process that has a number of limitations, too.

Wide angle zooms

Everybody and their kid brother seem to have at least one wide-angle zoom. But these goodies don't come cheap, and have flaws here and there. Prices in $ are from bhphotovideo, prices in euro from ac-foto.de.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM: 590 euro

From Photozone: Distortion 1.25% @ 10mm, .5% @ 22mm, vignetting 1.3 @max.ap., center very good/excellent, corners good/very good, CA about 1 throughout

Sharpness dropping already at f/8. HSM, FTM

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X Pro DX: 495 euro

From Photozone: Distortion 1.4% @ 12mm, .25% @ 24mm, vignetting <1@ 12mm, center excellent, corners good/very good, CA 1.5 - 2.5!

Generally low vignetting, but high CA

Sigma AF 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 HSM EX DG: $690, 620 euro

Full frame lens!

From Photozone: Distortion .6% @ 12mm, 0% @ 24mm, vignetting 1.1@12mm, center very good/excellent, corners good (very good @24mm), CA 1.5-2 throughout

Sigma AF 10-20mm f/4-5.6 HSM EX DC: 480 euro

From Photozone: Distortion .6% @ 10mm, .6% @ 20mm, vignetting 1.3@10mm (.4 @f/8), center excellent, corners very good, CA 1-1.5 @ 10mm

Sharpness high at f/8 still. HSM, FTM, very high quality!

Combining high sharpness, HSM, quality build, and no serious flaws otherwise, this would be the one I'd want.

Tamron AF 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) SP: 450 euro

From Photozone: Distortion 2.7% @ 11mm, .8% @ 18mm, vignetting .5-1@11mm, center excellent, corners good, CA 1.5-2

Wide angle primes

Nothing under $1000.

-- LarsClausen - 16 Oct 2006
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