what is the best wide angle lens $500 or under

[mephetic436]

i have a digital rebel and im wonder what is the best wide angle lens by Canon or any other compatible maker for under $500 and prefereably under $400

[Big Hands]

Believe it or not, you really don't give enough info for a truly informed recommendation, but based on your given criteria: Tokina 12-24 f/4 at just under $500.

Regards,

[bolantej]

depends on how wide you want to go. the wider the more $$$.

[aximrocks]

sigma 15-30mm EX 3.5-4.5, $330 on ebay

[mephetic436]

big hands what kind of information should i have given ?

[mephetic436]

im looking for expansive landscapes wide....i dont know a number, but im going to hawaii w/ my family over chrismas break and i want to be able to get as much of the scenery as i can in 1 shot...for under $500

[grego]

big hands what kind of information should i have given ?

Probably how wide you want to go. :)

[liza]

I second the recommendation for the Tokina. I've read numerous positive reviews about this lens on other sites.

[Tsmith]

The Tokina 12-24 looks very well built too.

[rdenney]

Zenitar 16mm/f2.8 fisheye. $150.

Rick "only sorta joking" Denney

[mephetic436]

does anyone know how well either the tokina 12-24 or the sigma 15-30 work using an infrared filter ?

[bolantej]

Zenitar 16mm/f2.8 fisheye. $150.

Rick "only sorta joking" Denney

it's not all that bad for this. takes getting use to manual lenses though.

[Tom W]

Depends on the camera body.

[mephetic436]

the body is the digtal rebel 300D as i said at the beginning

[Tom W]

the body is the digtal rebel 300D as i said at the beginning

OK, I guess I'll try again with my eyes open. :)

The Canon 20-35 is not a popular lens, but it is pretty decent. Problem is, 20 mm isn't very wide on a D-Reb. The suggestions on the Sigma 15-30 are sound. I don't know a lot about that Tokina 12-24, but I suppose that someone here has used it and can comment.

You can go to http://www.pbase.com/cameras and click on a brand, scroll down, and see images from various cameras and lenses. If you want to see Tokina lenses, click on Tokina and scroll through the lenses. Keep in mind that some of the older lenses might be discontinued.

[mephetic436]

does anyone know if the tokina 12-24 or the sigma 15-30 works well or does not work well with an infrared lens ?

[mephetic436]

with a 300D body...

[condyk]

My self imposed budget for a wide fella was £500 and after lots of research I bought the Toki 12-24 f4.0. So, I had lots of change. You may get a tad better but not for your budget ... and possibly not that much better for double. Solid performance and an honest price.

I dunno if it works with IR as I have no interest in that stuff.

[Marshall]

sigma 15-30mm EX 3.5-4.5, $330 on ebay

Love my 15-30 & paid £249 on ebay. If it can be bought for $330 go for it !

[dietcookie]

tokina 12-24, i use it, i love it.

[KevNJ]

I also have and use the tokina 12-24. Amazing! WIIIIIIIDE! Theres not many wider option lens out there, and for the price, you cant go wrong. Got my from B&H.

[rabidcow]

Don't know if 28mm is wide enought, but I bought the Canon 28mm f/2.8 for around $100 not long ago and I love it!

[cfcRebel]

I'm hunting for Ultra WA too. I have narrowed my choices down to Sigma 10-20($470+), Sigma 12-25($560+) and Tokina 12-24($400+).

[Henrylw]

Tokina, no doubt about it.

Here is my sample:

http://www.pbase.com/henrylw/image/52368969.jpg

[willg]

the tamron 17-35 is very nice for its range

[moinerus]

just got my sigma 10-20mm it amazing firts photos up at http://moinerus.deviantart.com/gallery/

[mrclark321]

Tokina, no doubt about it.

Here is my sample:

http://www.pbase.com/henrylw/image/52368969.jpg

Beautiful shot Henry

[m3elmo]

i've had the sigma 10-20mm, i liked the lens a lot for being under $500.00

[ed rader]

i have a digital rebel and im wonder what is the best wide angle lens by Canon or any other compatible maker for under $500 and prefereably under $400

i'd say the tamron 17-35, which could also be used on your film camera. if you want a SWA i'd probably give the tokina 12-24 a try based on the reviews i have read.

i use the canon 17-40 but that cost me right under $600.

ed rader

[Rhinotherunt]

I REALLY enjoy my 10-20mm from Sigma...

[DavidEB]

Henry, I echo MrClark, and welcome to the forum.

lens question depends on whether you intend to stick with 1.6x crop cameras. If so, then all the tokina advice looks good. Tamron also makes an 11-20ish lens that's supposed to be good.

If you plan on going full-frame, then Tamron 17-35, or tokina 17mm prime.

[SolPics]

The Canon 20mm f/2.8 is pretty nice.

[dmstraton]

I use the Tokina. I like it. The build is L-quality (seriously), and the optics are very good. I've had two...I traded the first and instantly regretted it, and bought another one.

The lens is pretty sharp at f5.6, and is very sharp at f8 through f16. It starts to get soft from diffraction after that, but it is not too bad honestly. If the mountains are far away and you have no foreground that you want to use for interest, you can use a wider aperture with no fear.

FYI - The lens show no vignetting unless you are at f4. You can see a bit at 5.6 too if you are using a polarizer, but it is not bad...easily correctable in PS.

Here are 3pix with it:
f6.3: http://flickr.com/photos/bustermcgee...7594097360255/
f8: http://flickr.com/photos/bustermcgee/214166775/
f13: http://flickr.com/photos/bustermcgee...7594097360255/
f10: http://flickr.com/photos/bustermcgee...7594097390988/

Hope that helps...I really like the lens, just takes some practice.

You will see some CA in the corners at wider apertures, but it is not bad at all...I correct in PS takes 2 secs.