which lens would you take?

[rebel61021]

Ok looking at 2 wide angle lens and have heard good things about both but can only get one for trip we are taking (yea into the caves in WI) I am looking at EF-S 10-22 mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens or EF 17-40 mm f/4L USM Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens? Now this is probally a no brainer cause 1 of them is an L but I just want to get some opions.

Thanks

[Pyromaniac]

Actully in this case the L is less expensive than the alternative option. The 17-40 is abour $680 at B&H and the 10-22 is $799 and out of stock. I don't own either lenes but I don't think that 1/3 of a stop is worth $120. Especialy when you can get an L for that $120 less. Thats just my opinion though.

[rebel61021]

well looking at Dell they are both the same price...$719.00

[Huckaback Photo]

If your planning to go serious caving with all the right kit on etc other than a guided tour sort of thing, my advice before you choose lenses.
is choose camera.
Just seen a presentation by one of the worlds top cavers, he has travelled all around the world and the author of many books,
his comments that make me say this to you. how are you going to keep your rebel dry and damage free etc. this guy had wrote off so many cameras, i recomend pick up a book on caving and study the subject first , as far as photograhpy goes i have done a bit of caving not really my scene though.
for more normal wide angle uses the 17 to 40 L really is the buisiness comes complete with weather /dust resistant seals that should point you in the right direction, for starters.

Cheers
Martin

[Huckaback Photo]

One other point i forgot to mention.
do not concern yourself about how fast an apperture the lens is, its black down there so a been bag to support the camera or vary small tripod and a release cable the other thing they were not using flash but some kind of flares i think batteries were a major problem in the caving world.

[rebel61021]

this will be a tour guided cave thing and don't ever plan on doing any real caving. so equipment is not a real issue here plan on keeping mine dry, clean and safe.

[12345Michael54321]

Assuming you're going to be using the lens on a camera with a 1.6x pseudo-crop factor, relative to a full-frame 35mm format camera (a reasonable assumption, given that you're looking at an EF-S lens), the 10-22mm lens, at its widest, is the 35mm equivalent of a 16mm lens. The 17-40mm lens wides out at the equivalent of 28mm.

Huge difference between the view through a 16mm lens and a 28mm lens.

If you want an ultra-wide, get the 10-22mm lens. If you don't care about having an ultra-wide, get the 17-40mm lens.

If you don't know whether you want an ultra-wide, buy nothing until you've given the matter more thought and reached an answer.