NEED HELP? 20MM f 2.8 or 15MM f 2.8

[Poster Of U]

Ladies and Gents,

I need a wide angle lens and I don't know what to do. I want a lens to take photos of interiors and sports mainly. I also whould like to try some of the special effects with the lens. I have a standard lens 28 to 80 f 3.5 to 5.6 and at 35MM it has an angle of 60.

So the question is do I get the Canon 15MM fisheye with the 180 degree angle and defish the pictures I want straight lines $579.95. Or is the Canon 20MM with the 94 angle going to be enough $419.95. Or maybe the Tokina 17MM f3.5 103 degree Aspherical $389.95.

If you have pictures with either of thse lens I would love to see them and if you can recommed another lens under $600 I would be ever so greatful. Also if I go with the fisheye can you recommend a defishing program.

Thank you for all of your help.

[roanjohn]

Check for posts under Drisley.......he owns the Tokina 17 f3.5 and he raves about this lens. He also has some beautifully sharp contrasty photos from this lens.

I've used the Canon 15 f2.8 and found it to be too much of a novelty. IT will give you a wider view than the 17 and 20 so unless you don't mind defishing all you images, then this is the lens for you. BTW, this lens is SHARP!!! With beautiful contrast.

The Canon 20 f2.8 is not very well regarded due to some vigenetting wide open. And with the 10D, its not necessarily considered very wide.

If you want more versatility, for a few more dollars from your 600 budget, you can get the 17-40 f4L.........one of my favorites :-)

Ro1

[Tom W]

The 20/2.8 won't vignette on the smaller sensor - but Ro1 is right - 20 is not real wide on the 1.6X. Roughly the equivalent of a 32 mm lens in 35 mm camera terms. Still a very useful focal length, but not real wide. It appears to have a similar build quality to the 85 f/1.8 which is quite good.

The 17-40 is an excellent choice as well.

As for the fisheye, I love mine. I haven't had it for a long time, but I find it to be very sharp and I enjoy the fisheye view. I'm using a 1.3X sensor, so I don't get the full corner-to-corner effect of full-frame, but I do get a good amount of the fisheye barrel distortion. Its easily corrected with PT-Lens, but I generally use it in situations where I don't want correction.

[Poster Of U]

Well I need to order the lens by Wednsday in order to get it for the weekend, right now I am leaning towards the Fisheye if not the Tokina. If I do go with the fisheye can anyone recommend a Defishing program. If anyone has anymore imput it is more than welcome. Oh guys thanks for the suggestion of the 17-40 but I don't think it is going to wide enough, I do have the 50 1.4, so I need something much wider than that.

[drisley]

All of the pictures in this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=67153) were taken with the Tokina 17mm ATX Pro.
This lens has great contrast, good sharpness, excellent distortion and flare control.
It's also built like lenses from the past... all aluminum barrels with chrome plated brass mount, and the smoothest manual focus ring you will find.
Here are a few more:

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/04092005/IMG_7069.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/04092005/IMG_7164.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/04092005/IMG_7180.jpg

BTW, thanks for the nice comment RJ. ;)

[Poster Of U]

Well I just bought the Tokina, It will be here in a couple of days thanks for the imput and I will post some samples and give you guys my review.
Tanks again!!!!!!!!!

[Tom W]

Well I just bought the Tokina, It will be here in a couple of days thanks for the imput and I will post some samples and give you guys my review.
Tanks again!!!!!!!!!

I'm looking forward to seeing what that Tokina does - I'm a little-bit interested. Need something between the 24 and the 15-fisheye. Wish it were faster though.