What wide angle for crop frame?

Looking at a ef 17-40mm f/4L for use on my 60d and 7d. Any thoughts.? Is there something out there that works better on a crop frame? In same price range.

I use my 15-85 as my wide angle lens. It isn't ultra wide but it's been wide enough for what I like to shoot. If you are happy with 17mm, you could always go with the Canon 17-55 f/2.8. This is assuming you'd rather stick with Canon lenses instead of third party lenses. Some people prefer the f/2.8 over the increased range of the 15-85.

If you want an ultra wide, the two Canon lenses for crop cameras are the 10-22 and the new 10-18 STM. The latter is very cost effective. I have never used either of them but I'm sure people who have will chime in.

BTW, all the above listed lenses are EF-S lenses and are designed for crop cameras. The 17-40 can be used on full frame cameras as well.

Does it have to be an L lens? I have the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS gives you another stop of aperture, IS and more reach. Many, including myself, consider it L quality but without weather sealing and full-frame coverage. It is my favorite lens on my 70D.

Want wider? The EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5 is another great lens, and with minor modification will work on full-frame from 17-22mm. But not as general purpose as the 17-55.

BMurphy wrote in post #17513217
Looking at a ef 17-40mm f/4L for use on my 60d and 7d. Any thoughts.? Is there something out there that works better on a crop frame? In same price range.

Heya,

17mm is the only "wide" focal length on APS-C when using that 17-40. 40mm becomes straight telephoto on APS-C.

I would suggest you look at 10-22, 10-18, etc. Those are wide angles on APS-C.

Very best,

there are quite a few better options than the 17-40L for a crop camera

if you're fine with the smaller range, the 18-35 f1.8 would be better
if you want more range, and speed, there are all the 17-5X f2.8 stabilized lenses...

and if you don't care about the variable aperture, there are the 15-85IS(f4 up to 26mm), and 18-135STM(f4 up to 35mm)...you're losing a little speed in comparison to the range of the 17-40L, but you gain so much more range for that 1/3 of a stop over 14mm, or 5mm

then there's the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 Contemporary

if you want wider, there's all the UWA's as well


lot's of better options to choose from...the 17-40L is the last lens i'd suggest to someone that's only on a crop

Wide angle and 17-40 on crop frame are two completely different lenses. I used the 10-22 for a few years. It is very good.

The 17-40 F4 on crop gives you the view of 27-64 on full frame, with a constant F4. This certainly provides wide angle at the shorter end of the focal lengths, and the lens is sharp. It is very similar to the sort of lens people used on film as an all-purpose lens, the 28-70.
The lens has good AF, and is sharp across the frame on a crop body. Contrast is excellent, and the lens has good flare resistance. f you plan to go full-frame down the road, it will be an ultrawide in that format.

What wide angle for crop frame? Back in the days of film SLRs....

• 40mm was a 'pancake normal'
  
• 35mm was 'moderate wide'...22mm on APS-C
  
• 28mm was 'wide'...18mm on APS-C
  
• 24mm was 'very wide'...15mm on APS-C
  
• <22mm was 'ultrawide'...<14mm on APS-C
  

• and 30-40mm (19-24mm on APS-C) becomes a non-concept that nobody seems to bother with
  
• and what was 'very wide' 24-28mm (15-18mm on APS-C) becomes 'wide'
  
• and what was 'almost stupid wide' <20mm (<13mm on APS-C) becomes 'ultrawide'
  

10-22. Affordable and really nice.

What lenses do you have now that are not wide enough?

17-40mm is a good entry L zoom, and works well on crop and ff.

For a cropper, or otherwise I'd take the new 16-35mm f/4L IS over the 17-40mm

Depnding on how wide you really want, for just a cropper, at this point I'd go 10-22mm or the new 10-18 IS

BMurphy wrote in post #17513217
Is there something out there that works better on a crop frame? In same price range.

Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 or Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS.

when i was using my 7d for my primary camera, I used the 10-22 by canon
it was really quite versatile and I loved the perspective
when i moved to FF i got the "equivalent"
16-35 IS f4.
I have never put the 16-35 on my 7d.... but I would expect...as Wilt above mentioned.... that if you want "stupid" wide... the 10-22 is the way to go.... I like "stupid" wide!!
(*notice that equivalent is not equal...and with a couple caveats)
(*notice that the "stupidest" wide of the 11-24 is too expensive for me...so I cannot compare)



(*last notice....most of this is serious with a dab of tongue in cheek)

I remember trying to decide this question when wanting to upgrade my 18-55 kit. In all honesty, it was the "L" that had me even considering the lens, but then I read threads like this and realized if I'm shooting crop I could get a Tamron 17-50 2.8 nonVC for less money, have even more range, very sharp (it would be stopped down to be f4), smaller and lighter. Even the Canon 17-55 would be a better choice.
Not to mention, 17mm on a crop isn't really wide.

The Sigma 18-35 f1.8 is brilliant although not as wide.

I wholeheartedly agree with DreDaze, the 17-40 would be the last option I suggest for someone shooting only crop.

as others suggest: on APS-C bodies, ef-s 10-22 is the equivalent of 16-35 on full-frame.

if you don't need the full 16-35 equiv., the ef-s 10-18 is said to be a nice lens and cheaper (haven't used it personally).

crop bodies and UWA's are not the best mix - as the crop-factor reduces their visual impact.