amfoto1 wrote in post #12354707
There are a ton of good candidates among UWA zooms for crop cameras.
USA prices:
Sigma 8-16mm f4.5-5.6 HSM - $700 (built-in hood, no filter threads)
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 HSM - $480 (incl. hood)
Canon 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM - $850 (add $30 for OEM hood)
Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 - $500 (incl. hood)
Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 - $660 (incl. hood)
Sigma 12-24mm f4.5-5.6 HSM - $900 (built-in hood, full frame capable)
Tokina 12-24mm f4 - $550 (incl. hood)
I ended up buying the last lens... right combo of build quality and performance for me. I don't need f2.8 on an UWA, I'm usually stopping down anyway, and my cameras can do ISO 3200 for low light shooting. I also like the "L-like" build (more "L-like" than some actual Ls!) and that it shares 77mm filters with other lenses I use. And I wanted a non-variable aperture, since I sometimes use manual studio lighting where a variable aperture can be a pain. 12mm was wide enough for me, too.
The latest (Mark II) version of this lens has improved flare resistance, tho I'm still using the first version and really don't have much trouble with it. I think the Canon 10-22 is a little more flare resistant than even the latest 12-24mm. Part of this might come down to expections... I've been using UW lenses for decades and most give some flare, which you just have to learn to live with if you want such a wide lens. (Heck, there are even softwares/plug-ins to add fake lens flare to images, we're so accustomed to seeing it!)
I also shoot FF, so considered the Sigma 12-24mm... However I ruled it out due to it's variable aperture. Plus it's nearly twice as expensive and compromises quite a bit on image quality... of course it's wider than any other lens short of a fisheye, so pretty unique (the new Sigma 8-16mm is essentially the crop version of this lens).
I have not tried the Tamron 12-24mm or the new Sigma 8-16mm.
I prefer an HSM or USM lens, which the Tokina is not. Generally speaking USM or HSM equipped lenses will be faster focusing, more accurate and quieter. However, this turns out to not be important on UWA. These lenses only need to move their focusing group a small distance to focus, so most are quite quick, and their inherently deeper DOF tends to cover any minor focus errors that might happen. The 12-24mm focuses almost instantly. No problem.
Honestly, you really can't go far wrong with any of these lenses.
There are a ton of good candidates among UWA zooms for crop cameras.
USA prices:
Sigma 8-16mm f4.5-5.6 HSM - $700 (built-in hood, no filter threads)
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 HSM - $480 (incl. hood)
Canon 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM - $850 (add $30 for OEM hood)
Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 - $500 (incl. hood)
Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 - $660 (incl. hood)
Sigma 12-24mm f4.5-5.6 HSM - $900 (built-in hood, full frame capable)
Tokina 12-24mm f4 - $550 (incl. hood)
I ended up buying the last lens... right combo of build quality and performance for me. I don't need f2.8 on an UWA, I'm usually stopping down anyway, and my cameras can do ISO 3200 for low light shooting. I also like the "L-like" build (more "L-like" than some actual Ls!) and that it shares 77mm filters with other lenses I use. And I wanted a non-variable aperture, since I sometimes use manual studio lighting where a variable aperture can be a pain. 12mm was wide enough for me, too.
The latest (Mark II) version of this lens has improved flare resistance, tho I'm still using the first version and really don't have much trouble with it. I think the Canon 10-22 is a little more flare resistant than even the latest 12-24mm. Part of this might come down to expections... I've been using UW lenses for decades and most give some flare, which you just have to learn to live with if you want such a wide lens. (Heck, there are even softwares/plug-ins to add fake lens flare to images, we're so accustomed to seeing it!)
I also shoot FF, so considered the Sigma 12-24mm... However I ruled it out due to it's variable aperture. Plus it's nearly twice as expensive and compromises quite a bit on image quality... of course it's wider than any other lens short of a fisheye, so pretty unique (the new Sigma 8-16mm is essentially the crop version of this lens).
I have not tried the Tamron 12-24mm or the new Sigma 8-16mm.
I prefer an HSM or USM lens, which the Tokina is not. Generally speaking USM or HSM equipped lenses will be faster focusing, more accurate and quieter. However, this turns out to not be important on UWA. These lenses only need to move their focusing group a small distance to focus, so most are quite quick, and their inherently deeper DOF tends to cover any minor focus errors that might happen. The 12-24mm focuses almost instantly. No problem.
Honestly, you really can't go far wrong with any of these lenses.
Too bad Canon does not have a Nikon Nikkor AF-S 14-24 mm f/2.8G E competitor...
That thing, IMO, is the Rolls Royce of UWA lenses.
