Wide Angle on XTi...

I have been looking through alot of my pictures and considering past challenges I've had while I've been out...I'm looking to invest in a wide angle to wide angle/semi short telephoto lens...on a crop body what are some suggestions? I like to shoot mostly landscape. Thanks in advance.

gina

And here I was thinking I was the only one left using the XTi!!! Looking forward to the responses as well.

haha...well if its not broke, don't fix it

Hi Gina,

This is asked and answered several times a day and really hasn't changed recently. Lenses used on any of the APS-C crop cameras (currently T3i, T2i, 7D and 60D) will behave pretty much the exact same way on your XTi. Your camera can be used with any EF or EF-S mount lens.

First decide if you want wider than what you've got now, or if you are wanting to upgrade the focal lengths you have now in some ways.

Your 18-55 is a moderate wide to moderate tele lens. The "premium" upgrade for that is the Canon 17-55/2.8 IS. A slightly wider and longer and popular option is the Canon 15-85, which is kept reasonably compact by not being a fast f2.8 lens. Both of these have USM and IS. These sell for $750-1000. A popular "budget" lens that has good image quality is the Tamron 17-50/2.8 non-VC, about $400 or so, though it's autofocus isn't terribly quick. There are several other, similar "standard" zooms at various price points. They would essentially be a replacement for your 18-55mm. Don't expect a whole lot of improvement in image quality... rather they will have other premium features that might make them a worthwhile upgrade choice.

A true wide angle or "ultra" wide angle would expand upon what you have now and include 15mm and wider focal lengths. A lot of landscape photographers enjoy using expansive lenses such as these:

Canon 10-22
Tokina 12-24/4
Tokina 11-16/2.8
Sigma 8-16
Sigma 10-20/3.5
Sigma 10-20/3.5-5.6
Sigma 12-24 (pricey, it's a full frame capable lens)
Tamron 10-24

These are not fisheye lenses (there are a bunch of those avail. too, but they have strong distortion effects). The above range in price from a little under $500 (one of the Sigma 10-20 and the Tamron) to over $1000 (Canon 10-22).

You can find tons of discussion about each of theses here on POTN. There is also the the Lens Sample archive sub-forum attached to this one, where each post is dedicated to people sharing images made with any particular lens. Search it for any you are considering.

Long story short... I compared a few of the above and bought the Tokina 12-24/4 a few years ago... still happy with and using it. I consider it about the best value/quality combo. The overall best image quality I think is the Canon, but it's a lot more expensive and the Tokina seems quite a bit better built.

Gina, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get a wide angle lens for the "aps" sensor. Remember, a 10 mm lens will shoot like a 17mm. A 17mm/18mm will shoot like a 27/28mm. I've found that stitching images together is a very viable way to get some truly "wide" shot ( without excessive barrel distortion). Canon's Photostitch works reasonably well, but "Hugin" (Free) is absolutely fantastic. I've had really good luck with a Tamrom 18-200mm, hand held, and stitched with "Hugin". rbro

We could narrow down the options if you tell us what you don't like about your 18-55.

Obvious things that I could think of that would possibly be an issue (for any lens):

Too slow (aperture wise), I'm guessing this is not a big issue for landscapes
Too short/Not wide enough
Rotating front element
Moving front element when you zoom
IQ (too soft, too much CA)
Flares too easily
No weathersealing
AF too slow
Too light - OK j/k on that one, but chances are that an 'upgrade' will also be a lot heavier.
Not the right color? OK, could be taken the wrong way, but some people here are just fascinated with white lenses or ones with a red ring on them.

Apart from the last two though, what do you specifically want from a new lens?

Thank you all for the replies. I have been searching on PTON for several months trying to figure out what the “right” lens will be for me, as I'm also looking for a decent walk around lens. Anyway....

Ejenner, my "issue" with the kit lens are basically all of the above in some capacity. I'm looking for a wider angle lens that can, for arguments sake, be left on my camera body more often than not. Its been suggested to look into the EF-S 15-85, although still slower, a considerable upgrade from the kit lens. I am considering the Canon 10-22, given the crop factor the 17mm on the wind end may do the trick.

I am live near a very reputable camera shop and might just head down there with my camera body and though a few different lens on and get a more "hands on" experience with them and then go from there.

Thanks again for the replies.

gina

Some of the Sigma lenses might deserve a look. I bought the 17-50mm/2.8 back in October and I'm quite pleased with its performance on a 60D.

18-50mm F2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM
17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM

gbratt79 wrote in post #13759262
Thank you all for the replies. I have been searching on PTON for several months trying to figure out what the “right” lens will be for me, as I'm also looking for a decent walk around lens. Anyway....

Ejenner, my "issue" with the kit lens are basically all of the above in some capacity. I'm looking for a wider angle lens that can, for arguments sake, be left on my camera body more often than not. Its been suggested to look into the EF-S 15-85, although still slower, a considerable upgrade from the kit lens. I am considering the Canon 10-22, given the crop factor the 17mm on the wind end may do the trick.

I am live near a very reputable camera shop and might just head down there with my camera body and though a few different lens on and get a more "hands on" experience with them and then go from there.

Thanks again for the replies.

gina

Best walk around (or replacement for the 18-55 kit) for crop is the EF-S 17-55 f2.8. Best ultra wide is EF-S 10-22. They aren't your cheapest options, but they are high quality lenses which will do what you say you want to do. I've been quite happy with both on my T1i.

i have a 17-55 glued to a 40d, and a 10-22 for wider that makes a good pair in a 3 lens setup with wider being possibly 70-200 or whatever you need for tele

btw i have an xti too and still use it for many shots

I owe a thanks to everyone for these responses as well. This is a question that I have wanted to ask for several weeks and haven't.

THANKS AGAIN!!!

John from PA wrote in post #13759470
Some of the Sigma lenses might deserve a look. I bought the 17-50mm/2.8 back in October and I'm quite pleased with its performance on a 60D.

18-50mm F2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM
17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM

Ditto the above. I bought the 17-70mm and am very pleased with it on my 50D. Great performance, the focal range is very versatile and the 1:2.7 macro and very close MFD are an added "bonus". I'm not normally a fan of variable aperture lenses, but f/4 on the long end is completely acceptable to me.

For those who are willing to pay the price to stick with Canon, the EF-S 10-22 really is a great lens to have and use -- it's fun, and can let you get that shot that otherwise you could not get!

I'd go with the 10-22 or 15-85. For landscape work, many regard the 10-22 as well or better than the 16-35 f/2.8

My Sigma 10-20 wide angle is one of my favorite lenses to use. I probably get the most use out of that one when I'm traveling since it lets me fit a lot into the frame from the street as I'm vising different cities.

My XTi is still kicking as well!
(although the upgrade bug is getting harder to fight off lately)