Best wide angle on a crop?

RobDickinson wrote in post #15151084
Sigma 12-24mkII.

But I wouldnt.

Just buy the 10-22 and sell it late if you change.

i was speaking of UW. 12mm X 1.6 =19.2mm. the standard today on the wide end is 16mm. for me the 12-24 isn't an optimal range for either format.

First of all, it depends upon how you define "best".

Current models you can choose among:

Canon EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5
Tokina 12-24/4 II
Tokina 11-16/2.8 II
Sigma 10-20/4-5.6
Sigma 10-20/3.5
Sigma 8-16/4.5-5.6
Sigma 12-24/4.5-5.6 II (a full frame lens)
Tamron 10-24/3.4-4.5

I believe all the above are within your price range.

Didn't include various fisheye lenses and a couple wide primes (that aren't very wide on a crop camera).

This question is asked and answered about once a day, so rather than repeat the pros and cons of each of these lenses, please do a search. You also can search for any specific lens in the Lens Sample Photo Archive subforumthat's attached to this one, to see some examples how it performs and users comments.

In the Canon mount there's very little difference between the Tokina first versions and the "II" versions currently selling. The biggest change they made was the Nikon version, adding a focus motor to the lens (AF-S type now). Supposedly they improved some coatings on the Canon version, but they already were making Pentax versions that supposedly used better coatings (perhaps to justify the much higher prices for them). Likely they just consolidated manufacturing and are now using the same optics and coating processes in all of them, if there ever was much difference to begin with.

Personally I use the Tokina 12-24... It's plenty wide for my needs and hit all the right combo of sweet spots for me: build quality, image quality, non-variable aperture, and price. I tested the Canon, an earlier version of the Sigma 10-20 (variable aperture), Toki 11-16, Tamron 10-24 before buying the 12-24. And, just as an aside, it so happens it works on a full frame camera up to about 18 or 19mm wide before it starts to vignette significantly (but it has more distortions than the EF 20/2.8 I usually use as my widest lens on FF).

I vote for the Tokina 11-16.

I am selling version I of lens right now only due to FF upgrade and am very sad to see it go. When making the purchasing decision I was really torn between the Canon and the Tokina, but ultimately my decision came down to the faster and constant aperture, because I take a lot of video with my 60d. I also like to use flare as an artistic tool during my videos, so this was not a big concern for me.

Canon 10-22 Advantages:
-Bigger zoom range
-Less prone to flare (compared with Tokina version I)
-No fringing

Tokina 11-16 Advantages:
-Faster
-Constant aperture
-Slightly sharper (negligible difference)
-Superior build quality
-Cheaper

Kylemorgan88 wrote in post #15151772
I vote for the Tokina 11-16.

I am selling version I of lens right now only due to FF upgrade and am very sad to see it go. When making the purchasing decision I was really torn between the Canon and the Tokina, but ultimately my decision came down to the faster and constant aperture, because I take a lot of video with my 60d. I also like to use flare as an artistic tool during my videos, so this was not a big concern for me.

Canon 10-22 Advantages:
-Bigger zoom range
-Less prone to flare (compared with Tokina version I)
-No fringing

Tokina 11-16 Advantages:
-Faster
-Constant aperture
-Slightly sharper (negligible difference)
-Superior build quality
-Cheaper

I've used both....these belong on the Canon side as far as advantages go.

Another vote for the Canon EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5

sigma 10-20 is razor sharp....very happy with it......17-40 had too bad copies...canon quality control sucks and 3 bad 50mm 1.8 all from adorama who is great to work with......

SinaiTSi wrote in post #15152243
I've used both....these belong on the Canon side as far as advantages go.

The Canon is made of lightweight plastic and the Tokina is made from metal covered in polycarbonate.

Your Canon copy may very well have been sharper than your Tokina copy, but testing sites usually give the nod to the Tokina by a small margin in the sharpness category.

RobDickinson wrote in post #15151118
Tokina is supposed to be doing a 11-16 mkII with better coatings and flare control

It would be an amazing accomplishment if they'd managed to make it worse!