Multi-purpose wide angle lens?

I have an older Canon Rebel XS camera that works just fine for me. I also have the kit EFS 18-55 1:3.5-5.6, 75-300 1:4-5.6 USM, and EF 50 1:1.8. We are going on a holiday to Italy in the spring and I want to get a wide angle lens to get the most into my pictures. I also would like the lens to work for my growing interest in taking pictures of the night sky, stars, meteors etc. but I have a budget of about 400 CAD. Is there anything available that would satisfy both wants? I start searching lens reviews and the Canon website and I get confused with crop, full frame, prime, L, and all the rest of the jargon. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jack.

For general purpose wide angle I would definitely recommend the EF-S 10-18. It is a very sharp lens and one of the best bang for the buck lenses you can get. The only issue might be that it would be a little slow for night sky shots, but for everything else it is great.

You can usually find it for around $200 U.S. used.

Agreed. Bang for your buck is the 10-18. I had one, my only complaint is that it is slow (aperture). Optically it is just fine.

For a crop camera, which you have in the Canon Rebel XS, you can't go wrong with the Canon 10-18mm lens. It is a lightweight, inexpensive, tack-sharp ultrawide lens. Add this into your kit, and you will have all the coverage you will need for your trip to Italy.

you can also check out the Tokina 11-16/2.8. Great wide angle lens.

Thanks to you all for your input. What would be your opinion of the Canon EF-S 24mm f2.8? It would be a wide angle lens and is fairly fast for night shots.

Roofjac wrote in post #18540681
Thanks to you all for your input. What would be your opinion of the Canon EF-S 24mm f2.8? It would be a wide angle lens and is fairly fast for night shots.

You wouldn't want the 24mm as far as field of view. It is already covered by your 18-55mm. Yes, it may be faster, but you may be able to overcome that by appropriate bracing of the camera or a small monopod (see below) at night. Even thought the XS is an older camera, I would think you could get reasonable results at ISO 800 to 1200.

I posted this elsewhere, but I'll do it again:

No i dont think it will be wide enough to capture landscape or monuments. Get 10-18mm from canon. It will suffice your needs.

OK. Thanks, I will check out pricing on the 10-18mm. Thanks agian to all for your help.

If you want a wide angle that is also great for night shooting I'd suggest the tokina 11-16mm f2.8.

The canon 10-18mm is a nice lens but it's an f4.5-5.6 lens. So it's 1 1/3 to 2 stops slower then the tokina 11-16. For general landscape shooting during the day that's not a big deal as you're going to stop down the lens anyways. However for night shooting you want as much light as you can get. So those extra stops are a huge plus.

peeaanuut wrote in post #18540660
you can also check out the Tokina 11-16/2.8. Great wide angle lens.

gremlin75 wrote in post #18540808
If you want a wide angle that is also great for night shooting I'd suggest the tokina 11-16mm f2.8.

The canon 10-18mm is a nice lens but it's an f4.5-5.6 lens. So it's 1 1/3 to 2 stops slower then the tokina 11-16. For general landscape shooting during the day that's not a big deal as you're going to stop down the lens anyways. However for night shooting you want as much light as you can get. So those extra stops are a huge plus.

The Tokina 11-20mm is an update/upgrade from the 11-16mm lens. It also reviews better. I've never used the 11-16, but I can tell you the 11-20 is excellent. And it has a more useful zoom range. As expected, it also costs more.

I have the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 and it is a great lens on a crop camera both for general landscapes and for astrophotography. The ability to shoot at f/2.8 if needed sets this lens apart from the Canon 10-18mm, and you won't miss the slightly narrower FL range.

-Joe

Roofjac wrote in post #18540709
OK. Thanks, I will check out pricing on the 10-18mm. Thanks agian to all for your help.

If you have the time to wait, probably about two weeks, eBay Canada shows the 10-18 for about CAN$303 at https://www.ebay.ca …ksid=p2047675.c​100623.m-1.

Check the warranty conditions. Usually, here in the States, these things direct from Hong Kong do not have a warranty that is valid in the US. Having said that, in 50 years of photography I've never had a warranty issue with any lens.

forget the 10-18IS it's too slow for night stuff...grab the 11-16f2.8...and older used one should fall in your price range

Hi all. The Tonika 11-20mm f2.8 sounds like the perfect lens but is about $300-$400 above my budget. I will keep looking for something used but not seeing much right now. Thanks again for your insight and ideas.