10-22mm EF-S learning curve

OK - I got the Canon 10-22mm EF-S expecting the great results I've seen from other folks.

I haven't had a lot of time to bond with the lens but was beginning to worry because the shots that I did take didn't grab me. They were all flat and lifeless. I was really wishing I had got the 60mm f/2.8 macro.

Driving home I snapped a few shots through the windshield and this jewel pop out of my CF card. Woo Hoo. The lens is capable it just seems that it has a little bit of a learning curve. This was a 22mm f/7.1 shot.

Nice! I miss my 10-22mm

I know what you mean... I got mine just before Christmas and I found it fun but challenging, in a similar way to macro photography when you try it for the first time.

Thing about the 10-22 is you need to think more about your composition than you might with certain other lenses, mainly because it gets so much in the frame. I find it works particularly well for landscape shots if you walk right up to an object of interest before you take the shot, that way you get something in the foreground as well as a nice wide vista.

When shooting architecture keep the lens level (just imagine there's a spirit level in your camera) otherwise you're going to get a lot of leaning vertical lines.

Of course you can use perspective distortion to your own ends to have a bit of fun. I had a lot of fun creating bobble-head animal shots, although don't do that to a human or they're likely to lynch you

The lens performs well stopped down, although I read it begins to soften slightly after f/8 due to diffraction. There's little point using it at a narrower aperture because the lens offers a very deep depth of field naturally (ie most things are in focus).

I'm thinking about buying a CPL when I get the funds as I'd like to make the sky a bit bluer if possible (I live in England and we don't see many blue skies at this time of the year so every little helps).

Yes, using a super wide lens is a bit of learned experience. Love my 10-22mm though I have to plan the shots maybe moreso than any other lens. It does wonders however, to view others wide angle images to see what works and what doesn't. As you probably know there are certain elements needed to make a wide angle image work but it is really fun to use this lens.

good stuff..i'll be picking up one next weekend...too bad i missed out on the 50.00 rebate thing

My biggest problem with this lens is keeping my shadow out of the picture.

Advice: get close.

I found this useful.

http://www.kenrockwell​.com …use-ultra-wide-lenses.htm

The 10-22 is a great lens, I'm going to miss it when I move up to full frame.

Rockwell's site is great. Thanks for the link!

Nic

d_tyme wrote in post #7167590
The 10-22 is a great lens, I'm going to miss it when I move up to full frame.

Not to hijack the thread, as I love my 10-22, too, but for d_tyme, here's a solution idea so you won't miss your 10-22.......two bodies!
FF for shallow DoF, and crop for more inherent reach.
That's my aim, although I'm thinking 1DMkIV when it comes out.

Back to the thread...............a​nd I agree with all Jo said from sunny, flippin' cold York!

you do have to get very close to objects with this lens for it to have a pronounced forground effect.
Ken rockwells guide demonstrates this very well.
I haven't received mine yet but it will be with me next week so will also have a steep learning curve and having to remember to get close !

It's a great lens, but don't over use it! - Foreground interest is usually very important with UWA's and just trying to cram in as much as possible doesn't always work.

I think this must be a first - KR has been mentioned three times and he hasn't been put-down or ridiculed ... yet!

d_tyme wrote in post #7167590
The 10-22 is a great lens, I'm going to miss it when I move up to full frame.

Nope, if you go full frame you won't miss it. It's only if you go APS-H that you'll miss it... the field of view that is. On a full frame, both the 16-35mm f/2.8L and 17-40mm f/4L have similar wideness as the 10-22 on your APS-C camera. Or as others mentioned, you can also keep your APS-C camera. It doesn't have to be either/or when it comes to full frame... it can be both/and.

It makes perfect sense to keep both a crop and FF body, if you have and use long lenses.

The first I thing I learned about the 10-22 is that I needed to get very close or I had no choice but get close. Although framing is very important with any lens, UW has to be the most difficult in that shots just don't happen. You really have to make them happen.

This is one area where a zoom has the advantage, imo. Maybe it's because I tend to shoot images using mid and longer focal lengths.UW is not something I am used to invisioning, easily, yet.

NinetyEight wrote in post #7168927
It's a great lens, but don't over use it! - Foreground interest is usually very important with UWA's and just trying to cram in as much as possible doesn't always work.

I think this must be a first - KR has been mentioned three times and he hasn't been put-down or ridiculed ... yet!

Well, that Ken Rockwell page is useful. Some of the others, not so much...