Wide Angle Opinion and More...

I really can't decide whether or not to suck it up and buy a used Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM or save on a new Tokina AT-X 124 PRO DX II AF 12-24mm f/4? Also, is it worth it to spend >$100 for a thin cpl for a wide angle? Lastly, my warranty is about to expire on both my 30D and EF 50mm f/1.4 USM... Should I send them in to have them calibrated? I think I have a slight focus problem, but I can't be too sure. I figure I might as well send them in, what have I got to lose? (I would just buy the used 10-22mm but I'm also in the market for a quality tripod for hiking and I have to distribute my budget.)

I'm new to the forums, so, HI! Thanks for any help I may recieve.

Hi Traumuh, and welcome to the forum. The 10-22 is an excellent lens. I'm not sure how the Tokina compares, but the first version got good reviews, so I expect it's good. The main difference is the widest angle that the two lenses can give. The Canon is significantly wider.

As for calibration, unless you're sure there's a problem I don't think it would be worth the hassle of sending them in. That's your choice though - as you say, you've nothing to lose apart from being without your camera for a few days.

On the thin polariser for a wideangle, again my suggestion would be not to bother. At wide angles you can get some pretty uneven effects because the angle of the surface/sky to the direction of the light dictates the effect of a polariser. With a wideangle lens those angles can change significantly across the image. If you do want to use a polariser, a thin one is only required at the very widest setting of the zoom.

Hope these pointers are helpful.

Thanks Madweasel. What could I expect to pay for a used 10-22 in excellent condition?

Sorry, I can't really answer that from UK where prices are much higher than US.

How about a Tokina 11-16/2.8?

I liked it when I used it in-store, but a little more reach would be nice because the 50mm f/1.4 is the only lens I own.

I love, love, love my 10-22mm.
At a recent 5 day 2,000 picture roadtrip, I had my 10-22mm on 99% of the time.
Landscape, portraits, indoor shots, it didn't matter... It did it all for me...
I only used my 100mm macro (a beauty of a lens) for some macro shots...

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Any word on used pricing?

Are you aware that there is a "SELL" section in this forum?
Do a search on 10-22mm and find out.

$575-625

Just bought mine for $580