Author Topic: Best wide angle lens out there? (Read 8556 times)

Whiz · « **on:** June 30, 2008, 17:11 »

Recently, I decided to purchase the Canon 20mm f/2.8 wide angle lens. But I've noticed that it's extremely soft towards the edges of the picture. I've read that using f/11 fixes this, but I'm a bit uneasy. I'm using the Canon Xsi with it. Basically, are all wide angle lenses soft towards the edges? Or is this lens just a piece of junk? It received mixed reviews on Amazon, but most people seem to think it's pretty good. Thanks.

Here's an example:

sharply_done · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2008, 20:39 »

Looks pretty crappy to me - there's a ton of CA/fringing happening.

cdwheatley · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2008, 22:18 »

Agree with sharply, thats some scary looking fringing!!! I'm not sure if Canon makes a good wide angle lens? I think they vary from copy to copy, so its a good idea if you can give a test run before you buy it. I have a 16-35 II that I bought a while ago and I don't care for it much either. Corners are soft and lots of barrel distortion. I have heard a few good stories about the 16-35L I and the 17-40L if you get a good copy. Also, would look at the 14mm if I was going to get another. None of those lenses are cheap and it kinda sucks if you spend all that money just to be disappointed.

I would try to send it back, clearly something wrong with that copy.

Joyce · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2008, 01:44 »

That doesn't look right at all.

I chose the 10-22mm EF-S lens as my wide angle and it's astounding in quality -- including the edges. Not an L lens, so I'd question yours there.

graficallyminded · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2008, 06:45 »

Yea, I've heard the 10-22mm is excellent. Near L quality. I also ready great things about the 17-55 IS.

I opted for the 18-55 IS, and am happy with it - it's a lot of lens for the money ($150 shipped from someone that got it kitted with their Xsi and didn't want it)

basti · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2008, 00:54 »

Sorry guys but the best super-wide zoom ever is Zuiko Digital 7-14 and for FF/APS-C is absolute killer Sigma 12-24. Canon itself doesnt produce any good super-wide zoom for FF and EF-S 10-22 for APS-C is good but definitely overpriced compared to very good Sigma 10-20 or Tokina 12-24.

ZD 7-14 is the best also because of 4/3 third format - extremely low distortion for such lens and stunning optical quality. The problem is that its nearly impossible to built such lens for FF, Zuikos are very telecentric and because of smaller sensor have also some huge technical advantages on the side of lens construction.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2008, 02:44 »

I have the tokina 12-24 and also shot with the Canon EFS 10-22 and made a comparison.
Purple fringe can be really bad on the Tokina. As far as I remember at the 20 mm end the canon was better and at the 12 mm end the tokina was better regarding sharpness, or maybe it was the other way arround. However for me they seemed to be almost similar in image quality.
But I was also a bit disappointed. The Tokina got very good reviews to be pretty sharp. But actually it was not that sharp. I also have a 24-70 L lens which is at the 24 end much sharper than the Tokina at 24.
The Tokina has by the way the highest rating on fredmiranda between the sigma 12-24 and Canon 10-22.
I have not seen a very sharp wide angle lens yet.
But as already mentioned the 14mm 2.8L II lens should be according to reviews fantastic. The older version though has not such a good rating.

tan510jomast · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2008, 11:49 »

Quote from: basti on July 26, 2008, 00:54

Sorry guys but the best super-wide zoom ever is Zuiko Digital 7-14
ZD 7-14 is the best also because of 4/3 third format - extremely low distortion for such lens and stunning optical quality. The problem is that its nearly impossible to built such lens for FF, Zuikos are very telecentric and because of smaller sensor have also some huge technical advantages on the side of lens construction.

basti, this zoom is for the non-digital cameras eg. OM, right?
can you use it for the digital SLR ...eg. E series?

freezingpictures, are fringes different in colour depending on lighting situations? eg. most times i have no fringe problem, but a handful of images, i get a slight red, or cyan.
when i was shooting in the desert, it used to be blue fringes that drove me nuts.
i wonder if anyone can tell me if fringes and their specific colouration
is due to a certain f stop or focal length.
this way, i can avoid them, or minimize them.

i correct them from within RAW, but some times, it's nice not to have to post process at all.

any optics experts here to help?

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2008, 12:36 »

I am not an optic expert, but here is one

http://www.pictureline.com/newsletter/2004/july/purplefringe.html
There are also some tips to avoid it.
As mentioned in the article it happens most often in areas of high contrast. But actually I never had a lens on my camera a longer time where I not experienced it even with my L-lens. Only on a 135L I do not remember it to have it seen. But I had this fantastic lens just one day.
As in the article mentioned it seems the wider the lens the more it happens.
The Tokina is just very extreme with purple fringe.

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2008, 14:07 »

Psst. Do not tell anybody. Nikon 20/3.5 Ai with adapter on Canon. Using it on 5D:). close focus - nice.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2008, 14:39 »

Tokina recently released an 11-16mm f/2.8 I've been checking out. It's been getting excellent reviews. Here's a Photozone review using the Canon version.

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/379-tokina_1116_28_canon

Whiz · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2008, 14:49 »

Thanks for the replies. I ended up selling the Canon 20mm f/2.8 wide angle lens on eBay (couldn't return it). I bought the Canon 17-40mm F/4L instead. It's much better.

basti · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2008, 12:35 »

17-40/4L on APS-C pretty sucks because of stupid range - too long for realy wide pics and too short to continue with common 70-200 tele. But on FF its great lens with very reasonable price.

Zuiko 7-14 is top profi lens for E-series DSLRs. It costs alot but both mechanical and optical quality have no direct competitor. In case you dont have extra $2.000 better do not touch it, once you try it its a MUST HAVE

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Author Topic: Best wide angle lens out there? (Read 8556 times)

Whiz

sharply_done

cdwheatley

Joyce

graficallyminded

basti

Freezingpictures

tan510jomast

Freezingpictures

Read_My_Rights

PaulieWalnuts

Whiz

basti

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