Thread: Which ultra wide angle zoom?

I dont own any of them, but everyone who has the new version Tokina seems to love it ( going by the comments on a photography forum I am a member of )

I am interested in getting an ultrawide zoom for indoor natural light panoramas so the F2.8 of the Tokina appeals to me.

From all the reviews I've read, its between the Tokina and the Sigmas - the Tamron doesn't rate as well.

The Tokina is very well regarded, performing almost as well as the Nikon or Canon equivalents, and Tokina seem to have their QA sorted so you are very likely to get a good example. Unfortunately the same can't be said for Sigma; they make some excellent lenses, but variation between samples is all over the place. A friend went through 3 examples of the Sigma 10-20 before getting a decent one.

So, if you're buying from a bricks and mortar retailer who would be prepared to take the lens back if it doesn't perform in the first instance, by all means try Sigma. If you want to buy cheaper from an online outlet, it is likely to be more difficult to exchange a lens which exhibits the decentering or poor edge resolution which many buyers have experienced with Sigma optics.

Have you thought about the Canon 10-22, which by all accounts performs better than any of the above. It can be had for similar money to the other lenses you have listed, e.g.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm USM Zoom Lens - Buy your Canon EF-S 10-22mm USM Zoom Lens from Kogan Australia

I have the Sigma 10-20 (Pentax mount). When I did the research it was between that lens and the Tamron equivalent. I ended up going with the Sigma and bought second hand on eBay for about $360 if memory serves me. These lens don't come up on eBay very often (at least not in a Pentax mount) so they always get a pretty good price if it didn't work out.

I have been happy with the lens and the results I get. See the links below for one example. The first link is the middle shot of a 5 shot HDR (hence the washed out sky). The second one is a HDR generated from the sequence of the first one.

_IGP9515 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
_IGP9513_tonemapped | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The only thing I found was that that images tended to be underexposed by 1/2 to 1 stop but that is the camera not the lens.

John

Thank you all very much for your responses.
I also posed the same question on a photography forum to which I subscribe and they, like you, seem to be recommending the Tokina lens.

Off topic.
I have three Sigma lenses, a 17-70 f2.8, 10mm fisheye and a 30mm f1.4 prime. The zoom and fisheye are brilliant lenses (the 17-70 is my go to lens), however the 30mm prime has forward focussing issues and I need to take it, and my camera body to the distributors in Port Melbourne to get the lens corrected. I bought the lens online and it's covered by the sellers warranty, however, I would have to send it back to Hong Kong. It's easier to pay the $88 and get it fixed locally.

John

I notice that the Tokina is a faster lens

I'm also wondering why you have discounted the Canon 10-22? ($598 in Sydney)

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

John

I notice that the Tokina is a faster lens
Yes, it's certainly a faster lens. However Ultra Wide Angle lenses are generally used in Landscape and Architecture photography and the last I looked mountains and buildings didn't move around that quickly. That's not to say an f2.8 wouldn't be handy, it would/should certainly focus quicker.

I'm also wondering why you have discounted the Canon 10-22? ($598 in Sydney)
I thought the Canon lens would be too expensive, however that price you quote makes it attractive. Unfortunately Cannon don't include a lens hood and that little item sets you back $57 (online). I'd hate to think how much a local retailer would ask. Can you tell me whereabouts in Sydney it's going for $598?

.

John

dd photographics
link

Their shop is in North Sydney (free postage I note)

hmm lens hood $68

I got my 7D from them (plus a couple of lenses quite some time ago)

happy hunting

Something was nagging me about the Canon 10 - 20mm

I eventually worked it out to be that it is not a full frame lens. ie designed for the prosumer Canon bodies eg 20D 1000D etc should be ok with the 7D (as it's also focal length eguilivant 1.6x)

but cannot use on a full frame camera if you were to upgrade to the 5D at some stage (prob couldn't use on the 1D either)

here's a review of the Canon 10-20 mm (also bit of a comparison with the sigma)

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Something was nagging me about the Canon 10 - 20mm

I eventually worked it out to be that it is not a full frame lens. ie designed for the prosumer Canon bodies eg 20D 1000D etc should be ok with the 7D (as it's also focal length eguilivant 1.6x)

but cannot use on a full frame camera if you were to upgrade to the 5D at some stage (prob couldn't use on the 1D either)

here's a review of the Canon 10-20 mm (also bit of a comparison with the sigma)

Thanks for that information Nick. All my lenses are crop frame so that's not an issue.
I did some lens tests today and when I finally get it all together I'll post my results.

I hired a Sigma 8-16 zoom and a Canon 10-24 zoom from Ben's Camera Hire today and took them for a test run.
There has been no post processing at all. The images were converted from RAW to JPEG using using Adobe Camera Raw.
I should have mounted the camera on a tripod and then it would have been easier to compare the photos . The Sigma at 10mm looks to have a bit of distortion, but that could be because I wasn't holding the camera straight.

Sigma 8-16 zoom - 10mm @f5____________________________Canon 10-24 zoom 10mm @f3.5
Sigma [email protected]_______________canon [email protected]

Sigma 8-16 Zoom [email protected]____________________________Canon 10-24 Zoom 17mm@f4
sigma [email protected]_______________canon [email protected]

I've got heaps more photos, but I'm too tired to do any more tonight.

To be continued...........

I would like to thank all those people who offered advice in this thread. I hope I don't end up regretting this but I'm going to go for the 8-16 Sigma. The Canon is a great lens, and the price from the place in Sydney that Nick mentioned was fantastic. I'm letting heart rule over head on this decision as I had a lot of fun with the Sigma at the 8mm end.

Some images from the Sigma.


Sigma 8-16_1.jpg

Sigma 8-16_2.jpg

Sigma 8-16_3.jpg

Sigma 8-16_4.jpg

Sigma 8-16_5.jpg

Sigma 8-16_6.jpg

Sigma 8-16_7.jpg

Sigma 8-16_8.jpg

Sigma 8-16_9.jpg

Happy new lens

Good choice John.
Sigma make good lenses.
I have the 10-20 Sigma 4.5-5.6 and it is truly wondrous, even if a heavy beast.
Cheers
SG