Good wide lens for 7D? at DVinfo.net

Joachim Ljungquist · December 1st, 2009, 04:12 AM

Hi guys,

I've got a 7D and will mainly use it for filming. At the present I have a Sigma 18-50 mm f2.8 and the kit lens Canon 18-135 mm. I also have the cheap Canon 50 mm f1.8 (which is my favorite lens).

So... I realize that I would prefer non-zoom lenses, and will probably buy a Zeiss 50 mm f1.4. But I also need a more zoomed lens - which might be the Samyang MF 85/1,4.

BUT... i also need a good wide angle lens with minimal distortion. What are your recommendations?

Martin Chab · December 1st, 2009, 05:24 AM

if you can get an used leica 19mm it is the more rectilinear wide angle lens i´ve ever seen, with a fantastic sharpness and color rendition. The new price is very high but you should be able to find an used one in good shape for a fair price.

Ted Ramasola · December 1st, 2009, 07:03 AM

Joachim

Tokina 11-16mm contant f2.8. Used it, and its bright and minimal distortion and CA.

Ted

Paul Cascio · December 1st, 2009, 07:08 AM

I love my Sigma 10-20mm. Real sharp.

Ted Ramasola · December 1st, 2009, 07:14 AM

Paul,

I also have that but its not as fast as the tokina. If my memory serves me right, too lazy to check, its 3.5 -5.6 ?

after the 11-16mm if i need a closer fov, i use the 20-40mm sigma which is also constant 2.8 then a 50mm.

Ted

Chris Hurd · December 1st, 2009, 09:18 AM

Don't overlook the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Basically it's a 16-35mm with the EF-S mount.

Jay Houser · December 1st, 2009, 12:41 PM

The Tokina 11-16mm is the only constant aperture wide angle zoom I know of. It is also the only EF-S lens I cared to buy. For normal and telephoto applications, fast primes are the way to go for video if you want the maximum in low light/bokeh.

Mike Andrade · December 1st, 2009, 06:37 PM

I was looking for a good zoom to compliment my set of primes. I was comparing the Tokina 16-50 2.8 and the Tamron 17-50 2.8. After a lot of research and reading reviews online I went with the Tamron. It is reported to have less CA than the Tokina and a bit sharper. I never did a side by side but I shot some tests today and I'm really happy with the results. Sharp clean images. If you can live with an EF-S lens its a great deal.

Mike Calla · December 1st, 2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Don't overlook the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Basically it's a 16-35mm with the EF-S mount.

Chris sorry, if this is stupid question. I get confused with all the different lens/lens mounts/crop factors/sensor sizes and their 35mm equivalents.

Did you mean to say,
Don't overlook the Canon EF-S "16-35mm" f/3.5-4.5 USM. Basically it's a "10-22mm" EF...?

Alvise Tedesco · December 1st, 2009, 07:43 PM

Don't look anything different than the Tokina 11-16 (if you need that fof).
It has also been converted to cinema lens with PL mount for a reason.

BTW I like my samyang 85f1.4 a lot (for video. for stills probably you'll see it isn't the Zeiss nor the Nikkor)

Ted Ramasola · December 2nd, 2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Calla

Chris sorry, if this is stupid question. I get confused with all the different lens/lens mounts/crop factors/sensor sizes and their 35mm equivalents.

Did you mean to say,
Don't overlook the Canon EF-S "16-35mm" f/3.5-4.5 USM. Basically it's a "10-22mm" EF...?

He meant that with the 1.6x crop factor the 10-22 becomes essentially 16-35. just as a 50mm due to crop factor in the 7D's sensor essentially looks like an 80mm fov.

Bruce Buttery · December 2nd, 2009, 01:08 AM

Tokina 11-16mm built like a tank, really sharp, ordered mine from japan, came really fast from ogt-clan.com

Joachim Ljungquist · December 2nd, 2009, 01:49 AM

Thanks a lot, guys! There are quite some interesting lenses there! Especially the Tokina... Is this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._AT_X_116.html

BUT, I'm a bit surprised that most of you are recommending zoom wide angle lenses. I was under the assumption that fixed lenses would be preferred for filming... Am I wrong?

Dan Chung · December 2nd, 2009, 05:40 AM

Joachim,

I was probably the first person to buy and recommend the Tokina 11-16mm for 7D use and I stand by that. The Canon 10-22 is very nice but as others here have pointed out it is not f2.8. Also the Tokina has a much better manual focus ring than the Canon which makes life a lot easier if you want to run and gun.

At the wide end there are really few fixed focal length lenses that are not fisheyes, the only corrected choices are really 14mm f2.8's from Canon, Nikon, Sigma and soon I believe Samyang.

Fixed lenses usually perform better optically than their zoom counterparts but recent advances in wide angle lens design have seen lenses like the Nikon 14-24 f2.8 and this Tokina being able to hold their own against all but the very best fixed lenses.

Dan

Joachim Ljungquist · December 2nd, 2009, 09:00 AM

Okay... Seems like it would be a zoom wide angle lens then.
I was talking to my camera supplier today - and they checked with the importing agency for Tokina in Sweden. Looks like Tokina are having trouble delivering...

At the moment they are talking about delivering at spring time. Even at B&S:s website there are no Tokina 11-16 mm in stock.

Bummer!

December 1st, 2009, 04:12 AM	#1
Joachim Ljungquist Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 84	Good wide lens for 7D? Hi guys, I've got a 7D and will mainly use it for filming. At the present I have a Sigma 18-50 mm f2.8 and the kit lens Canon 18-135 mm. I also have the cheap Canon 50 mm f1.8 (which is my favorite lens). So... I realize that I would prefer non-zoom lenses, and will probably buy a Zeiss 50 mm f1.4. But I also need a more zoomed lens - which might be the Samyang MF 85/1,4. BUT... i also need a good wide angle lens with minimal distortion. What are your recommendations?

December 1st, 2009, 07:08 AM	#4
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	I love my Sigma 10-20mm. Real sharp. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

December 1st, 2009, 09:18 AM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Don't overlook the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Basically it's a 16-35mm with the EF-S mount. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 1st, 2009, 06:37 PM	#8
Mike Andrade Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 136	I was looking for a good zoom to compliment my set of primes. I was comparing the Tokina 16-50 2.8 and the Tamron 17-50 2.8. After a lot of research and reading reviews online I went with the Tamron. It is reported to have less CA than the Tokina and a bit sharper. I never did a side by side but I shot some tests today and I'm really happy with the results. Sharp clean images. If you can live with an EF-S lens its a great deal. __________________ Mike A

December 1st, 2009, 07:43 PM	#10
Alvise Tedesco Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Milan/Italy Posts: 63	Don't look anything different than the Tokina 11-16 (if you need that fof). It has also been converted to cinema lens with PL mount for a reason. BTW I like my samyang 85f1.4 a lot (for video. for stills probably you'll see it isn't the Zeiss nor the Nikkor) __________________ vimeo.com/alvisetedesco web.mac.com/alvise.tedesco/DP/home

December 1st, 2009, 05:24 AM	#2
Martin Chab Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Malmo Sweden Posts: 103	if you can get an used leica 19mm it is the more rectilinear wide angle lens i´ve ever seen, with a fantastic sharpness and color rendition. The new price is very high but you should be able to find an used one in good shape for a fair price.

December 1st, 2009, 07:03 AM	#3
Ted Ramasola Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Allen, Texas U.S.A Posts: 1,117	Joachim Tokina 11-16mm contant f2.8. Used it, and its bright and minimal distortion and CA. Ted

December 1st, 2009, 07:14 AM	#5
Ted Ramasola Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Allen, Texas U.S.A Posts: 1,117	Paul, I also have that but its not as fast as the tokina. If my memory serves me right, too lazy to check, its 3.5 -5.6 ? after the 11-16mm if i need a closer fov, i use the 20-40mm sigma which is also constant 2.8 then a 50mm. Ted

December 1st, 2009, 12:41 PM	#7
Jay Houser Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St Paul MN Posts: 41	The Tokina 11-16mm is the only constant aperture wide angle zoom I know of. It is also the only EF-S lens I cared to buy. For normal and telephoto applications, fast primes are the way to go for video if you want the maximum in low light/bokeh.

December 2nd, 2009, 01:08 AM	#12
Bruce Buttery Tourist Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: kwa-zulu-natal Posts: 2	Tokina 11-16mm built like a tank, really sharp, ordered mine from japan, came really fast from ogt-clan.com

December 2nd, 2009, 01:49 AM	#13
Joachim Ljungquist Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 84	Thanks a lot, guys! There are quite some interesting lenses there! Especially the Tokina... Is this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._AT_X_116.html BUT, I'm a bit surprised that most of you are recommending zoom wide angle lenses. I was under the assumption that fixed lenses would be preferred for filming... Am I wrong?

December 2nd, 2009, 05:40 AM	#14
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Joachim, I was probably the first person to buy and recommend the Tokina 11-16mm for 7D use and I stand by that. The Canon 10-22 is very nice but as others here have pointed out it is not f2.8. Also the Tokina has a much better manual focus ring than the Canon which makes life a lot easier if you want to run and gun. At the wide end there are really few fixed focal length lenses that are not fisheyes, the only corrected choices are really 14mm f2.8's from Canon, Nikon, Sigma and soon I believe Samyang. Fixed lenses usually perform better optically than their zoom counterparts but recent advances in wide angle lens design have seen lenses like the Nikon 14-24 f2.8 and this Tokina being able to hold their own against all but the very best fixed lenses. Dan Last edited by Dan Chung; December 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 AM.

December 2nd, 2009, 09:00 AM	#15
Joachim Ljungquist Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 84	Okay... Seems like it would be a zoom wide angle lens then. I was talking to my camera supplier today - and they checked with the importing agency for Tokina in Sweden. Looks like Tokina are having trouble delivering... At the moment they are talking about delivering at spring time. Even at B&S:s website there are no Tokina 11-16 mm in stock. Bummer!