Best Wide Angle? at DVinfo.net

Brock Burwell · April 17th, 2014, 02:29 PM

Trying to figure out which wide angle lens would be best for me. I currently shoot on a T3i and do more coprorate videos and a little run and gun. I plan on taking some photos with this, but the video aspect of it is priority as I plan on using it a lot with my slider and steadicam. I always hear people saying that you need to focus on primes, which I am fine with but I've also seen the Tokina 11-16mm which looks like a nice lens. I am looking to spend around $500 or so. Any suggestions?

EDIT: I'd love to have image stabilization as well but i know that can jack the price up. Is it really worth it

Mark Watson · April 17th, 2014, 08:35 PM

The Tokina is fine for what you plan to use it for. With such a short zoom, it's practically a prime. I haven't seen any ultra wides with IS, being ultra wide, you shouldn't really need IS, those lenses seem to hide the jitters pretty good. Something the Tokina has over the Canon 10-22 is the constant aperture and it can also be fitted to a full frame sensor camera in case you ever upgrade. (The Canon 10-22 is an EF-S lens and will only fit on the crop sensor cameras. I have both of these lenses and use the Canon 10-22 mostly, but that's only because I tend to shoot pictures with it. The build quality of the Tokina is better also. The main beef I have with that lens is the short zoom range and the push-pull mechanical engagement ring for MF/AF. I like the electrical-type switch on the Canon lens better. I researched wide angle primes and found them to be quite expensive and so have stuck with my two zooms for now. If I were to go prime, I'd probably upgrade to a full frame camera first, then get something like the 14mm Canon.

Mark

Steve Wolla · April 17th, 2014, 09:25 PM

I really think your best bet is the Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 zoom you mentioned. That's where I'd start anyways. I hear there's a new version II out now. I find myself in the same boat as you, and that's where my research is leading me.
Alternately, you could look at older Nikkor primes such as the 20mm f2.8. Or Canon makes a current EOS model as well. That would give you about a 33mm F2.8.

Robert Benda · April 18th, 2014, 05:59 AM

Sigma's 18-35mm f/1.8 is getting great reviews and tops out at $800. If you ever upgrade to the 70D, it would work with the auto focus tracking.

Or Sigma's 17-50mm f/2.8, though I'm not sure about the reviews on that. It's under $500. Both lenses have OS (optical stabilization they call it)

Brock Burwell · April 18th, 2014, 11:27 AM

Oh so not every lens will work with the autofocus of the 70D? I did not know that. Interesting

Andy Wilkinson · April 18th, 2014, 01:32 PM

I use the Canon 10-22mm which I chose as it has a more useful zoom range than the Tokina 11-16mm - and for a few other reasons.

I use it now on my C100 (which has, as of this last week, the new Dual Pixel AF firmware upgrade on it). It works a treat with that.

Like Mark, I also much prefer the arrangement the Canon gives you for switching between AF and MF. It's superb on my 7D (which is the cam I originally bought it for, but that is only used as a still camera now - which it is very good at, BTW) as it gives little distortion, even on the very wide end, is razor sharp and is much less susceptible to lens flare - something that even the newer version II Tokina 11-16mm seems to suffer from (from what I've read - cannot speak from personal experience).

However, the Tokina 11-16mm (both version I and II lenses) are heavier, have better build quality and of course a constant F2.8 through their (very limited) zoom range in their favour. Those are big plusses for video use...

Personally, I don't think you'd be unhappy with either of them, or the Canon 10-22mm ...but the best thing is to go and try a few wide angle options in a camera shop and see what you personally prefer.

Dylan Couper · May 9th, 2014, 12:22 AM

Tokina 11-16 is the king of the ultrawide for APS-C. Not a ton of great primes in this range so it's almost a no-brainer.

Brian David Melnyk · May 9th, 2014, 02:19 AM

I don't think the 18-35 1.8 has stabilization, unfortunately.
Wouldn't the Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS or Canon 17-55 2.8 IS be a better choice? I think the range is more useful AND they both have IS...
Focusing is hard enough at 2.8!

April 17th, 2014, 02:29 PM	#1
Brock Burwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 385	Best Wide Angle? Trying to figure out which wide angle lens would be best for me. I currently shoot on a T3i and do more coprorate videos and a little run and gun. I plan on taking some photos with this, but the video aspect of it is priority as I plan on using it a lot with my slider and steadicam. I always hear people saying that you need to focus on primes, which I am fine with but I've also seen the Tokina 11-16mm which looks like a nice lens. I am looking to spend around $500 or so. Any suggestions? EDIT: I'd love to have image stabilization as well but i know that can jack the price up. Is it really worth it

April 17th, 2014, 08:35 PM	#2
Mark Watson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whidbey Island Posts: 873	Re: Best Wide Angle? The Tokina is fine for what you plan to use it for. With such a short zoom, it's practically a prime. I haven't seen any ultra wides with IS, being ultra wide, you shouldn't really need IS, those lenses seem to hide the jitters pretty good. Something the Tokina has over the Canon 10-22 is the constant aperture and it can also be fitted to a full frame sensor camera in case you ever upgrade. (The Canon 10-22 is an EF-S lens and will only fit on the crop sensor cameras. I have both of these lenses and use the Canon 10-22 mostly, but that's only because I tend to shoot pictures with it. The build quality of the Tokina is better also. The main beef I have with that lens is the short zoom range and the push-pull mechanical engagement ring for MF/AF. I like the electrical-type switch on the Canon lens better. I researched wide angle primes and found them to be quite expensive and so have stuck with my two zooms for now. If I were to go prime, I'd probably upgrade to a full frame camera first, then get something like the 14mm Canon. Mark

April 17th, 2014, 09:25 PM	#3
Steve Wolla Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 477	Re: Best Wide Angle? I really think your best bet is the Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 zoom you mentioned. That's where I'd start anyways. I hear there's a new version II out now. I find myself in the same boat as you, and that's where my research is leading me. Alternately, you could look at older Nikkor primes such as the 20mm f2.8. Or Canon makes a current EOS model as well. That would give you about a 33mm F2.8.

April 18th, 2014, 05:59 AM	#4
Robert Benda Trustee Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Crookston, MN Posts: 1,353	Re: Best Wide Angle? Sigma's 18-35mm f/1.8 is getting great reviews and tops out at $800. If you ever upgrade to the 70D, it would work with the auto focus tracking. Or Sigma's 17-50mm f/2.8, though I'm not sure about the reviews on that. It's under $500. Both lenses have OS (optical stabilization they call it)

April 18th, 2014, 11:27 AM	#5
Brock Burwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 385	Re: Best Wide Angle? Oh so not every lens will work with the autofocus of the 70D? I did not know that. Interesting

April 18th, 2014, 01:32 PM	#6
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: Best Wide Angle? I use the Canon 10-22mm which I chose as it has a more useful zoom range than the Tokina 11-16mm - and for a few other reasons. I use it now on my C100 (which has, as of this last week, the new Dual Pixel AF firmware upgrade on it). It works a treat with that. Like Mark, I also much prefer the arrangement the Canon gives you for switching between AF and MF. It's superb on my 7D (which is the cam I originally bought it for, but that is only used as a still camera now - which it is very good at, BTW) as it gives little distortion, even on the very wide end, is razor sharp and is much less susceptible to lens flare - something that even the newer version II Tokina 11-16mm seems to suffer from (from what I've read - cannot speak from personal experience). However, the Tokina 11-16mm (both version I and II lenses) are heavier, have better build quality and of course a constant F2.8 through their (very limited) zoom range in their favour. Those are big plusses for video use... Personally, I don't think you'd be unhappy with either of them, or the Canon 10-22mm ...but the best thing is to go and try a few wide angle options in a camera shop and see what you personally prefer. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

May 9th, 2014, 12:22 AM	#7
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: Best Wide Angle? Tokina 11-16 is the king of the ultrawide for APS-C. Not a ton of great primes in this range so it's almost a no-brainer. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 9th, 2014, 02:19 AM	#8
Brian David Melnyk Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Winnipeg Canada Posts: 532	Re: Best Wide Angle? I don't think the 18-35 1.8 has stabilization, unfortunately. Wouldn't the Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS or Canon 17-55 2.8 IS be a better choice? I think the range is more useful AND they both have IS... Focusing is hard enough at 2.8!