Wide-angle lens

14.05.2020, 14:49 #1

Profifotograf

What would you recommend?

Hello everyone, I'm currently looking for a wide-angle lens but haven’t found anything yet that really meets all my requirements. It has to fit the Canon EF mount—that’s the only non-negotiable. Everything else is more or less flexible. Ideally, it should have a focal length under 24mm, since I already have a good lens at 24mm. It definitely needs to have a filter thread (maximum 77mm). Image stabilization isn’t necessary. I don’t care whether it’s from Canon, Sigma, or any other brand—as long as it fits the EF mount. Price isn’t a concern for now. Lenses between 10 and 20mm probably won’t be cheap, but right now I’m just interested in what options are out there.
Thanks in advance!
Cheers, Korbi

14.05.2020, 15:24 #2

08 16

That’s going to be tight, quite expensive, and with a 77mm filter size, a significant limitation.
You also need to check whether the 24mm is specified for full-frame or for the APS-C format (remember the 1.6x crop factor).
My advice would be to go for a prime lens.
You’ll find plenty of information in the usual reviews and publications.
Sites like ... Testberichte, Traumflieger, Chip ... are good places to start.
“Traumflieger” is very Canon-focused.
Unfortunately, I don’t have hands-on experience since I’m part of the Nikon camp.

14.05.2020, 16:38 #3

Korbinian Ring

Profifotograf

You're right, I forgot about that. Full frame, so everything without cropping. 77mm is the maximum, but I also have adapter rings, so 72 or 67mm works just as well.
Prime lens, got it. It's probably cheaper than a zoom lens in the same range...
I'll check out Traumflieger right away, and I’ve got the others in mind. Thanks!

14.05.2020, 17:35 #4

08 16

I can't imagine that you'd manage with a focal length that wide and a large aperture angle with a filter size of 72mm / 67mm.
That would be nice.
For full-frame cameras, the weight also increases—it's a matter of aperture size.
For full-frame, there's the 14mm-24mm f/2.8 lens from Nikon.
That's quite a hefty piece—and unfortunately, it has a curved front element.
Canon and third-party manufacturers likely have something comparable in their lineup!
They might also offer a filter size with a 20mm lens, like Nikon does, which has a 77mm filter thread.
However, the selection will be limited.
Good luck with your purchase!

14.05.2020, 17:47 #5

Korbinian Ring

Profifotograf

I've already started looking around a bit... I’ll have to leave something out, otherwise it won’t work. There’s one option that covers almost everything, but it’s 82mm, so I’d need new filters. Or one with a curved lens and switching to a clamp filter system.
My 24mm lens is enough for a lot of things, just not everything, and it annoys me that it doesn’t have a focus distance indicator—I can’t see how far I’m focusing.

14.05.2020, 17:49 #6

Holger Förster

@Korbinian Ring
It partly depends on the initial aperture: f/2.8 is technically and economically feasible, but the front lens element is likely well over 77mm. If the filter diameter must be a maximum of 77mm, then the starting aperture will probably need to be around f/4 or f/5.6; however, these options tend to be noticeably more affordable.
You should make sure to buy a lens designed specifically for digital cameras. Otherwise, at these focal lengths, the edges of your images might end up too soft.
Comparable, high-quality lenses are available from Canon, Tamron, and Sigma. If you’re considering manual focus, it’s worth checking out Asian manufacturers that have distributors in Germany.

30.05.2020, 14:18 #7

08 16

@Korbinian Ring (here for others interested in the topic as well:)
This article appeared in Foto Hits (excerpt):
Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 MK2
... Samyang has upgraded two of its full-frame lenses with new features. The wide-angle MF 14mm F2.8 MK2 now includes a “Focus Lock” function that allows you to lock the focus at any setting. This makes it easier to shoot continuous sequences without the focus plane shifting unintentionally. With the new “De-Click” feature, users can smoothly adjust the aperture from f2.8 to f22 without clicks. Samyang also increased the number of aperture blades from six to nine. The MF 14mm F2.8 MK2 is available for Nikon F, Canon EF, Sony E, Fuji X, Canon M, and MFT. It will be available from June 15, 2020 at Walser for 469 euros (Nikon F version: 499 euros).... .

23.11.2020, 14:10 #8

Korbinian Ring

Profifotograf

I want to revisit this topic. I believe there are a few people here with experience in astrophotography.
I've been into it for a while myself, but so far I've only used a standard kit lens that I had for a long time. Recently, I had the chance to try out a wide-angle lens, and the results were terrible. I didn’t change any camera settings, just refocused with the same settings.
I’m not very familiar with the technical side of things. It seems to me that not all wide-angle lenses are equally suitable for astrophotography. So my question is: which ones are suitable (if you have any recommendations), and what causes these differences? Is it even possible to judge this in-store before buying?

23.11.2020, 15:04 #9

Joachim X

Hello Korbi,

You’ll want at least an aperture of f/2.8 or better. Starting at 35mm or wider.
I’m not sure what you’re planning to photograph?
Just starry skies, the Milky Way, or night sky shots with a foreground?

With an aperture of f/2.8, it’s really fun. I have 3 night shots on my profile —
all taken at f/2.8, ISO 800 - 2000.
The Milky Way photo was a 3-minute exposure at 16mm, ISO 800,
and the camera was tracked.

Which lens did you use?

Cheers,

Jo

23.11.2020, 16:15 #10

Korbinian Ring

Profifotograf

The Canon 24-105 f3.5. It performs pretty well on full-frame, but in the long run, I’m still saving up for a wide-angle lens. So far, I’ve mostly taken shots with landscapes in the foreground (though I haven’t had much success there yet) and especially the Milky Way—basically covering the whole spectrum.
The autofocus system is another challenge altogether.

23.11.2020, 19:33 #11

Erwin Prem

Hobbyfotograf

Hello!
I recently got an affordable Tamron 90mm 2.8 SP Di macro lens for Canon and would like to try it out. Which camera would you recommend?
My budget is max 200 euros!
It doesn’t have to be a Canon. What would be a good alternative? I’ll be using the camera exclusively for macro photography. Thanks in advance!

23.11.2020, 20:42 #12

Joachim X

I could see the EOS 50D or a 60D as a good solution.

Cheers, Jo

23.11.2020, 21:27 #13

Erwin Prem

Hobbyfotograf

Thank you very much!

12.01.2021, 21:54 #14

Korbinian Ring

Profifotograf

To wrap up the question I opened this topic for (more or less): I took a close look at the Samyang 14mm F2.8 Mk2 recommended above, as well as several others in the three-digit price range. In the end, I decided to go with the Irix 15mm F2.4 in the Firefly version. I've already taken a few test shots that I'm very happy with. I'm currently getting a feel for the lens and am looking forward to hopefully using it out in the field soon, especially for night sky photography.

13.01.2021, 17:01 #15

Andreas Bibas

Hobbyfotograf

What’s always important to me, Korbi, is that you should always develop a connection with your lenses or cameras.
If I don’t like a lens, it’s a no-go for me, no matter how good the photos turn out.
You have to like it and actually use it actively.

01.03.2023, 12:05 #16

Winfried Berberich

Profifotograf

As an ultra-wide-angle lens, I can highly recommend the Sigma 12-24mm. I've been using it professionally for interior shots for years. Unfortunately, it has a curved front element and isn’t particularly fast with an aperture of f/3.5-4.5. The sharpness is excellent, but at 12mm you definitely have to watch what’s at the edges of the frame. For example, a tall floor vase can easily appear as a short round vase—this is a physical limitation, not an optical flaw. For exterior architectural shots, though, I usually don’t go below 28mm because the distortion becomes too strong. For that, I use the Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 PC, a tilt-shift lens. It’s manual focus (naturally) and doesn’t have autofocus. Tilt isn’t necessary at these focal lengths, so I prefer to rely on older optics like this one. There’s definitely a Canon version available as well.

Best regards, Winfried

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02.03.2023, 14:17 #17

Winfried Berberich

Profifotograf

@Korbinian Ring disabled=
In astrophotography with a wide-angle lens, the exposure time is the key factor. Without tracking using a so-called German equatorial mount—meaning just the camera on a tripod—you can expose for about 25 seconds at 14mm focal length, stopped down 1-2 stops (around f/2.8 to f/4), without star trails appearing. A moonless sky and no disruptive lighting (like street lamps) are essential. With ultra-wide-angle lenses, you often end up including a street lamp in the frame, which can cause lens flares due to the multiple lens elements in wide-angle optics. So, head out to a dark field.
The longer the focal length, the shorter the possible exposure time. With wide-angle lenses, you can also take 10 or more consecutive shots and stack them using specialized software. This reduces camera noise and enhances the brightness and color of the objects, such as in Milky Way photography.

03.07.2023, 19:22 #18

Andreas Bibas

Hobbyfotograf

Just a quick heads-up.
I recently got the new Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE.
It was quite affordable compared to other sellers, and I’m really happy with the quality.
www.rollei.de

This entry has already been edited

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Wide-angle lens