Help selecting a wide angle lens: Hello UHHers I need a little help here. I like to shoot landscapes and am looking for a little better lens for my Canon 50D. I have a Canon EFS...

bud 77 Loc: Long Beach, WA

Hello UHHers
I need a little help here. I like to shoot landscapes and am looking for a little better lens for my Canon 50D. I have a Canon EFS 15-85mm that I recently purchased for landscape. I get fair pictures but it seems a little soft. I have shot quite a few at f22 and 20mm and that gives me the best results. Always on a tripod (Manfrotto) and 2 second delay and the IS off. I wonder if a prime lens would perform noticeably better. Is canon the best way to go or are there second party lenses that perform equally well? I have no interest in changing from the Canon Camera to some other brand as I have several lenses that I share with my wife. I would like to hear about your wide angle and your thoughts on a good landscape lens.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

bud 77 wrote:

Hello UHHers br I need a little help here. I like ... (show quote)

Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS is the latest and greatest, but the slightly older (and less expensive) 17-40mm f/4L is equally as sharp, but doesn't have image stabilization. However, as you shoot from a tripod, that shouldn't matter in the least. (Used - "Like New" at Amazon.com for $575.00). I own them both and have used them extensively.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Several on UHH use the Canon 10-18 EF-S and get great shots. A little slower than your present lens but landscape is almost always on tripod or other rest so slow shutter speeds aren't much of a problem. And it's list price is 299.99.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

An EF-S lens works on the APS-C cameras like the 50D, but if you ever move up a full-framed camera body, you would have to purchase a new wide-angle. The 16-35mm and 17-40mm will work on both, but the L series glass costs more to purchase.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I have a T3i and am one of the very happy 10-18 mm users (note that it has image stabilization). Here are some shots:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-244382-1.html

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-232036-1.html

bud 77 Loc: Long Beach, WA

Bob Yankle wrote:

Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS is the latest and greatest, but the slightly older (and less expensive) 17-40mm f/4L is equally as sharp, but doesn't have image stabilization. However, as you shoot from a tripod, that shouldn't matter in the least. (Used - "Like New" at Amazon.com for $575.00). I own them both and have used them extensively.

Thank you Bob. I will check these out. bud

bud 77 Loc: Long Beach, WA

Linda From Maine wrote:

I have a T3i and am one of the very happy 10-18 mm users (note that it has image stabilization). Here are some shots:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-244382-1.html

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-232036-1.html

Thank you.

bud 77 Loc: Long Beach, WA

robertjerl wrote:

Several on UHH use the Canon 10-18 EF-S and get great shots. A little slower than your present lens but landscape is almost always on tripod or other rest so slow shutter speeds aren't much of a problem. And it's list price is 299.99.

Thank you. I was hoping for some input of the advantages of a prime lens in the area of 25mm. bud

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Bud, I have the 60 D and have 18-55, 18-135, 15-85. I purchased the 10-22 before I bought the 15-85, these are all EFs lenses. All are very sharp and I have made great images with them all. The 15-85 is a great piece of glass, but my 10-22 really shines. All my glass has been used and yes I will undoubtedly go FF and sell glass. Nothing like the UW, on a tripod (Manfrotto) I prefer a shutter release. I love Canon gear. I am seeing much used on the street. 10-22 recently for 200 USD. There are many that buy UW and then don't use it. 10mm is very wide. J. R.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I have the Canon 10-22 and it is excellent, a very sharp lens that controls distortion pretty well that I was happy to pay $800 for, so I was floored when I read that the 10-18 is testing as well if not better than my 10-22 in lab tests. The 10-18 is only $299, but you will need to purchase a lens hood for it.

I also have the 15-85 and am a little surprised that you find yours to be soft, but I can tell you that there is a big difference in the angle of view between 10 and 15mm. It is also my understanding that the build quality is very much like the kit lens, the 18-55 but having said that I have never seen a broken 18-55.

If I were to buy one today, the 10-18 would be an easy choice for me.

bud 77 Loc: Long Beach, WA

bud 77 wrote:

Thank you. I was hoping for some input of the advantages of a prime lens in the area of 25mm. bud

Thank you J.R. It looks like I need to keep working with what I have for a while. I have made some good pictures with this lens but depth of field has been inconsistence. I will keep practicing but still would like to hear the difference in a prime and a zoom. bud

bud 77 Loc: Long Beach, WA

Blurryeyed wrote:

I have the Canon 10-22 and it is excellent, a very... (show quote)

Thank you.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

The EF-S 10-22mm has always been the Gold Standard for canon crop-sensor cameras. I bought one recently and am very, very pleased with this lens. The newer 10-18 is rated highly by UHH users as well, and is about half the price.

Here are some photos with the 10-22:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-221396-1.html

bud 77 Loc: Long Beach, WA

sb wrote:

The EF-S 10-22mm has always been the Gold Standard for canon crop-sensor cameras. I bought one recently and am very, very pleased with this lens. The newer 10-18 is rated highly by UHH users as well, and is about half the price.

Here are some photos with the 10-22:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-221396-1.html

Thank You. Nice pictures with the 10-22.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

if you have a real good nifty fifty try that. since you are using a tripod try stitching 2-4 shots together. landscapes do not always mean wide angle or panoramic shots.