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Ultra-Wide-Angle Zooms - the benefits, as opposed to the deficits ...
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Apr 10, 2019 13:44:03   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Sigma takes the prize, currently, with their 8-16 UWA-Z. Others in this category, include the Tokina 11-16, and 11-20, the Tamron 10-24 models, and the other Sigmas, plus all the proprietary ones. Which of these do you think - overall - does the best job on extreme Wide Angle shots? What are the deficits, using them?

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Apr 10, 2019 15:15:45   #
PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA
 
There have been many articles on the subject. I was interested in a constant f/2.8 model and based on them I picked the Tokina AT-X 11-20 f/2.8 Pro

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Apr 10, 2019 15:16:02   #
PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA
 
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-wide-angle-lenses-for-canon

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Apr 10, 2019 15:29:58   #
photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State
 
I cannot say for the others but my Tokina 11-16 on a 1.5 crop sensor gives a FOV equiv. to 16.5-24 mm FF. It takes some mental adjustment to realize how to use the UWA aspect , Objects near the edges are distorted horizontally. The lens greatly extends the apparent distance between near and far objects, has a great depth of acceptably sharp focus. It is not usable for portrait work due to the way near objects (IE noses) are exaggerated. Also not really usable for horizontally panoramic vistas of distant mountain ranges whose peaks become mere pimples on the almost flat horizon. It's great dOF makes landscapes really sing when a near object (rock, tree , wildflower etc. is included to anchor the shot and provide a near object to enhance the layering of depth of the scene.
Also usable when physical constraints (IE a wall) prevent the camera from being far enough from the subject (IE family grouping) to get it all in the frame.

All stuff you probably already know though.
Great for long exposure night star shots (IE milky way) since it's DOF makes focus more forgiving and it's short focal length means the stars will move less during a long exposure thus enabling longer exposure time without star blur due to earth 's rotation

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Apr 10, 2019 15:36:44   #
photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State
 
photogeneralist wrote:
I cannot say for the others but my Tokina 11-16 on a 1.5 crop sensor gives a FOV equiv. to 16.5-24 mm FF. It takes some mental adjustment to realize how to use the UWA aspect , Objects near the edges are distorted horizontally. The lens greatly extends the apparent distance between near and far objects, has a great depth of acceptably sharp focus. It is not usable for portrait work due to the way near objects (IE noses) are exaggerated. Also not really usable for horizontally panoramic vistas of distant mountain ranges whose peaks become mere pimples on the almost flat horizon. It's great dOF makes landscapes really sing when a near object (rock, tree , wildflower etc. is included to anchor the shot and provide a near object to enhance the layering of depth of the scene.
Also usable when physical constraints (IE a wall) prevent the camera from being far enough from the subject (IE family grouping) to get it all in the frame.

All stuff you probably already know though.
Great for long exposure night star shots (IE milky way) since it's DOF makes focus more forgiving and it's short focal length means the stars will move less during a long exposure thus enabling longer exposure time without star blur due to platform motion (earth 's rotation)
I cannot say for the others but my Tokina 11-16 on... (show quote)
(500/full frame equivalent focal length = longest exposure without objectionable star motion)

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Apr 10, 2019 16:21:14   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
PHRubin wrote:
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-wide-angle-lenses-for-canon


Thanks for that link, Paul …

Just saw some landscapes here, taken with the Sigma 8-16 … and I was quite impressed …


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Apr 10, 2019 16:26:15   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
photogeneralist wrote:
I cannot say for the others but my Tokina 11-16 on a 1.5 crop sensor gives a FOV equiv. to 16.5-24 mm FF. It takes some mental adjustment to realize how to use the UWA aspect , Objects near the edges are distorted horizontally. The lens greatly extends the apparent distance between near and far objects, has a great depth of acceptably sharp focus. It is not usable for portrait work due to the way near objects (IE noses) are exaggerated. Also not really usable for horizontally panoramic vistas of distant mountain ranges whose peaks become mere pimples on the almost flat horizon. It's great dOF makes landscapes really sing when a near object (rock, tree , wildflower etc. is included to anchor the shot and provide a near object to enhance the layering of depth of the scene.
Also usable when physical constraints (IE a wall) prevent the camera from being far enough from the subject (IE family grouping) to get it all in the frame.

All stuff you probably already know though.
Great for long exposure night star shots (IE milky way) since it's DOF makes focus more forgiving and it's short focal length means the stars will move less during a long exposure thus enabling longer exposure time without star blur due to earth 's rotation
I cannot say for the others but my Tokina 11-16 on... (show quote)


I'm aware of some of the deficiencies of UWA-Z lenses, PG. Used to have two - the Tamron 10-24, which I've now sold, and the Sigma EX 10-20 HSM - which I kept. But, before getting another UWA-Z for my Nikon, Sony or Pentax systems - I wanted to find out what others here, thought. I am partial to the Sigma 8-16 - and wanted to get it in Sony a-mount - but have read some bad stuff about that combination …

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Apr 11, 2019 10:00:42   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
You seem to be obsessed with sharpness, perhaps I am wrong. Sharpness depends more on you than on the lens. I have never used a lens that failed to give me the results I wanted.
Modern lenses are technologically speaking pieces of art. All of the new technologies are available to ALL lens manufacturers be it Ernst Leitz, Tokina or anyone else. It could be very difficult to find a lens that will not do its job when we do ours. I respectfully advise you to make a selection based on your needs and rest assure the lens will do its job. I use a Nikon 12-24 f4 AFS with my DX and FX bodies and it has all the wide angle focal lengths I need but that is me.
I am sure you know these lenses expand the background so it is very important to come close to your subject. I am sure you know that distortions are high with wide angles and that flare is common. Objects at the corners of your viewfinder will be distorted while the center rendering will be fine. Some of these extreme wide angles do not allow the use of a filter. Using a polarizer for landscapes with one of these is not advisable because the polarization effect is not even.
Do I need to say more?

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Apr 11, 2019 10:19:52   #
Goldyrock
 
Chris T wrote:
I'm aware of some of the deficiencies of UWA-Z lenses, PG. Used to have two - the Tamron 10-24, which I've now sold, and the Sigma EX 10-20 HSM - which I kept. But, before getting another UWA-Z for my Nikon, Sony or Pentax systems - I wanted to find out what others here, thought. I am partial to the Sigma 8-16 - and wanted to get it in Sony a-mount - but have read some bad stuff about that combination …


I have one that I use on my a77, and a65 for Real Estate interiors. Great lens.

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Apr 11, 2019 10:47:41   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Chris T wrote:
Sigma takes the prize, currently, with their 8-16 UWA-Z. Others in this category, include the Tokina 11-16, and 11-20, the Tamron 10-24 models, and the other Sigmas, plus all the proprietary ones. Which of these do you think - overall - does the best job on extreme Wide Angle shots? What are the deficits, using them?


Ultrawides are pretty specialized lenses and only a relatively small percentage of photographers are actually successful using them. Lots of anamorphosis, complex distortion, uneven brightness across the frame, etc and a completely unrealistic perspective. I prefer to use a longer lens and simply stitch images for wider views. Most of the deficits come from shooters not fully understanding how to make good images with them.

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Apr 11, 2019 10:54:53   #
ZenCam
 
I have been a very pleased owner of the Sigma 8-16 UWZ. It has proven indispensable for doing some cramped interior images, as well as glorious landscapes. I have 4 Sigma zooms in my camera bag and all of them are fantastic performers. I have the 8-17, 17-70, 18-200, 70-300 APO Macro and they have made me money and always performed with my satisfaction and that of my customers.

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Apr 11, 2019 10:56:07   #
ZenCam
 
My typo, I meant 8-16mm

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Apr 11, 2019 11:16:37   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
camerapapi wrote:
You seem to be obsessed with sharpness, perhaps I am wrong. Sharpness depends more on you than on the lens. I have never used a lens that failed to give me the results I wanted.
Modern lenses are technologically speaking pieces of art. All of the new technologies are available to ALL lens manufacturers be it Ernst Leitz, Tokina or anyone else. It could be very difficult to find a lens that will not do its job when we do ours. I respectfully advise you to make a selection based on your needs and rest assure the lens will do its job. I use a Nikon 12-24 f4 AFS with my DX and FX bodies and it has all the wide angle focal lengths I need but that is me.
I am sure you know these lenses expand the background so it is very important to come close to your subject. I am sure you know that distortions are high with wide angles and that flare is common. Objects at the corners of your viewfinder will be distorted while the center rendering will be fine. Some of these extreme wide angles do not allow the use of a filter. Using a polarizer for landscapes with one of these is not advisable because the polarization effect is not even.
Do I need to say more?
You seem to be obsessed with sharpness, perhaps I ... (show quote)


William - sharpness really isn't an issue with WA lenses, as the DOF, normally, takes care of that aspect. But color is a concern (my Tamron was a prize catch, in regard to this - which is why I got rid of it) and - of course - fall-off, corner sharpness, and the like. The 8-16 Sigma - yes - is unable to accept filters, but in every other aspect - seems to be a fine lens - a recent set in the Gallery - will confirm this. I think, though, that's the only one of these UWA-Zs - which won't allow filter use. Distortions - bending lines, etc. - tend to only happen when shooting buildings, at the extreme wide end, though …

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Apr 11, 2019 11:19:44   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Goldyrock wrote:
I have one that I use on my a77, and a65 for Real Estate interiors. Great lens.


Goldy - to which one do you refer, here? The 8-16, 10-20 Sigma, or the 10-24 Tamron?

If you meant the Sigma 8-16 … I wonder if you could post something taken with it, on the a77?


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Apr 11, 2019 11:23:10   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Gene51 wrote:
Ultrawides are pretty specialized lenses and only a relatively small percentage of photographers are actually successful using them. Lots of anamorphosis, complex distortion, uneven brightness across the frame, etc and a completely unrealistic perspective. I prefer to use a longer lens and simply stitch images for wider views. Most of the deficits come from shooters not fully understanding how to make good images with them.


Gene - there's a set posted here, yesterday, at the Gallery, taken of the shoreline, in Australia, w/ the 8-16.

They are really quite impressive - which got me to thinking, again - about picking up a copy …

The shots are quite even … the best set I've ever seen, taken with that lens … take a look!!!!

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