marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

A good one is going to cost you dearly, just be aware of that. Likely $600+.

You might want to consider whether you actually need a lens wider than the 18mm that is the widest end of the zoom lens that comes with most camera kits. It may have been with your Canon, you didn't say. If you can deal with that, then you could learn panoramic shooting with a tripod and use software that can stitch two or more photos together and straight them for normal perspective. It's a much less expensive option for landscapes and sometimes much cooler too!

Grumpy D Stevens

Maybe we need to describe or define "landscape." Are you trying to capture everything from 10 feet away to infinity? Or are you on top of a mountain and the closest thing to you is a mile or so away and you are going for something very different? Wide vs. longer = better definition of the subject. Again, as with almost all discussions here on the Ugly, we need more information to decide how each one of us want the picture captured. What are you trying to communicate to the observer?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I agree with gessman's comment - Having said that, Ken Rockwell who has tried and used the Canon and Nikon stuff loves the TOKINA 11-16mm F2.8.

ahanonymous Loc: Queens, NY

I have been using the Canon 10-22 for years now. BTW it is L series glass without the red band around the lens. Super sharp lens and it has gotten me out of trouble when trying to shoot large buildings and not having enough room to back up.

The shot below was made with that lens in St. Peters in the Vatican.

Perfect shot to post on Christmas.

Hope everyone's was a merry one!

St. Peter's Basilica

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Beautiful shot!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

[quote=Cappy]

I would also highly recommend slrgear.com. They do some really cool lens tests. Technical, but easy to understand. Oh, I have the Sigma 10-20, and find that my best needs begin at about 16mm. I used it a lot for interior shots in Rome & street scenes in Venice

marycar53 Loc: Tuscumbia Al

My Canon Rebel Xti came with a 18-55 lens.

Elderjim

I use a sigma 8-16 wide angle lens on my Rebel T3i. I have found this lens very clear, and very little distortion, even at the widest setting. the only drawback to the sigma lens is that you cannot use a filter due to the curvature of the lens. that however has not caused my any problem except when shooting to mucn into the sun. This lens can only be used on a cropped sensor camera, not a full frame such as my Canon Mark II. I use an Canon L wide angle lens on that camers, a very expensive lens, and is has more halo when wide than the Sigma Elderjim.

Michael O' Loc: Midwest right now

Bohleber query on a wide angle lens for landscape shooting : and the replies of moogeeyes, pippen and nyweb2001 : B+H price difference of 42 % more for the one made by your body manufacturer seems like the best bet to me. One said that he wouldn't buy anything shorter than a 24mm, and I like even better the 28mm he mentioned, simply
because you will avoid problems with slight distortions, and you will be able to blow up to the largest size you will probably ever want. Whether you're talking about mouse traps or fine engraving on a fine rifle or about a diamond, you basically get what you pay for. As pigpen said, buy excellence the first time if you can afford it, and don't bother with buying less and then trading it for a loss to get what you might have gotten to start with. Buy fewer lenses if you have to, but get the best you can afford when you do buy -- you'll be happier in the long run. And Cannon does make great glass.
Maybe you want to rent the 2 lenses you are thinking about, shoot a batch of landscapes with each, and then work over your printer to see what differences the 2 lenses show. And if you have to wait 6 months oe a year to accumulate the bread to get the L Series, I'd suggest doing it -- they are beautiful pieces of work that will do all you ask of them. Call Cannon 800 and have them send to you a catalog so that you can read up on the specs and features of their various lenses before you get into actual testing. Bodies all seem to have roughly the same features in any rough price range, but not so with lenses ! Get the best you can afford, in the widest aperture you can afford, and you can "live with" that lens for the rest of your life. And it will fit on any EOS Cannon body you might buy in future -- that is a practice of Cannon. Crux : Try and then buy, don't buy and then try. Good luck, and enjoy your choice, whatever it may be.
Michael O'

Michael O' Loc: Midwest right now

Beautiful shot, and the treasury room is off to the left if memory serves me right. Your timing on the shot and also on this posting of the shot were perfect. Gratsi paison.
Michael O'

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

ahanonymous:

I did not realize that they allowed you to take photographs inside the Vatican. A friend told me he had to sneak a shot of the ceiling of the Cistine Chapel.

AdkHiker Loc: Northeast

Good advice. But tell us since it makes a difference. Are your photos taken with a full frame camera or one that has a crop factor?

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

My choice of lens is predicated by the perspective resulting from a particular distance from lens to subject. We can get a wider view by backing up, but the perspective effect is determined by our choice of lens.
I recall walking back about 450-500 feet so I could take my shot with a 500mm lens and compress the perspective, giving me the shot I wanted.
My rule of thumb (if there is such a thing) is, if the "scene" looks good to my eye, it should most likely be taken with a "normal" lens, i.e. 35mm on a crop sensor, or 50mm on full frame.
Sometimes moving in closer and using a wide-angle is the thing to do.
Just a few different ideas...

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

I have a Canon 17-40mm f/4 that I wouldn't trade for any other lens. It's super for portrait and landscape shots.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

Do you want an ultrawide? Fish eye? I have an 18-55 kit lens 18 being a wide angle 55 being a "normal" lens,
that does very nicely for landscapes

Cathrederal Ledge, Conway NH