The ideal wide lens? (a hypothetic question hopefully)

[LongLensPhotography]

As in the title it is currently very speculative, until I get the urge to damage the credit card yet again

So imagine you were after almost perfect lens in all ways and would use it for the following

- regular landscapes / seascapes (f/16) with some strong foreground interest and some cool sunstars
- night scapes, star trails, and aurora borealis (very much wide open)
- occasional creative environmental group shots and portraits - weddings - (wide to medium apertures)

The choices:
* 24mm f/1.4L USM II (or I?)
* 24mm TSE II
* 17-40mm - already got one
* 24-70mm L IS if it ever comes out
* something Zeiss

 

[Orville]

You probably need a zoom to cover all the above scenarios, but 24-70 may not be wide enough for land/nightscapes. The 17-40 is probbaly be the best compromise.

 

[HoppyUK]

17-40L is a great all-round super-wide, but specifically for landscape, and if 24mm fits the bill, the TSE is the absolute business.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I'm a bit surprised with the response so far - as 17-40 is not that useful in the dark...

I guess most lanscapes can be forced to / designed around 24mm if need, though there are some clear exceptions to this... I quite like having nice and clean and BRIGHT 16mm so not sure what the options are except tokina 16-28 (any good in the wet and cold arctic?) or 17mm TSE both of which do not take filters (and I realistically can't afford new TSE's).