Wide angle confusion

KitchenGoddess

KitchenGoddess

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George
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I was out walking this morning and saw some amazing landscape shots (shame I didn't have my camera with me) but it got me thinking about wide angle lenses. As I'm using a 50d I know the crop factor will affect lens choice but how? This is where my confusion lies. Can you nice folks reccomend a good lens for a budget of max £200?
 
should be able to get a 2nd hand 17-85 EF-S for around £200 - as i sold mine for that last year

(kit lens which came with my 30D)
 
Hi KitchenGoddess, on a 50D the crop factor will be 1.6 which effectively means you will be multiplying the focal length of any lens you put on it by 1.6. This is handy for long range stuff as sticking on a 300mm lens will give you an effective 480mm but it does work against wide angle stuff as you said, the 10-20mm lens would be 16-32mm.

Tommy.
 
As an alternative to a really wide angle lens such as the Sigma 10-20mm or Canon 10-22mm you could consider a 17-85 as suggested or even a 24mm prime and shoot panoramas. This way, shoot in portrait mode and take several images and stitch them together. As long as you have some stitching software (Canon provides some on their Solutions disk) its not that difficult and can produce some excellent results. For most landscape work, you don't need any special equipment, you can even do it handheld with practice.
 
i do a lot of panoramics and the best stiching software in my experience is photomerge in photoshop
 
what lenses do you have at the moment?
 
Surely you have the kit 18-55 KG? In which case, 17-85 isn't going to help much at all.

Sadly the answer to both your questions is the same - you need something around 10-20mm and a used Sigma is the cheapest way of getting it. They have a good reputaion though :)
 
perhaps for a cheaper option, the kit lens. just as wide as the 17-85 and might be wide enough for you. plus you should be able to pick one up for bout £50 without IS.

the quality isnt brilliant, but for the cost and at f numbers of f8ish, should work fine until you can afford better
 
As you are talking about landscape work I would think about stitching panoramas, taken with your existing lens. This is also excellent for interiors.

I use a NN3 mk2 pan bracket and PTAssembler software.. though many experts prefer PTGui especially if they are doing 360x180 spherical pans.
Panoramic photography is also highly effective for interiors.

Both the software's mentioned are inexpensive but totally professional, unlike the photoshop offering, which is a bit of a make do and mend.


Have a look at
http://www.tawbaware.com
http://www.nodalninja.com

Both these sites take you to links to excellent specialist forums.
 
KitchenGoddess said:
Thanks all :)

I didn't get the kit lens, I just bought the body and a 50mm prime and 60mm macro. Have since bought a 50-255mm zoom too.

I never even thought of stiching images together. The 10-20mm looks very good but perhaps the 17-85mm might be more beneficial?, I better get saving.
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Ah, I see. In which case, you don't want to go to a 10-20 just yet - they are very wide. I didn't realise you didn't have a kit lens.

In which case, budget option is to get a kit lens. The 18-55 IS version is very good, and really quite a bargain. I'm very fond of the 17-85 - great range, light, and IS. A used one is around your budget. I think there's one in the For Sale section now.

If you fancy a go at panoramas, they are so easy these days and very effective. Super quality, too.
 
KitchenGoddess said:
Thanks all :)

I didn't get the kit lens, I just bought the body and a 50mm prime and 60mm macro. Have since bought a 50-255mm zoom too.

I never even thought of stiching images together. The 10-20mm looks very good but perhaps the 17-85mm might be more beneficial?, I better get saving.
Click to expand...

You don't say what software you are using at present. I have to disagree with the comments about Photoshop, since CS3 stitching has been a doddle with it and I wouldn't go back to anything else. In the meantime, Canon's own stitching software (photostitch?) will do a pretty good job, with no extra financial outlay.
I don't know whether it would be worth you considering a manual lens and adaptor. I've moved to both Olympus and Contax lenses with adaptors from eBay and have been delighted with the quality of these lenses. An Olympus 24mm will set you back less than £100 and the adaptor is around £15. The only real drawback is that you have no AF and must use stop down metering, but for landscapes that is no big deal.
 
KitchenGoddess said:
I'm using Photoshop elements 6.

I think I'll go for the 18-55mm lens as I don't want to spend a lot and it seems versatile. Landscapes aren't my passion (food & macro are) so I just want to take a few snaps while i'm out and about walking etc.

Thanks all for the (as always) great advice :)
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Good choice. Just make sure you get the newer IS version if you buy used. It looks identical to the old one, but is completely redesigned and much better, including IS of course. You can usually pick one up in the For Sale section for £60-70.
 
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