Wide angle for 1D series

vulcan2912

vulcan2912

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Gary
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Hi

Really frustrating this one.I've found a camera that I :love: to bits(1DMK4) but the wide angle is frustrating the pants off me.I was really hoping Canon would announce a new 12/14-?? last week so was a bit disappointed when they didn't.
I'm not a lover of Sigma lenses so I've ruled out the Sigma 12-24 but I would love something wider than my 16-35.
I'm even contemplating letting the 1D4 go:'( and replacing it with a 5D2 and 7D(need the long end for aviation).
The reason for my post is regarding a T & S lens.I know lots of people use them for creating panoramas but would one be suitable for giving me a wider shot by just using the shift a little and then joining shots.I know absolutly nothing about t & s lenses so this might be a lot more awkward than I imagine.Might be easier to just let the 1D4 go.

Cheers
Gary
 
"I'm not a lover of Sigma lenses..."

Oh dear... Why wont people just buy the best lens they can afford regardless of the badge? It's such a shame to limit your choice through badge snobbery.
 
woof woof said:
"I'm not a lover of Sigma lenses..."

Oh dear... Why wont people just buy the best lens they can afford regardless of the badge? It's such a shame to limit your choice through badge snobbery.
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I agree, silly really.

I am even considering (in the long future mind) adding one of these jobbies to my arsenal. I already have a 17-40 but for those _really_ wide shots it could come in useful.

The thing is, the 1D isn't designed as an UWA camera. It's a long lens lean mean machine-gun grilling machine. That's why it has the APS-H crop factor, to give more reach on long lenses and allow faster FPS to be possible.

Someone mentioned the Tokina 12-24 f/4, but I am under the impression that's a crop (APS-C - 1.6x) lens only. Sigma 12-24 is really the only option that I can see (apart from Fisheye), don't knock it until you've tried it?
 
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Hi

Thanks for all the comments.
I've looked at the Tokinas but they seem to only work from about 15mm onwards.If I didn't already have a 16-35 they would be an option.
Re Sigma-I have a bad history with Sigma lenses.I've had poor focusing lens,a lens that the mount kept coming loose on and one that cosmetically fell to bits.I'm not talking about the cheaper Sigma's either.I'm referring to lenses of the quality of the 100-300 F4,300 F2.8 and 70-200 F2.8.I've also had a 15mm Fisheye stolen while photographing a wedding.My last 2 Sigmas never even got used before I re-sold them.I just didn't want to use them.Photography is a hobby for me so I don't see the point in having something that doesn't give you pleasure using.
I've searched the net for pictures of a 1DXX and 15mm fiseye and only come across a couple.That was my first thought of a solution for me and might still be a goer if i can find some more examples.
The new 8-15mm is very interesting.I love the fisheye effect and was a bit gutted to have to give it up when moving to the 1D.If the images at the 15mm end can be de-fished too that would possibly tick two boxes in one go.
Then again,at £1500 you could nearly pick up a used 5D2 and a second hand 15mm fisheye!
I might even have to give the Sigma 12-24 a go if I can find one cheap enough so that I won't loose too much if I have to re-sell it.
Cheers
Gary
 
I was looking at getting the Sigma 12-24mm for mine. However, I could really do with a decent flash so needs must...

Only downside with the 12-24 is that you need to go use rear gel filters but it will give you 16mm at the wide end.
 
Shoot and stitch is a great way to get around certain problems and land the end result but unless you enjoy processing more than shooting, it usually feels pretty joyless.

if you really do love the mkIV, then your only real option is to try the sigy and give it a chance to change your mind. The IQ is not startling, even on the best copy but since no-one else has even dared to try and put something this wide to the market, you have to credit sigy with making something truly amazing.

Once you stop pixel peeping, the IQ really doesn't stand between you and great images at all.
 
The Sig 12-24 is a lovely little lens on the whole, I have been using one on a 5D MKII for some time and the 12mm on FF is great, yes it is soft in the corners, but stop it down bang it on a tripod and it really nails some good shots,

Since I got my MKIV I have found it pairs well, Equiv 16mm the 1.3 crop helps somewhat with the soft corners and vignetting, still nicer stopped down to f8 and on a tripod, but you can pick up a good copy for about £300 second hand,

Never really had a problem with Siggy kit, and the 12-24 is built like a brick youknowwhat!

Give it a go, you may be pleasantly suprised.
 
I bought mine off Vulcan2912 :D (Think it was £375 if I remember correctly),

Seen a few since for less (£300 - £325) - but happy with what I paid Vulcan as aits a cracking lens.

Keep an eye on AVForums as well seen a couple go through there.
 
Well, if they go that cheaply I'll definitely grab one I think. I can't not at that price, given what I do. :D
 
Funny the only 2 non L series lens in my kit are the Canon 100mm Macro and the Sigma 12-24. The reason its there is because it actually does the job as any Canon lens. Although dont use it so much on my FF on the 50D its great & gets used a lot
 
One trick is to adapt an EF-S 10-22 to fit. From memory, if you remove the rear gasket and don't go lower than 12mm I think, it works well and is probably the sharpest super-wide of that sort of focal length that you can get. Google it.

A T&S lens would be no help at all, but panorama technqiue is an excellent way of getting as wide a wide-angle as you like, and the image quality is better than absolutely anything (because you are effectively increasing the size of the sensor area).
 
I've seen a few pics from a modded 10-22 but they didn't look that good-they were from the same person and the pics were pretty uninspiring which didn't help.What puts me off the 10-22 is the terrible Ca.I've owned 2 of them for my croppers over the years and they have both been pretty bad.I actually sold my first one because I thought I had a lemon.The second one was no better.I'll do another google and see if there's any newer pics out there.
I like the thought of the t & s but it would have to be the older 24mm that I went for.Couldn't justify the outlay on the newer version for something that I maybe wouldn't use.Don't mind maybe losing a few quid on trying a second hand one though.We're short of decent camera stores up in Cumbria so i quite often buy something second hand to give it a try.I consider it like I'm just hiring something for a few weeks/months.

Cheers
Gary
 
vulcan2912 said:
I've seen a few pics from a modded 10-22 but they didn't look that good-they were from the same person and the pics were pretty uninspiring which didn't help.What puts me off the 10-22 is the terrible Ca.I've owned 2 of them for my croppers over the years and they have both been pretty bad.I actually sold my first one because I thought I had a lemon.The second one was no better.I'll do another google and see if there's any newer pics out there.
I like the thought of the t & s but it would have to be the older 24mm that I went for.Couldn't justify the outlay on the newer version for something that I maybe wouldn't use.Don't mind maybe losing a few quid on trying a second hand one though.We're short of decent camera stores up in Cumbria so i quite often buy something second hand to give it a try.I consider it like I'm just hiring something for a few weeks/months.

Cheers
Gary
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I think EdBray on here has a modded 10-22 and rates it (might be wrong there) but if you don't like CA then that's gonna be a problem with just about any superwide. You can corect it of course, with the custom lens profiles in DPP. Lightroom 3 has them too.

I'm not understanding what you expect to gain with a T&S lens :thinking:
 
I use my Sigma 12-24 on both the 1D3 and 1Ds2 and its a brilliant lens!

Bought a 17-40 for comparison but 12mm FF that is OK is awesome for certain shots. Far far less distortion than either my 17-40 or 24-70L.

Extreme corners arent great on the FF but stopped down its fine. Ive just sold my 17-40 and kept the sigma!
 
Sigma 12-24 doesn't take front filters, which would be a big disadvantage for me. I like my polariser for landscapes :)
 
why not just use the 14mm canon lens?
 
I had a 12-24 breifly, I loved the FOV but not the image quality (I clearly had a dodgy copy) so it went back to the shop. Since then I've been using a 17-40 f4 which is plenty wide enough on full frame but I guess would be a bit restrictive on a 1.3x crop (not that I have one). I've just ordered another 12-24 to give that a go as it will be a useful WA on a 1.6 crop and an ultra wide on full frame, I'm hoping I get a decent copy this time...

I'm not a huge Sigma fan either - I've had some superb Sigma lenses (105 and 180 macros and 500 f4.5) but also some that were disappointing (70-200, 100-300 and 12-24). However for ultra wide angle on a Canon FF it really is the only choice.
 
neil_g said:
what would be your suggestion in which case?
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I don't think there is anything apart from those mentioned on here.

While it's true that the 1D series are really not intended as wide angle cameras, whereas they are peerless high speed long lens machines, Canon must be aware of this issue.

It would not surprise me at all if they came out with a 14-??mm zoom, and 2mm is all it would take I think, to sit alongside the 16-35L 2.8 which I think would be welcomed by everyone, but who knows when you'll be able to buy that. And whether they'd be able to do it without a domed front element is another question. I can't see them making a dedicated 1.3x crop lens, which is what is really required to do the job properly.
 
What about it?
 
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