Help in buying a wide angle lens

I am planning a trip to Maine. I obviously will be taking lots of landscape

pictures and hopefully we will see some whales on our tour. I am clueless as

to what lens/lenses will be the best for my trip. Can anyone please give me

some suggestions? Thanks!

 

I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel 300D, lens that came with it is EF-S 18-55mm

f/3.5-5.6 and I have a telephoto ultrasonic EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM.

Dianna,

 

The lenses you have are not bad, and should get you most of the shots. Granted, there are better quality lenses, though, how much do you want to spend? I believe, the 18-55 & 75-300 will suffice. They have limitations, but nothing that can't be managed.

 

For the whales, the 75-300 will be extremely useful. Just remember to set the shutter speed to 1/500 or more (1/640, 1/800), especially if you are on a boat. Depending on the lighting, you may have to increase the ISO to 400 or 800.

 

Your title mentions a wide-angle lens. Is there are reason you want a wide-angle lens? The 18-55 will work for landscape-shots. Stop-down the lens, set the aperture to f/16 or f/22 etc. And use a tripod, if you can.

 

If you really want a wide-angle lens, I suggest you read this page by Bob Atkins:

 

http://www.photo.net/equipment/wideangle-dslr.html

 

Most wide-angle lenses will cost you over $500, (more than both your current lenses combined).

 

Amol

I think you have the correct equipment for a trip to Maine. Most of the time you will use the kit 18-55. I suppose you?ll get a tour and you will want not to carry too much weigh. You are familiarized with the tele and can use it for whales. It is enough and the maximum you can take without a tripod on a ship. In addition, if you are stolen or lose your equipment, it will not be a tragedy. I have something similar and would prefer to carry a Panasonic DMC-FZ50 I have. If I didn?t have it I would take the rebel and the lenses .I wouldn?t buy anything just for the trip. I suppose you are not a professional, Aren?t you? Other thing. If you have or can borrow a pocket camera, take it as a back up.

I suggest, rather tentatively, that you might look at the Ultra-Wide zooms reviewed in the link given above. Persoanlyy I would recommenr the Canon 10-22 but it is quite pricey compared with some of the others.

 

The reason I am only tentaively suggesting the ultra-wides is that they require a particular technique to get the best out of them. If you are happy not to go wider than 18mm then I would discount the ultra-wide suggestion.<div></div>

If you are looking for an ultra wide angle I would suggest the Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 <br>

The image quality is as good as the Canon 10-22 and it is 30% less expensive.

I have not been to Maine. I Googled it and looked at some of the scenery, (very nice).

 

I have however shot Whales and Dolphins, from land and from a boat. I have the kit lens you have, I have not used the zoom telephoto you have, but comment on it via information from people whose opinion I trust here at Photonet.

 

Your post title implies you want a wider lens, but the body of the text implies you require general advice.

 

On the first point, really there are only few wider options available.

 

In the Canon range, for a big difference you have only the Canon EF-S 10 to 22, the 16 to 35 F2.8L, the 14mm F2.8 and the 15mm Fisheye. There are other third party lenses of similar focal lengths. Also there are Canon 17mm zoom lenses you could buy which arguably better than the kit lens and one mm wider than you have.

 

But do you really `need` 1 or 2mm wider for this trip? I think not.

 

Certainly a reasonable argument could be mounted for an 8mm wider lens (i.e. the 10 to 22mm), so if it is a specific question you are asking and you want another wide angle lens I suggest a zoom and I suggest the Canon EF-S 10 to 22mm.

 

But if it is a more general question you are asking: what do I need for this trip? > then read on:

 

I agree the two lenses you have will capture most of your needs.

 

The MAJOR shortcoming I see in BOTH lenses is their speed, and this might / will limit you when the sun is not at its strongest.

 

Suitable work around: A tripod will be a useful tool to assist remedying this for some landscape captures, many of which are at their most beautiful when the sun is weaker: I like using the kit lens at F7 to F11, I suggest this is an important point you should consider.

 

Note: on this point I disagree with Amol Kumar, I WOULD generally NOT use the kit lens at F16, and CERTAINLY NOT at F22, at these apertures there is too much diffraction. My limit with this lens is really F12.

 

When using the telephoto at lower light levels (eg whales at dawn and dusk) you might find you will be pushing the ISO high: you will have to sustain 1/500, or faster, shutter speeds; a suggestion with which I agree.

 

If you are keen to purchase another lens then I suggest you look farther than just the usefulness of it during the upcoming trip: rather at your whole lens system and where it is lacking for your general needs.

 

If you like shooting low light stuff, especially with people (people move even when they are still), then an inexpensive option would be to buy the 35mm F2 and 50mm F1.8. These two lenses added to your current pair you have will give you a fast portrait and standard lens combination which will be useful on the trip but moreover serve you in your endeavours later.

 

On the other hand if you are into sports photography, (eg you have a child that plays football) then you might consider selling the zoom you have and buying a faster 70 to 200mm F2.8L.

 

These two examples are also juxtaposed in cost: but the point is you have a reasonable pair of lenses for the Maine trip: think outside that particular box, before buying anything else, that is my advice.

 

WW

"...The 18-55 will work for landscape-shots. Stop-down the lens, set the aperture to f/16 or f/22 etc..."

 

Nope. With the 18-55 you'll hardly ever need to stop down more than f8. Use f8 and pretty much everything will be in focus at the widest setting, 18mm. Importantly, no sensor dust will be visible at f8, unlike "f16 f22 etc".

Dianna,

 

If you want a wide angle lens, but don't want to buy one consider renting the EF-S 10-22 from lensprotogo.com. $55 for a weekly rental is a lot less that $600+ for the lens.

 

I have the same telephoto lens you have it it works well in bright sun light but not so well in low light. If you don't have a monopod I would recommend getting one before your trip.

Just use what you have, and buy a good tripod, a good polarizer, and a cable release.

 

If at all, buy a telephoto zoom with image stabilizer (see the 70-300 IS, or the 70-300 IS DO).

Thanks everyone for your advice. Just to clarify some of the questions - I was doing some online research and everywhere I read said the best type of lens for landscape is a wide angle, since I do not have one I was looking to buy one. I am not a professional, just someone who loves to take pictures - and I take a lot! If I am buying a new lens I don't mind putting out the money but want to get the best lens that I will be able to use often - ex. vacations, kids sports (cheerleading, gymnastics, swimming/diving, karate, cross-country, etc.), my own portraits of the family and often I have friends who ask me to take pictures for them at events. Dianna

I you're looking to upgrade from the kit lens, I suggest Tamron 17-50/2.8 or Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 or Canon 17-55/2.8 (expensive)

>>> I read said the best type of lens for landscape is a wide angle, since I do not have one I was looking to buy one. <<<

 

 

 

You do and it will work quite well for landscapes: it is the kit lens and used between (approx) 24mm and 18mm it is a wide angle zoom lens.

 

 

 

Please re read my previous post. The point I make about this kit

lens is its lack of speed (fast aperture), this is a limitation, but not necessarily a limitation for landscape work, it is a very good landscape lens.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

>>> but want to get the best lens that I will be able to use often - ex. vacations, kids sports (cheerleading, gymnastics, swimming/diving, karate, cross-country, etc.), my own portraits of the family <<<

 

 

 

 

For all of these endeavours I think the LEAST suitable lens would be a wide angle.

 

 

 

 

I bought three lenses specifically for portraiture, swimming, diving and field sports: 50mm F1.4, 85mmF1.8 and 70to 200mmF2.8L, and also the x1.4II and x2.0II teleconverters. These are all fast telephoto & telephoto zoom lenses: not wide angle.

 

 

 

For sports we need a fast lens so we can utilize a fast shutter speed to freeze the action: this is even more important when we move inside, because the light is substantially diminished. For sport under arena lights, especially children`s sports, the lighting is usually quite poor (low intensity). A lens of F2.8 is really the slowest you want to go, and you will find there is more bang for the buck with a prime than a zoom, but a fast (F2.8) zoom is exceptionally convenient.

 

 

 

My advise is, considering you have two lenses ranging from 18 to 300mm: go to the gym, the field, the arena, the pool and test what the focal lengths are you need to get you child in the frame. It certainly will not be wide angle, if you are close to the mat or poolside, or on the cross country ropes and able to walk along them then 85 to 100mm might be the go: if you are relegated to the grandstand then a 200mm and x1.4II extender might be more useful.

 

 

 

Just some food for thought, it seems to me that your passion for a wide angle lens does not sit with the uses outlined in you second post.

 

 

 

WW