Best Wide Angle lens for 7D

<p>I want to get a wide angle lens for my 7D which also performs well in low light, after a bit of research the 2 best options seem to be the Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L and the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8PRO. So I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of these lenses, as I haven’t yet tried out either of them. Also is the much higher cost of the Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L worth it?</p>

<p>Get the Tokina. It is an excellent super-wide zoom made for APS-C cameras. The EF 14mm is a special full-frame AF ultra-wide built for a field-of-view "where no rectilinear lens has gone before". It is unique and well regarded on full-frame where its optical drawbacks are part of the deal, but for APS-C there are better alternatives.</p>

<p>Back in my days, the efs 10-22 was considered the standard for UWA. It's ability to control distortion, CA, sharpness were its <em>raison d'etre</em>.</p>

<p>I check Lensrentals almost every day to see if they have any of their rentals come up for sale. They have a 14mm 2.8<br>

<a href="http://www.lensrentals.com/buy/canon-14mm-f2.8l-ii-serial-number-1279363">http://www.lensrentals.com/buy/canon-14mm-f2.8l-ii-serial-number-1279363</a><br>

I've rented and purchased lenses from them and highly regard both of these services.<br>

I have a 10-22 and although it is a very nice UWA zoom it is neither fast or tack sharp. <br>

I put a lot of stock in what Roger Cicala has to say about lenses. I think it is worth reading his comparisons of the choices in UWA zooms here.<br>

<a href="http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon/lenses/wide-angle/tokina-11-16mm-f2.8-for-canon">http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon/lenses/wide-angle/tokina-11-16mm-f2.8-for-canon</a><br>

The Zeiss 21mm 2.8 is a very fine lens with terrific contrast and color and it is very sharp. However, it just isn't wide enough for a lot of shooting people want to do with the 7D.</p>

<p>How about the Sigma 8-16mm?<br>

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/515-sigma816f4556apsc</p>

<p>Has to be 2.8 for low light work.</p>

<p>What Bueh says. Get the Tokina.</p>

<p>One other lens to consider would be Samyang 14/2.8. I'd still get the Tokina, though.</p>

<p>The Samyang 14/2.8 is blindingly sharp across the frame, and costs about <em>six </em>times less than the optically inferior EF 14/2.8 L. But, alas, it's stuck at 14mm, and has manual focus only.</p>

<p>The abilities and cost of the Canon EF 14mm f2.8 L are wasted on a crop body. If you intend to go full frame and like the idea of having a superwide angle for it, then it will shine.</p>

<p>I'd have to do a bit of research on crop body wideangles to make further suggestions. The only other one that comes to mind is the Sigma 12-24 ( which also works on full frame ). </p>

I was not that impressed by the Canon 14mm F2.8 and bought the 16-35F2.8 II and 17mm F4 TS as my wide angles.

That said I mainly use them on full frame as they ate not that wide on my 7D. I have seen results from the Tokina 11-

16 and they appear to be quite good. That said the lens owner (a Nikon shooter) says it is more like a prime that a

zoom when shooting due to it's limited range. So if you want a fast APS-C lens the Tokina is probably the way to go.

Otherwise I suggest you look at the 17 F4 TS or the 16-35 F2.8 II as the 14 F2.8 I tested was quite disappointing for

the price

<p>I own a Tokina 11-16, I use it a lot in low light, first on 450D then on 7D. I am very happy about it. Just be aware it doesn't handles flares very well</p>

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<p>Just be aware it doesn't handles flares very well</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Damn thats the trouble with ultra-wide lenses, if you're wearing really wide flappy trousers they get in the bottom of the frame ALL the time. I hate them, and stick with boot cut instead, much safer! :-)</p>

<p>I have the tokina 11-16, having previously owned the Sigma 10-20 and 12-24.<br>

Wouldn't go back. It's a beautiful lens. And the f2.8 is very very handy for video.</p>