Seeking Canon 450D Lens Suggestion for Landscapes

[gary_meehan]

Hi:

 

I've finally decided to take the DSLR plunge, and will most likely go with the Canon 450D. What would be a good

lens to go with if I want to do landscape work? I don't want to have to buy anything with image stabilization

built into it.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

-Gary

[ed_v.]

Hi Gary--I'm going to put my vote in for the Tokina 12-24 AT-X Pro (~$500). They also have an 11-16 of similar quality if you want to go a notch wider. Canon makes a good 10-22 mm, but a bit more expensive.

[julianj1]

I'm not sure what you're budget is but I have been using Canon's 17-40L for landscape work and it is great. It is expensive in relation to the camera but good lenses will outlive generations of cameras and make a big impact on the quality of the picture. You'll find a lot of very positive discussion on this lens on this site and a lot of truly exceptional photos taken with it.

[zargahi]

Hi, I mostly use my 17-40 f/4L and it workes very well (at f8 and beyond) for landscape photography (much cheaper than 16-35).

Cheers

[bjscharp]

Depends: Do you have a good tripod? If not, get the cheapest or lightest one in the focal length range you want

(probably the wider ranges as suggested by Ed V), as any additional quality will probably be wasted in higher ISOs

or camera shake.

 

If you do have a good tripod, or plan on buying one, common perception is that the Canon 10-22 is unmatched in

quality, but also in price.

[ben_obryan]

The 17-40 is a very good lens. I've recommended it to people with crop EOS cameras as it is a good general purpose lens which becomes a nice, compact, light wide angle on full frame. (It's the only zoom I have.)

 

Not sure it's going to do the job for you as a landscape lens on a 450D, in fact not really being any better in terms of FOV than the kit lens.

 

I've not tried the 10-22 but people do like it (although I have heard some complaints about the build and it filling with dust - pretty anecdotal though). I did use the Sigma 12-24 a fair bit and thought it was a decent option - built like a tank and nice to handle. In common with a few other Sigma lenses it did however need some post-processing in some conditions to sort the yellowy tinge out.

[martijn_houtman]

My vote would either go to the Canon 17-40mm or the Sigma 12-24mm, depending on how wide you want to go. Both

lenses are very sharp at f/8 and beyond. You could also go for alternatives such as EF-S lenses; they will not work on a full-frame camera,

but they work fine on your 450D. I have no experience with EF-S lenses myself.

[Brad_]

Canon 10-22mm for super wide angle, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 for medium range. Use both on my 450D.<P>

 

A lot of 450D shots can be seen <a href= "http://www.citysnaps.net/blog">on my blog</a>.

[paul_russell1]

I use and am happy with the sigma 10-20mm EX DC lens. Were I buying today I migh consider the more expensive 12-24 sigma instead as this works on full frame cameras as well. If you are only going to be using the 450 for the next few years then its a good lens. Competitively priced as well, though budget for a polariser and X-PRO sized filter.

 

Cheers

[arie_vandervelden1]

Go ultrawide, don't settle for anything less then (I mean greater than) 10 mm. I suggest Canon 10-22 or Sigma 10-20.

[wgpinc]

Get the 450D/XSi with the very good quality 18-55mm IS kit lens. I use that combination for my light weight camera, and I think you'll be amazed at the quality stopped down to 8.0 or better. Turn the IS off when you mount it on a tripod. I have seen fabulous landscape work done even with the previous non IS version of the kit lens when used with good technique. Use that for a while and if you need wider get the very fine, but expensive, Canon 10-22mm. People get funny ideas re things like IS. It's a fantastic asset if you are hand holding but can be easily turned off if you mount it on a tripod. You need to look at the whole picture. For instance the 17-55mm 2.8 IS zoom that Canon produces is my sharpest zoom, even better than the excellent 24-105mm IS zoom, and it is the very best lens Canon produces in that focal length. The top half dozen pictures in my Chinatown portfolio are with the XSi/18-55mm IS kit lens. You need to get the camera not the theory in your hand.

[chris.sager]

I love my Tamron 17-50 F2.8 and will likely add the Tokina 11-16 at some point. These two lenses, along with my 55-250 creates a very competent, light weight kit that can be very usefull and wont break the bank!

[mark from thailand]

Depends. I took a landscape course with David Noton (see his website - awesome photos at http://www.davidnoton.com/) & he regularly

uses 16 - 35 L, 24 - 70 L & even 70 - 200 L as well as a bunch of more,

specialist lenses. This is clearly if budget is less of an issue, you believe quality of glass is essential & depending on whether you want

that wide angle view or want to zoom into the village nestling in the valley.

 

Personally I'd go for the 16-35 f2.8L, as it is wide, even on a crop sensor, copes well with low light early in the morning &

the quality is great!

 

And, of course, a good tripod is essential.

 

And, finally, some neutral density graduated filters make all the difference for sky v land exposure!

[kristian_dale]

For landscape work I would highly recommend the Sigma 10-20. I used to have it on my 350D, and I loved its performance. The only reason I sold it was because I sold my 350D to go Full Frame. I bought the 5D with 24-105mm, and for a few months I really missed a ultra wide lens, until I got my 17-40mm.

 

The 17-40mm is amazing, but for landscape I would go for a wider lens on a crop body. I believe that you wont see that much difference since the FOV is basicly the same as your kit-lens.

 

Kristian