Wide angle lens or adapter? (Sigma or Nikkor)

[marco_de_biasi]

<p>I'd like to use a wide angle lens on my 7D. Since my girlfriend bought the Nikon D3100 with the Nikkor 18-55 I was thinking that I could try an adapter to mount that lens on the 7D, perhaps like this:<br>

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Lens-Mount-Adapter-Camera/dp/B003EB0AXY/ref=pd_cp_p_2</p>

<p>But I'm wondering how good will be the quality, the speed and the final result (having a crop sensor I shouldn't get the vignetting issue)<br>

But I'm also thinking that maybe for a bunch of bucks more i could get this cheap lens:<br>

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-18-50mm-3-5-5-6-Digital-Cameras/dp/B002DGXUQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289755604&sr=8-1</p>

<p>Now my doubt is that maybe both ways aren't good enough... even if the Sigma after all is just 99 bucks.<br>

Anyone used that lens before?</p>

[Ken Katz]

<p>They do make Nikon to Canon adapters, but since the Nikkor 18-55 does not have a manual aperture ring, there would be no way to adjust the aperture on a Canon 7D, rendering the combination almost useless. The cheapest lens I would consider would be the Canon 18-55IS, which most people think is a decent lens. There are better lenses for more money, which may be better suited for the higher end camera you have, but you would need to have a budget of at least $400.</p>

[marco_de_biasi]

<p>Thanks for your advice Kenneth. About the $400 range, which other lenses you would suggest?<br /> I'm realizing that this kind of lenses are really versatile and maybe more than my current lens, a Canon EF 28-135mm. One option could be sell my Canon EF 28-135mm and buy a good wide angle.</p>

[tony_leinster]

<p>Marco,<br>

It would be worth looking at the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8, if you can afford it the VC (image stabilised) version. Excellent lens on a par with any other make.</p>

[marco_de_biasi]

<p>Btw it seems someone is using an old Nikon 24mm f2.8 Nikkor with the 7D.</p>

[marco_de_biasi]

<p>@ Tony, thanks for the heads up. Curious, I was googling and I did find just that Tamron! I've to see first if selling my 28-135 and change it for a good wide may worths.</p>

 

[JDMvW]

<p>Old manual focus lenses adapt extremely well to Canon EOS (and FD for that matter) as MF, stop-down lenses; but, as noted, it's difficult to get the Nikon aperture mechanism to work on many of the modern, AF lenses that lack aperture control rings. It's not insurmountable, but is very unlikely to be very useful anyhow.</p>

<p>The new EF-S 18-55 with the IS is nearly the cheapest lens made by Canon, and it will provide excellent results, and not just considering its price. Make sure you get the new one with IS; the older one without wasn't exactly a dog, but it was more canid-trending than the new one. Get one used -- people get them cheap as part of a kit, and sell it off when they upgrade.</p>

<p>Working copies sell on eBay for US$70 and up, but to get bottom dollar you need to be patient. You can get it right away at a fair price from B&H or Adorama of KEH or other well-rated vendors.</p>

[William Michael]

<p>Within a budget of $US400 the two paths mentioned might be the answer for you i.e.-<br />1. The EF-S 18 to 55 IS<br />2. A third party 17 to 50 (the Tamron mentioned would be my choice)<br />But neither of these are really "wide angle lenses" but rather "standard zooms" for your 7D - now that might be just a matter of use of words, I don't know.<br />So above all else, I think you have to decide which way your TOTAL kit is going and decide what it is you think you want as a total kit.<br />So in this regard ask yourself what it is <em><strong>you can’t do at the moment</strong></em> –the first is obviously you want a wider lens . . .<br />BUT what other criteria are there?<br />> With the 28 to 135 you have is the 135 a limiting focal length? (For example - as YOU mentioned selling the 28 to 135: then you might consider the <em>EF</em>-<em>S 55</em>-<em>250mm</em> f/4-5.6 IS to replace it.)</p>

<p>> Is the aperture of this lens limiting to you? (in which case the Tamron might be a good idea).</p>

<p>> Also you have to consider if 17mm is WIDE ENOUGH? – and to do this you should borrow your friends and shoot with it – (because your solution might be you want a lens in the 10 to 22 range to supplement your 28 to 135) because it also might be that you expect to get wide angle shots like this:</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11950534-lg.jpg" alt="" /><br />and you cannot do this with a 17 to 50 or an 18 to 55 - the above was taken with a 16mm lens on a 5D which equates to about a 10mm lens on your 7D, so I think you need to think about and define what it is you really want a bit more - you might have already done this but just reading the question through, it is not apparent.</p>

<p>WW</p>

<p> </p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>Also, for what it's worth, I believe that adapter you posted the link is for mounting (on Canon EOS) old manual-focus Canon FD lenses, not Nikon lenses. This kind of adapter is not particularly recommended because it includes a (likely relatively low-quality) glass element to allow infinity focus for lenses that would otherwise be pretty much incompatible. </p>

<p>And as others noted, adapted lenses usually need to include aperture rings or else you'll have no aperture control and (depending on adapter/lens/mount) you'll be stuck always shooting either wide open or all the way stopped down.</p>

<p>The Canon 18-55 IS would be an affordable way to get relatively wide angle, and the IS version would be recommended above the Sigma you linked. Significantly wider or faster will cost considerably more.</p>

[marco_de_biasi]

<p>Thank you all for your advices.<br>

Andrew, about the adapter your're right, I've pasted the wrong link, the right one should be this one:<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Mount-Adapter-Camera-Digital/dp/B001G4QXLE/ref=pd_bxgy_p_img_b">http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Mount-Adapter-Camera-Digital/dp/B001G4QXLE/ref=pd_bxgy_p_img_b</a></p>

<p>About what William says in regard to the crop sensor and the reduced size, you're right I completely missed that point! Anyway I don't wanna go crazy with the wide angle, maybe the ref. you posted it's too much.<br>

It may be possible that the cheap Canon 18-55 could be a good solution. I'm looking around for samples taken with that lens and the 7D but I haven't found anything yet.</p>

[William Michael]

<blockquote>

<p><strong>"I'm looking around for samples taken with that lens and the 7D but I haven't found anything yet."</strong></p>

</blockquote>

<p>This is the NON IS version (and poorer image quality) - and as used on a 20D. For you info I have included the WIDE end use of the lens so you can get an idea of what you can do with it in different situations:<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11957563-lg.jpg" alt="" /> <br>

FL = 33mm<br>

F/5.6 @ 1/40s @ ISO1600 - so I think a 7D would be a bit better for low light work.</p>

 

<ul>

<li>Here is an idea of the barrel distortion: <a href="../photo/10163236&size=lg">http://www.photo.net/photo/10163236&size=lg</a></li>

</ul>

 

<ul>

<li>Here is what you can do at 18mm and the aperture wide open: <a href="../photo/10950622&size=lg">http://www.photo.net/photo/10950622&size=lg</a></li>

</ul>

 

<ul>

<li>Here is what it is like at 21mm: <a href="../photo/10412321&size=lg">http://www.photo.net/photo/10412321&size=lg</a></li>

</ul>

<p>On a 7D the EF-S 18 to 55 F/3.5 - 5.6 IS, would be a very handy, inexpensive lens, IMO.</p>

<p>WW</p>

[marco_de_biasi]

<p>William, thank you very much for posting your samples!</p>

[marco_de_biasi]

<p>Interesting, I've found this what do you guys think about this lens?<br>

The price is almost in that range after all...</p>

<p>http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?229264-Sigma-18-50-for-video</p>