New Wide Angle Lens Ideas, please!

[beckstoy]

Here's my current lens list:

(body: 5DM3)

50mm f1.4
24-105 f4
70-200 f2.8 IS II USM

I'm realizing that I need a wider angle than 24mm (on the 24-105).  I've dropped some nice coin into my body and lenses so far, so I'd like to stay under about $600 for a good 12mm+ (preferably to about 24mm) zoom lens.  I figure that should set me up for a good range of lengths.  Everything I've used has been Canon brand but I'm open to other brands if they work well.  I used to borrow a Sigma 10-20mm for my crop sensor body, but I'd prefer to get something for FF and actually OWN it rather than count on my friend not needing it.

I do mainly portraiture, weddings and events.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[robbymack]

Sigma 12-24

[beckstoy]

Thanks, I hear that Sigma 12-24 is good. 

Tamron make anything comparable?

[Rienzphotoz]

I don't think you can get a FF 12-24mm lens lens for under $600 ... unless if it used.

[Niterider]

I agree on the sigma 12-24mm. If you want a uwa zoom, it is the best one for under 1k.

Unless you need the flexibility of a zoom, I would recommend a fixed focal length for anything under 24mm. I recommend this lens a lot (too much maybe), but the Samyang/Bower/Rokinon 14mm F2.8 lens is magical. It does suffer distortion, but is easily corrected using a lens profile in lightroom. Many who own this lens create and give out their lens profiles via the internet, which work really well.

Plus, I picked up the lens for $300. Amazing lens for the price

[beckstoy]

Great ideas, everyone.  i just found a Sigma 12-24 DG for $450.  I'll probably jump on that.

[robbymack]

I don't think tamron makes anything quite as good as the sigma. I always recommend used let someone else pay the premium for it new and sigma just updated the 12-24 so there are a good many of the first version of that lens (it really controls distortion well) available just have to be patient. If you can deal with no electronics and manual focus then the rokinon/samyang/ET al 14 2.8 is really good for the price as well.

[florianbieler.de]

The Samyang truly is a powerful thing if you don't mind its manuality. For landscape not really a problem, just pop it to infinity. These are some of the shots I did with it:


The Verge von Florian Bieler auf Flickr


Light Emission von Florian Bieler auf Flickr


Venice von Florian Bieler auf Flickr


Waterside von Florian Bieler auf Flickr


Trouble with the curve von Florian Bieler auf Flickr


What is left at the end of the day. (EXPLORED) von Florian Bieler auf Flickr

Well I sold it though because I loved wide angle so much I decided to get a 17-40 4.0L for it has got autofocus and is affordable. Maybe upgrading to 16-35 later or lets see how much a 14-24 will as soon as it comes.

[killswitch]

The Samyang truly is a powerful thing if you don't mind its manuality. For landscape not really a problem, just pop it to infinity.

Well I sold it though because I loved wide angle so much I decided to get a 17-40 4.0L for it has got autofocus and is affordable. Maybe upgrading to 16-35 later or lets see how much a 14-24 will as soon as it comes.

Beautiful shots florianbieler! Any idea if there are ways I can mount a ND/GND filters on this 14mm Samyang lens? Are there filter adapters made for this lens? Like the ones from Lee Filters for Nikon's 14-24, etc.

[Niterider]

Well I sold it though because I loved wide angle so much I decided to get a 17-40 4.0L for it has got autofocus and is affordable. Maybe upgrading to 16-35 later or lets see how much a 14-24 will as soon as it comes.

How does the Canon 17-40mm compare to the Samyang??? I have been debating a 17-40 for traveling, but I am worried that after getting used to the IQ of the Samyang, I will be left wanting more out of the 17-40mm.

By the way, I really enjoy the pictures you have taken with the 14mm!

[killswitch]

Well I sold it though because I loved wide angle so much I decided to get a 17-40 4.0L for it has got autofocus and is affordable. Maybe upgrading to 16-35 later or lets see how much a 14-24 will as soon as it comes.

How does the Canon 17-40mm compare to the Samyang??? I have been debating a 17-40 for traveling, but I am worried that after getting used to the IQ of the Samyang, I will be left wanting more out of the 17-40mm.

By the way, I really enjoy the pictures you have taken with the 14mm!

Do not remember if I read it here in CR forum or not, but someone was talking about a focus confirmation chip added to his 14mm Samyang or some other lens. I could be wrong, but if that it's possible then awesome.

[MARKOE PHOTOE]

Well I sold it though because I loved wide angle so much I decided to get a 17-40 4.0L for it has got autofocus and is affordable. Maybe upgrading to 16-35 later or lets see how much a 14-24 will as soon as it comes.

How does the Canon 17-40mm compare to the Samyang??? I have been debating a 17-40 for traveling, but I am worried that after getting used to the IQ of the Samyang, I will be left wanting more out of the 17-40mm.

By the way, I really enjoy the pictures you have taken with the 14mm!

You can get dandelion chips to mount on most any manual lens but I don't just how accurate they are for focus.  Of course you can get a Nikon mount of this lens and buy the N-EOS mount that will provide focus confirmation however it is an additional cost to this setup.  From what I've read, with such a wide angle a focus  confirmation is not really applicable and the best way to confirm focus with live view X10. 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Well I sold it though because I loved wide angle so much I decided to get a 17-40 4.0L for it has got autofocus and is affordable. Maybe upgrading to 16-35 later or lets see how much a 14-24 will as soon as it comes.

How does the Canon 17-40mm compare to the Samyang??? I have been debating a 17-40 for traveling, but I am worried that after getting used to the IQ of the Samyang, I will be left wanting more out of the 17-40mm.

By the way, I really enjoy the pictures you have taken with the 14mm!

Do not remember if I read it here in CR forum or not, but someone was talking about a focus confirmation chip added to his 14mm Samyang or some other lens. I could be wrong, but if that it's possible then awesome.

You probably do not need AF for UWA lenses, everything from about 3.5 ft to infinity is in focus with a 14mm lens.
If you get the Samyang, good luck! 

[AJ]

About Sigma 12-24.  Note that there is a mk1 version and a mk2 version.  The latter has improved optics.

[Drizzt321]

Well I sold it though because I loved wide angle so much I decided to get a 17-40 4.0L for it has got autofocus and is affordable. Maybe upgrading to 16-35 later or lets see how much a 14-24 will as soon as it comes.

How does the Canon 17-40mm compare to the Samyang??? I have been debating a 17-40 for traveling, but I am worried that after getting used to the IQ of the Samyang, I will be left wanting more out of the 17-40mm.

By the way, I really enjoy the pictures you have taken with the 14mm!

You can get dandelion chips to mount on most any manual lens but I don't just how accurate they are for focus.  Of course you can get a Nikon mount of this lens and buy the N-EOS mount that will provide focus confirmation however it is an additional cost to this setup.  From what I've read, with such a wide angle a focus  confirmation is not really applicable and the best way to confirm focus with live view X10.

Yea, the Dandelion chips can be put on most of them. And it's not that the chip does any auto-focusing, it's that the chip enables some communication with the camera, and puts it into a mode which allows the AF to be active and flash on the view finder when the selected AF point(s) get in focus.

For MF lenses, Live View is best, but if you don't want to put it on a tripod, or no room, AF assist can be helpful. It also adds some EXIF info, which can help identify which photos were taken with which MF lens.