Just got the canon 16-35 ii and having a hard time seeing the value in this uwa

[KKCFamilyman]

I never had a uwa and am going to disney for the 4th and was bringing my 24-70 and sigma 35 but when looking at photo's others were taking they seemed wider than longer. I have played with it tonight and am not sure if its going to serve much purpose since i tend to lack reach but it was highly suggested so I figured i would give it a shot. Any thoughts on how this lens is useful for anything other than landscapes?

This is an example of my vacation shots.

][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/69086871@N03/8658772983/]
Rapunzel character greeting by nvtsallo, on Flickr[/url]

 

[Loswr]

It's useful when 24mm isn't wide enough. That happens sometimes, often indoors.

 

[robbymack]

Are you just using it at the widest setting? I hate the idea that a lens is "meant" for a certain purpose, but some certainly lean a direction.

 

[KKCFamilyman]

Are you just using it at the widest setting? I hate the idea that a lens is "meant" for a certain purpose, but some certainly lean a direction.

Well just for perspective. My worry is that if I got close then my subjects will be distorted. I wonder if I should have went for more reach. Just wish there were some people shots i could see for inspiration to keep the lens.

 

[victorwol]

Have you check the Canon 16-35 flicker group? There is plenty of photos in there only with this lens. I have it and enjoy it a lot..

 

[alexanderferdinand]

Try it, look how much you use it.
If you dont like it, sell it.

My copy was a lemon. Changed it for the Tokina 16-28; this I used a lot on my trip in Venice.
And yes: humans in the corners, espacially on the wide end can look a bit distorted.

 

[KKCFamilyman]

Have you check the Canon 16-35 flicker group? There is plenty of photos in there only with this lens. I have it and enjoy it a lot..

I have but not many that i saw with people but rather landscape type shots.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I bought mine for wider than 24mm. There is a limited use for me with images that wide. Mostly large groups of people in limited space, or wide vistas.
I plan to use it this spring, and if it doesn't grow on me, I'll sell it. Now that I have the 24-70, that may be enough for almost all of my images.

 

[Quasimodo]

A surreal question. The normal setting is that you desire/need a lens for the type of shots you have imagined - and then cough up the money for it. Not the other way around. I love mine

 

[dmills]

When I bought my 60D, the first lens I purchased was the 10-22mm (similar to the 16-35 on a full frame). I used that as my only lens for nearly a year before buying a 24-105. During that year, I learned a lot of things:

*With an UWA lens, you need something close to your camera to be the 'anchor'. If everything is far away, it all looks flat. This is even more true on a fisheye lens.

*An UWA gives context to a subject. If you're taking a portrait, and you pull out your 70-200, and get a nice head and shoulders portrait, it will look great, but it will also look like every other portrait. By all means, get that shot, and then pull out the UWA and get a shot of the person doing something. In my opinion, the 70-200 captures the subject, the 35-50ish gets the subject and shows some background, and the sweet spot is the 16-24ish, where you're "telling a story". It's hard to tell a story with anything longer than 50mm. I'm not saying it can't be done, just that it's difficult.

*An UWA gives you a greater depth of field even at the wider apertures. Pop it up to f8 or so, and you almost can't miss focus. On my 60D with the 10-22, I really never worried about focus unless I had something within 2 ft. of the lens. That's a nice thing! If you take a shot, and you just slap the focus somewhere in the middle, and you're around f5.6, it's pretty guaranteed to be clear.

 

[sanj]

I really tried but do not understand this question at all.

 

[dmills]

Because you said you were interested in pictures with people, I'll post some I took. Again, since I don't have a 16-35, you'll have to see one's I took with the 10-22. Since your question is about the UWA perspective related to people though, I think they're applicable.

 

[AudioGlenn]

you don't see the real value because you are a beginner. This lens is meant for creative photographers who can think of depth, perspective, composition and intelligent framing.

Those 2 photos you posted are snapshot and can be easily taken using an iphone.

even though this was put rather rudely, I have to agree on some level. (although I think "learncanon" needs to learn a little tact)

an UWA is a special lens and from the examples you posted, it looks like a 24-70 might've been more up your alley...or at least a standard zoom. the distortion is something you can learn to play with. sounds to me like you purchased the lens without really knowing what you wanted from it.

 

[Marsu42]

Are you just using it at the widest setting? I hate the idea that a lens is "meant" for a certain purpose, but some certainly lean a direction.

Well just for perspective. My worry is that if I got close then my subjects will be distorted. I wonder if I should have went for more reach.

It's great you're posting here because you tend to get the most expensive gear (which is absolutely legit, btw) and then wonder what to do with it, makes me feel better with having cheap gear but learning how to use it

I got a wide angle lens *because* I want shots to be distorted and getting a "close up" effect, otherwise I just do a step back - I was shooting with a zoom starting at 45mm for the last years and seldom missed wider angles. Yes, uwa might be essential for some indoors people group shots but for architectural shots you can also do panorama stitching.

Please do see this, uwa is not for "taking it all in": http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to-use-ultra-wide-lenses.htm

 

[serendipidy]

Some guy...I think his name was Picasso...became very famous and wealthy making images of distorted people ;D

 

[sandymandy]

Yes but it was not because of the brush he used...

 

[greger]

I think you made a wise decision buying the 16-35 mm lens. You will get some really nice pics with it on you 5Dlll. It won't happen right away but as you get used to using it your results will improve. Put it on you camera and go to an outdoor car show and take pics. You will be able to get pics that look like they came out of a magazine. At Christmas you can take pics of lights on houses and get the whole scene with ease. Scenery pics will look better if you work hard to get a good composition. Its a lens I would be buying if I went full frame.

 

[ksuweh]

The lens will distort anyone that you take a picture of. Typically a portrait is taken with a lens in the range of 50mm - 200mm, which minimizes distortion. 50mm is equivalent to what you see with your eye. With that being said it doesn't mean that you cant take good pictures or portraits with your 16-35. In tight spaces you might need the wide end of that lens. If you have Mickey Mouse standing there next to you take the picture with the lens closer to him to make him larger than life while still including the family. Basically, you have to be more creative with an ultra-wide to make images that are stunning. It is a really fun lens!! Just practice with it & get a feel for the lens. I love mine!

 

[KKCFamilyman]

you don't see the real value because you are a beginner. This lens is meant for creative photographers who can think of depth, perspective, composition and intelligent framing.

Those 2 photos you posted are snapshot and can be easily taken using an iphone.

even though this was put rather rudely, I have to agree on some level. (although I think "learncanon" needs to learn a little tact)

an UWA is a special lens and from the examples you posted, it looks like a 24-70 might've been more up your alley...or at least a standard zoom. the distortion is something you can learn to play with. sounds to me like you purchased the lens without really knowing what you wanted from it.

Yeah i had money to burn and wanted a lens other than my 2470 and 70200 combo so went for it just not sure for my upcoming vacation if this was a good buy vs a lighter telephoto like the 70-300l so put up this post to see real world uses before I just returned it.

 

[bdunbar79]

Personally, I think you need to settle down and cool off on all the new gear. Just use your camera and a few lenses and get good at photography before you worry so much about gear all the time. Just some friendly advice that I think will help you relax.