best 'budget' wide lens?

wez130

wez130

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Ok i've gone mad so far with my new camera etc, but i want a better wide zoom than the kit 18-55, i have this and my 75-300 none USM to trade in and about £100 or maybe a bit more i can use to fund it so say a budget of upto £200 or not much more, what's my best option? it doesn't have to be 18-55, it can be 17mm-> or less even.

Thanks, wez130
 
sigma 10-20 or tokina 12-24 reall are your only choices for wider than 18mm.

Don't know if you'll get them for the price you want though.
 
i'm looking at the sigma 17-70 F/2.8-4.5 DC Macro (£219.99) or the Tamron AF 17-50 F/2.8 XR Di II LD ASPH (IF) (£259)
atm, will research later, any other suggestions, not bothered about superwide, just mainly a replacement for kit lens.
 
Both are popular and well regarded lenses.

Between those choices it is whether you would prefer the extra length of the Sigma (50-70mm) or the constant faster aperture of the Tamron (f/2.8 throughout, the Sigma is only this wide at 17-18mm).

Although not a proper macro, the Sigma gives something like 1:2.2 reproduction from a few inches away so is a pretty useful thing to have on a general walkaround lens.

Michael.
 
If you need a walkaround lens, the Sigma will probably be a better choice and you'll be able to make some close-ups.
If you plan on shooting indoors a lot, grab the Tamron.
Which is almost what mij said. XD

I'll be probably deciding between these two, but I've had a brief look and the Sigma 18-125 isn't to bad either, it just might be the thing to go for if you want a walkaround lens.

The more extreme zooms either cost too much or they deliver inconsistent performance (like the Sigma 18-200 OS, which could be a decent lens otherwise).
 
Tokina 12-24 is a brilliant lens. I bought it a few months ago and love it
 
I have the Sigma 17-70, agree with all the comments above, great lens nice and sharp.
 
I got the tamron for £215 by the way from onestopdigital, quite big savings there.
 
hmmm, so no closer to a decision, i think the Tamron is swaying me for the constant F/2.8, but like was mentioned, the macro is useful on the sigma as is the extra 15mm
 
Gandhi said:
sigma 10-20 or tokina 12-24 reall are your only choices for wider than 18mm.

Don't know if you'll get them for the price you want though.
Click to expand...

:agree: with Gandhi - since his post you seem to have veered off towards the better quality kit lens like the 17-50mm etc - these aren't wide angle lenses imho especially with the crop factor added in (?) The 10-20mm Sigma is highly rated although unless you find a minty used one you wont get much change from £260 even from HK ... Paul ;)
 
Agreed about the 10-20mm. Just got one for my newly aquired Canon 30D, and Boy, it's W--I--D--E.

Might be worth contacting Kerso for a price on one of these :shrug:
 
i know it's not a true wide angle, i just want a better 'walk about' to replace the kit lens.
 
i've decided on the sigma, going to get it on Tuesday, it seems to make sense as an ideal walk about lens. (don't tell the missus though :D)
 
Only thing I'd watch out for is whether it will take a screw on front filter... a lot of the non-Canon wide lens use rear filters and you can't get a polarizer easily in that type...
 
Wez, have tested these two and the Tamron is as sharp as my sharp 17-40mm L, I was going to buy one over the 'L' but future value and the L swayed it for me.

I would go Tamron
 
desantnik said:
Only thing I'd watch out for is whether it will take a screw on front filter... a lot of the non-Canon wide lens use rear filters and you can't get a polarizer easily in that type...
Click to expand...

A lot? The only wide lenses that are like that are fisheyes or full 35mm frame super wide ones, and that is as true of Canon and Nikkor lenses as it is any of the third-party manufacturers.

The Tamron has a 67mm thread and the Sigma has a 72mm thread. Using a polarizer should not be a problem as neither of them rotate while focussing.

Michael.
 
Not true on the rear mount filters, a few of the Canon L's take rear (gel) or front mounted filters, and they are not fisheye, the 17-40mmL certainly isn't. The Sigma 17-35mm cannot take front filters due to it's bulbous front element to name but two.
 
mij said:
The Tamron has a 67mm thread and the Sigma has a 72mm thread. Using a polarizer should not be a problem as neither of them rotate while focussing.

Michael.
Click to expand...

Correct about the Sigma its doesn't rotate, use a circular polarizer on mine with no problems.
 
I have the Sigma 17-70, just replaced my 18-55 (Samsung GX-10 - re. Pentax K10D) & I'm very impressed. Great improvement over the kit lens, which isn't bad either as kit lenses go.

The Sigma has great contrast/sharpness - a shot from last night - had a little PP but nothing much


G101342_Llangollen.jpg
 
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