Canon 20mm qualities?

Big Andy

Big Andy

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Got myself a 24-70mm but would like something a little wider for those odd occasions when landscaping or maybe indoors at a party. I know a 16-35mm is a great lens and one will be in the bag in the future. Until that time I'm thinking about the Canon 20mm prime but can't find much about it whether good or bad. Anybody here owned one and willing to spill the beans?
 
Seems to be a lot of conflicting issues on that, kenrockwell mentions something about intentional field curvature(which he claims is the reason people are saying it has such soft edges iirc), though I haven't found much else otherwise.
 
is 20mm really going to be wide enough? Maybe worth stretching budget a little further to the 17-40 if you don't need the faster aperture (2.8 vs 4) of the 20mm (you wont for landscapes most of the time). Maybe just save for the 16-35mm f2.8 II I have this lens and its great! (previously borrowed a 17-40 f4 that was very good aswell)
 
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@Magnus So that's one negative reply, and as you say I can't find much about it at all on the net not that my search skills are up to much.
@Caracus I do intend to go for the 16-35mm but want this as a short term buy with thoughts of using for 6 months to a year as the 70-200 will have to come first. If I get one I will go for a second hand one at say £240 and then hopefully sell for much the same but if they are a poor lens I won't bother and manage without.

And thank you for taking the time to reply.
 
20mm gets rather poor reviews, and 16-35 II is about just as bad as 17-40mm. So you may as well get the latter used and save some cash. You could obviously spend a fortune and buy Zeiss 21mm that is almost perfect. Personally I am waiting with 17-40mm in hand until canon cleans up their wideangle act. Otherwise use that 24-70mm a bit more - they are great
 
Thanks Richard that's a damming review and the end of any thoughts of buying this, I'll just have to suffer with the 24-70 for now, life's a bitch. :D

Thank you as well Daugirdas, it does seem that Canon are a bit week in this area. A good quality prime some where in the 17 to 20 window would be a good move, just hope it happens in the next year or so ready for me to get. And affordable as well.
 
I bought one a week ago. Getting on fine with it so far, but it's still far too new for me to have formed an objective opinion. I bought it for indoor use rather than landscapes, and it was great to have around on NYE.

Reviews on the web seemed mixed - in addition to the ones you've found there is also this for the 17-40L, comparing it to the 20mm.
Canon 20mm f/2.8 lens: Strengths: The lens is free of linear distortion. It has less light drop off when stopped down than the 17-40 lens. It is very useable at f/2.8 and f/4. Weaknesses: None
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If I already had a 24mm I doubt I'd bother, I wouldn't expect the FoV to be wildly different.
 
There's always the Sigma 20mm f1.8. I had one and found it to be a good performer.
 
Big Andy said:
a little wider for those odd occasions when landscaping or maybe indoors at a party.
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Quite different requirements for the above...

Im a big fan of the 17-40 f4 L however It gets really bad press because on the whole it's misunderstood.

People crave L lenses and being the cheapest, it's often the first L lens folk buy expecting fantastic results and are dissapointed.

Why ?

Often it's shoved onto a crop camera as people think the 1.6 factor makes it equal to a walkabout lens. Regardless of what it's attached to folk try and use it for everything. F4 becomes a limitation especially without image stabilisation etc etc.....

For me it's a classic wee lens if used correctly. It will go all day in the rain, slip into a coat pocket, 77mm fits in with filters and colour rendition is good.

Forget f4, it's like moaning about the ride in my landrover at 90mph.
 
Thanks Alan I'll look into that option.
Phil I'm not that bothered about how wide the f number goes as it's main use will be landscaping so will mainly be around f9 to f16 where as you say it will be very comfortable and the weatherproofing a great plus point. But at the moment I'm looking for a cheap stop gap. I will keep an eye in the for sale section in case a suitable (cheap) one comes along. It will be going on a 5d3 FF body and my good old faithful 50d will be getting a back seat roll.
 
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