Do I need a wide angle lens?

I

impaul

Suspended / Banned
Messages
50
Name
Paul
Edit My Images
No
Im just getting into my photography now and so far i've been using my Canon 350D with kit lens, or my Sigma 70-300 APO for a few surfing shots. Im off to New Zealand for a holiday soon and I was thinking about getting a wide angle or fisheye type lens to capture some of the amazing panoramic views of the south Island. Im on a budget as usual (all my gear is second hand at the moment) so i'll probably limit myself to £200. Can anyone recommend a lens that would make a good addition to what I have. Someting good for travelling to capture all those landscapes!

Thanks
 
Fisheye lenses are quite specialised and not really ideal for landscape work, you'll also struggle to get one that's worth having for £200 even secondhand.

Luke's recommendation of the Tamron 17-50 is a good one. It's a nice sharp lens that would probably serve your needs well.
 
I heartily recommend getting a wide angle lens - I have the Tamron 11-18 (Nikon fit) and generally like the effect. I am not sure that I use it as I thought that I would and I really like the close up, or at least the requirement to get really close to what it is that I want to photograph. If you intend to get one, get it before the shots are critical as it does take some getting used to. Not sure that I have yet used it for panoramic!

Chris
 
Sigma 10-20mm I loved mine when I was in NZ in September.

original.jpg
 
Too be honest if you want to do panaromics you are much better to use a longer lens than use a wide angle to stitch.

Just hold the camera in portrait orientation and take about 7 or 8 shots. It'll much wider than any wide angle, with much more detail.

Personally I don't think you "need" a wide angle for landscape - I'd say 17mm is enough on a crop camera, 24mm on full frame.

For panaramics just shoot around 35 to 50mm and stitch, have a look at the autostitch or autopanos freeware tools.
 
Good point PD but I have other single frame shots that benefit from 10 or 12mm range.
 
puddleduck said:
Too be honest if you want to do panaromics you are much better to use a longer lens than use a wide angle to stitch.

Just hold the camera in portrait orientation and take about 7 or 8 shots. It'll much wider than any wide angle, with much more detail.

Personally I don't think you "need" a wide angle for landscape - I'd say 17mm is enough on a crop camera, 24mm on full frame.

For panaramics just shoot around 35 to 50mm and stitch, have a look at the autostitch or autopanos freeware tools.
Click to expand...

He sais panormaic views, I think he just wants a lens to capture good landscapes, not complicate things with panoramics. I could be wrong though.
 
The problem with wide angles, is that they can be TOO wide, and you lose a lot, if not all detail into the distance. Sometimes it's better to panoramic, two or three shots at say, 24mmish, to make it a 'wide' image.

Wide angles however, can bring a new perspective into the shots, and can make closer objects 'stand out' more, as the background seems further away.

Wides also bring a new creativity into your shooting, as soon you'll realise that all of a sudden, you're photographing wider than ever before.

TBH, i've been fine with 18mm since i got the camera, as my widest focal length that i can use, but there has been times where i wished i could go wider.
 
The problem with wide angles, is that they can be TOO wide, and you lose a lot, if not all detail into the distance. Sometimes it's better to panoramic, two or three shots at say, 24mmish, to make it a 'wide' image.

Totally agree, if I can be bothered to sort them out I have a couple of nice shots that demo this REALLY well... a wide shot vs a stiched shot.
 
Maybe we are, but the OP did mention "panoramic views" which to me suggests shots that are much wider than they are tall.

If he DOES want to take panoramic shots, a wide angle isn't that way to go. If he doesn't then he actually meant something else from what he asked, is my interpretation.
 
puddleduck said:
Maybe we are, but the OP did mention "panoramic views" which to me suggests shots that are much wider than they are tall.

If he DOES want to take panoramic shots, a wide angle isn't that way to go. If he doesn't then he actually meant something else from what he asked, is my interpretation.
Click to expand...

I agree mate, its just ive been in his shoes before when I say a certain word like panoramic and it gets taken the wrong way. :)
 
Steveo_Hants said:
Sigma 10-20mm I loved mine when I was in NZ in September.

original.jpg
Click to expand...

I know that view very well! a fantastic picture. My sister lives in Wanaka so this is exactly the kind of landscape I want to capture.

Sorry if my original post has caused some confusion. To be honest I don't properly know what im looking for. I just want to have a lens thats the right thing for landscape type photos. I hadn't considered stitching photos together so maybe i'll look into that. Might just use the kit lens then.

The reason I mentioned the fisheye lens is that i've just seen a few travel photos that I liked that seemed to have that curved effect to the edges, might be out of my budget though.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
I'm really not fussed about dipping under 20mm, tried a 10-20 sigma, didn't like it that much, its bordering on the usefullness of a fisheye, a fun lens but not my choice a wide angle for everyday scapes/wotnot, its just too damn distorted.
Isn't there a prime to be had, Canon stuff's ??
 
sell your Canon stuff and go for Nikon you know it makes sense
 
There are some decent wider angle / mid-range zooms available on eBay UK:

17-85mm IS and the 18-55mm IS kit lens. Either of these lenses should serve you well and be within your price range.

The kit IS lens is a better performer than the original non-IS. Buying either of these lenses would allow you to sell your present kit lens for a little cash to diffray the other lens purchase.
 
I recently did a 360 degree shoot just to see the effect. Ok I used a Nikon 12-24mm lens but still the same thing. I took a series of shots overlapping by 1/3rd each time until I had completed the full 360. When stitching them together I got the picture as if I was still there looking all around me.


Realspeed
 
pacef8 said:
10mm nikon semi fisheye for your info

3000665854_70b89e3f84.jpg

10 seconds at f2'8 and no tripod !!!
Click to expand...

I really like the effect of this lens. Is the curving effect called "dipping"?

I can see that this might not always be what you want from a wider lens though.
 
I've recently purchased a Sigma 10-20 & it's an excellent lens, however it needs careful use...strong foreground is essential in landscape shots and whilst 10mm is handy sometimes it is a bit too distorted for my liking, stick to 12mm however & distortion is virtually non-existant.

simon
 
Bumph GB said:
Well if you are interested in stitching photos a friend sent me a link to this http://research.microsoft.com/ivm/ice.html and it seems to work pretty well, i've only tried it once and that was in conjunction with my sigma 10-20
DSC_9048_stitch.jpg
Click to expand...


I just had a go with that software and i was very impressed, it did all the work for me! here's some pictures i took in NZ last time. I took a series through 360 degrees. this is the first time i tried to do anything with them. 7 shots in total! i wasnt using a tripod, i just tried to stand in the same spot. The finished product is seemless and it took seconds!


2005_0505_154348AA_stitch.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top