Super Wides

[Russ]

Canon EF-S 10-22 / 3.5-4.5 USD 700-800
Tamron 11-18 / 4.5-5.6 USD 570-600
Sigma 10-20 / 4-5.6 USD 500
Tokina 12-24 / F4 USD 500

Sigma 12-24 / 4.5-5.6 full frame USD 600-700

Lots of choices coming up soon. Going to be fun deciding ...

Canon 10-22 has the largest aperture but almost S$1,200 rather exp.
Sigma 10-20 expected at $800
Tamron is a smallish 4.5-5.6 ..... around $900
Tokina is constant F4
Sigma 12-24 can be used on 1.3x but also smallish 4.5-5.6 and has a bulb of a front element.

What do you guys reckon? Is the Canon worth the extra? I am tempted to say no but I did buy the 17-40L over the 17-85 or the Sigma 18-50 2.8 so ....

 

[mpenza]

since you already have 17-40L, maybe the 10-22 is not really needed.... potentially you could attach a good quality wide-angle converter like Olympus WCON08B (converts the 17-40 to 13.6-32) to the front of the 17-40L for use on your DSLR.

I've gotten the EF-S 10-22 when the only alternative was the Sigma 12-24. No regrets except for the small number of bodies that could be used with it. The EF-S approach does allow for a smaller yet relatively fast lens (vs the competition) which is not too expensive (given Canon's premium and USM, etc).

 

[Hommie]

Tamron 11-18mm 4.5-5.6 ..... is at $800 odd, just asked at Alan Photo.

 

[shojibake]

The fact that the 10-22 costs so much is pretty disappointing esp for an efs. It's just a couple of dollars away from the 17-40.

 

[chaos72]

Mpenza,
how do you fix in this converter, thot its for prosumer olympus cam? and where can it be purchase and any big distortion at wide end??? if its that good, the 17-40L + converter would seriously beat any of those superwide....

 

[Russ]

Dont think the WCON 08 is big enough to fit the front of the 17-40L which has a 77mm thread. You sure no vignetting??

My thinking is that I don't mind spending $1.2k on the 17-40L cost it get used at least 80% of the time and it's a beaut lens. For the superwide, which may get used 5% of the time, spending 1.2k on a 10-22 somehow I cannot justify. But I also got burnt with Sigma in the past (trying exactly that to save money vs Canon) so don't wanna get burnt again. The Tamron -well F4.5 but less likely to have compatibility problems.

 

[mpenza]

not the WCON08 which is 55mm threaded. WCON08B is 62mm threaded and is better built (metallic threads) than the WCON08 (plastic threads). You just need to get a step down filter from 77 to 62mm. I've not tried the combo but someone over at DPReview had (sample pics have been removed though).

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=6983928

Do note the guy is using a 10D (1.6 crop factor). If you're using a 1 series, there'll probably be vignetting.

I've tried the WCON08B on the EF-S18-55 and there's no vignetting.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Here's a link where the reviewer compared the Tamron zoom to the Canon:

http://luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/tamron 11-18mm.shtml

Overall the Tamron is quite good and but he noted that the focusing ring rotates when it focuses. Canon's focusing ring does not rotate when focusing. I should know because I have one!

 

[pianodancer]

Here's a link where the reviewer compared the Tamron zoom to the Canon:

http://luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/tamron 11-18mm.shtml

Overall the Tamron is quite good and but he noted that the focusing ring rotates when it focuses. Canon's focusing ring does not rotate when focusing. I should know because I have one!

Good to see more reviews of the Tamron lens. I've got mine and it's really giving me great images.