Wide Angle Lens Questions

[doink24]

Hi guys,

Is the way of using UWA lens, say tokina 11-16mm and 12-24mm a different way to use? Heard its a tricky pony instead of say 17-50mm lenses.

I'm contemplating between these lenses. Using a 500D

To go a bit further, i believe the lenses mentioned above does not equip with VC/IS, hence there is no need for VC/IS at those focal lengths? Cause I do not have a steady pair of hands though.

Thanks!

 

[Snoweagle]

Hi guys,

Is the way of using UWA lens, say tokina 11-16mm and 12-24mm a different way to use? Heard its a tricky pony instead of say 17-50mm lenses.

I'm contemplating between these lenses. Using a 500D

To go a bit further, i believe the lenses mentioned above does not equip with VC/IS, hence there is no need for VC/IS at those focal lengths? Cause I do not have a steady pair of hands though.

Thanks!

There's absolutely no need to use any form of IS/VC/OS/VR on a UWA so why would u require one? If u haven't tried a UWA before u can just go to a camera shop to try out and basically for me I'm a wide-angle shooter so it's great to use!

 

[doink24]

Do u take ppl with wide angle lens? say ppl with scenery in the background?

 

[fotojoy]

Do u take ppl with wide angle lens? say ppl with scenery in the background?

Yah, I'm curious too. 'Cos will be traveling to a scenic place but yet I do not wanna burden myself with too many lens. Will a wide angle be good enough?

 

[Octarine]

Yah, I'm curious too. 'Cos will be traveling to a scenic place but yet I do not wanna burden myself with too many lens. Will a wide angle be good enough?

Define "good enough" then check the reviews. Also do take note of the specific characteristics of an UWA lens (e.g. distortion, perspective).

 

[henry soh]

Hi, WA lens e.g. 12-24mm on FF is wide and useful.

 

[chewraisins]

Yah, I'm curious too. 'Cos will be traveling to a scenic place but yet I do not wanna burden myself with too many lens. Will a wide angle be good enough?

Just to share with you.. I spent 8 days in Taiwan using only my EFS10-22 (equivalent 16-35).. so for me it was enough.. If you look at Bro Numnumball's thread at "Land/City-scapes and Travel".. he used only 16-35 in HK/Macao.

I think it all depends on your style of shooting.. some like it wide, some don't.. best would be to borrow/rent the lens for a couple of days to see if it fits what you wish to achieve.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Justintime]

This should help on using UWA. summarizes key points/tips on using UWA at the end.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/techniques/wide-angle-lenses.htm

Most ppl won't need IS/VR for short focal lengths, however despite this, UWA is commonly used for landscapes which requires use of tripods for best effects.

Not advisable to take photos of people w UWA, focal legnths less than 17mm will tend to stretch their facial features esp if composed near the edges. Check out the usage and tables on the difference between WA & UWA. And the UWA distortion effects. The image of the truck is scary....

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to-use-ultra-wide-lenses.htm

 

[Snoweagle]

Do u take ppl with wide angle lens? say ppl with scenery in the background?

Yes of cos, and it also depends on how much of the scenery u want to include in yr picture that u select the correct lens.

 

[fudoushin]

Hi there, this is an interesting thread (with images posted) on the sigma 10-20 users group in flickr regarding use of UWA on portraits. Thats where you start getting creative...take a look!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigma10-20/discuss/72157608216978322/

 

[Justintime]

Hi there, this is an interesting thread (with images posted) on the sigma 10-20 users group in flickr regarding use of UWA on portraits. Thats where you start getting creative...take a look!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigma10-20/discuss/72157608216978322/

I take back my words, UWA can be used for portraits creativity.

Thanks for sharing, the portraits from the thread are hilarious and very creative !! :thumbsup:

 

[ManWearPants]

Cropped factor wide angle lens will become 16mm widest while Sigma 12-24 is 12mm at the wide end. So you can't really take a 16-35 and compare it with a 12-24. Both are quite different. I would say if you are looking for just 1 travel lens, a 16-35 or 17-40 on FF would be more versatile than a 12-24. I did travel with a 12-24 + 50/1.4 before with good effect. You get very wide perspective and also low light usability. But without my 50mm, I would feel quite handicap with just the 12-24.

On taking people, you have to be careful where to place the subject when using 12-24. Too near the edge, the subject will get stretched. The good thing about 12-24 when taking people. The angle of view is so wide that the person included in the photo does not know that I am shooting him. This one is taken with the subject caught unaware.

12mm with people:

The below is a good sample to illustrate how the 12mm will stretch towards the edge when pointed down:

and fall towards the center when pointed up:

very interesting lens!

 

[soons]

^

Isn't the above pictures similar to fish eye?

 

[VanGogh53]

I just purchased the Sigma 10-20mmF4-5.6; and experimenting with it. Indeed, one can take pic as close at a couple of cm away; very interesting lens. Yet to find all its creative usage. The URLs have been helpful to see what others are doing with it. I bought this essentially for landscaping, especially the frustration of never able to put the majestic garden into its perspective; or the group of family members in a small room. It is a heavy lens btw...

 

[ManWearPants]

^

Isn't the above pictures similar to fish eye?

You can never get straight lines with fisheye, isn't it?

TS, I missed the part about 500D. My examples are 12mm on FF so may not be relevant to your questions.

 

[doink24]

I just purchased the Sigma 10-20mmF4-5.6; and experimenting with it. Indeed, one can take pic as close at a couple of cm away; very interesting lens. Yet to find all its creative usage. The URLs have been helpful to see what others are doing with it. I bought this essentially for landscaping, especially the frustration of never able to put the majestic garden into its perspective; or the group of family members in a small room. It is a heavy lens btw...

Bro what made u decide on the sigma 10-20mm? How are the night shots or shots in low light, tripod needed? If taking group pics, any pointers to look out for?

 

[NovJoe]

I'm using my tokina 11-16 on my 7D and 450D for my Hong Kong trip, scenery shots and group photos. On portraits of my gf, things can be normal or interesting depending on your angle and placement of your subjects.

 

[doink24]

I'm using my tokina 11-16 on my 7D and 450D for my Hong Kong trip, scenery shots and group photos. On portraits of my gf, things can be normal or interesting depending on your angle and placement of your subjects.

So are there any samples to see from your shoot? haha...seriously torn btn 10-20mm or the tokina 11-16mm

 

[NovJoe]

So are there any samples to see from your shoot? haha...seriously torn btn 10-20mm or the tokina 11-16mm

Self portrait:

Another Self portrait at one arm's length:

Structures:

Night shot:

Indoors:

Due to some privacy issue of the people involved in a group shot, I'm not allowed to post the shot online. Hope my newbie shots above can served as a comparsion for you.