Just pondering a wide-angle purchase. Anyone on here use one with the 350D? Any recommendations?

Would generally want it for group photos and some indoors work.

Can't afford much, in lens terms anyway, but all suggestions will be taken on board

Cheers,

Steve

I would recommend a Sigma lens myself. I use Nikon cameras, but use both Nikon and Sigma lenses, obviously Sigma are a lot cheaper. For a wideangle option, I would go for the Sigma 10mm-20mm zoom lens, a colleague has one and she swears by it, it's certainly the next lens I will be getting for my nikon. Check out www.warehouseexpress.com, they currently sell it at £320. You might also consider the 15-30mm for £300, 17-35mm for £300 or even the 20-40mm which they have just reduced by £100 to £249!

You wont find many wideangle lenses much cheaper than these, but of course have a look on ebay as well, I bought an 18-200mm Sigma in mint condition for £170. Hope this helps.

I’ve also got the 18-200mm Sigma on my 350D and I love it. It’s an every thing in one stop kind of lens. Fairly wide right through to long lens. I’m sure the purists will pooh-pooh it, but for the average 7x5 or 8x6 prints it superb! It’s also built a lot better than the equivalent Tamron IMHO If you live near Manchester I’d go and have a chat with Jessops in Altrincham, I think they are a great place to go and ask advice and bought my 350D from them(they aren’t necessarily the cheapest, but personally I would be nervous about buying a lens over ‘tinternet) If you do speak to them, ask for Rachel Coulson, a young Geordie woman who is dead helpful and really pleasant. Even better, over the road to them is Equipment Express, an internet based camera shop that has a shop outlet there (ie opp Jessops) Their prices (especially on accessories) are even cheaper and at least you get to see the stuff you might be buying.

good luck

Amanda

I'm very happy with the Canon 17-40 F/4 L as I don't do much photography indoors but appreciate the sharpness where the light is good.

The kit lens (18-55) isn't bad for the wide shots. However, don't forget that unless its a digital specific lens a normal 35mm lens will need a 1.6 multiplication factor, so you wont get a real wide angle lens unless it's a new digi only lens.

I personally use a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 as my stock lens, but when I want that bit wider put the kit lens 18-55 on, but only for the 18 end.

ps..yes I use a 350D.

I'll vouch for the Sigma 10-20 as I've got one. Its not quite as good as my 17-40 in terms of sharpness, but for the money its great especially for landscapes! Recently went on a trip to the states, and it was invaluable for fitting in lots of the Grand Canyon in one shot

I bought mine from here

It ships from Hong Kong, but they guarantee to refund any vat/import charges if you get them.

unless its a digital specific lens a normal 35mm lens will need a 1.6 multiplication factor

Surely even the kit lens on a 350 is only giving the equivilent 35mm FoV as a 29-88mm on a film camera?

Digital specific lenses still have the multiplication factor as far as focal length is concerned, it simply means they cannot be used on full frame digital or SLR camera without serious vignetting occuring

Paul

Surely even the kit lens on a 350 is only giving the equivilent 35mm FoV as a 29-88mm on a film camera?

Idiot moment happened...

Yes, all lenses are affected by the 1.6 magnification.

And yes, digi only lenses are not good on full frame or film 35 mm cameras.

Thanks for all the suggestions people. I'll continue to have a search round, see what I can come up with.

I had noted that the std 18-55 lens isn't bad; I was just wondering what other recommended lens were available, mainly for interior and group photographs. That 10-20 Sigma does sound like a candidate...

Steve

Thanks for all the suggestions people. I'll continue to have a search round' date=' see what I can come up with.

I had noted that the std 18-55 lens isn't bad; I was just wondering what other recommended lens were available, mainly for interior and group photographs. That 10-20 Sigma does sound like a candidate...

Steve[/quote']

Hi Steve

I use the Sigma 10-20 on the Minolta 7D. It is sharp and contrasty, has mostly neutral colour and produces excellent results, easily useable from f4 and very sharp for its field of view from f8-f16, f11 seeming to be optimum. Would recommend one highly. The wide field of view and long DOF helps exaggerate perspective effects for quite stiking results.

Only downsides are a little distortion at the edges at 10mm and noticable light fall off at most apertures (gets better as you stop down). Both easily fixed in seconds with the free PT lens plugin if you find they interfere with the shot.

These two examples at low res were at f11.

Tamron 11-18 was another contender, but not as wide, not as sharp and cost more.

Field of view comparison (for 1.5 multiplier):

Chris