Budget Wides

[BoredNerd]

Has anyone had any experience with the Canon 10-18 4.5/5.5?

I'm on the hunt for a wide lens to fit in with my kit 18-55 and 75-300. But I've also got a prime macro (60mm) and it's peaked my interest in primes (they're brilliant!)

So whilst I'd prefer a cheap prime wide, I can't seem to find one (save the 24mm pancake - but that's less wide than my kit!).

So, how's the 10-18 stack up?

[leglessAlex]

I have no experience with the Canon but have you checked out the Samyang 14mm? A few on here have them.

It some compromises, it's manual only and it has fairly heavy vignetting when wide open but optically it's quite good quality. Oh, and it's cheap.

[WWA]

I can't help with the canon, but I can highly recommend the Tokina 11-16. I have one and find it to be a great lens.

[HughG]

I have a 10-20 Sigma 1:4-5.6 on a Nikon mount and have been very please with it.

[NNH]

I bought the Canon 10-18 at Heathrow recently. For the price, I'm very happy. It feels solid, focuses quickly, and is great for small-sensor SLRs, where the 18-xx lenses aren't all that wide. I'm away from my main PC at the moment, but I can report that at 10mm the distortion of a New York urban scene is quite dramatic.

[RobbieKB]

leglessAlex said:

I have no experience with the Canon but have you checked out the Samyang 14mm? A few on here have them.

It some compromises, it's manual only and it has fairly heavy vignetting when wide open but optically it's quite good quality. Oh, and it's cheap.

I bought it, I sold it, I regret selling it. It's doesn't have myriad applications but it's very good.

[DibblyDobbler]

I've got the Toki 11-16 - nice lens. The 10-18 is meant to be great value though - I'd go for that

[JulianHJ]

I've had the Sigma 10-20 and the Samyang 14mm in the past, and rated both. I got rid of the Sigma when I moved to full frame and the Samyang when I slimmed down my kit, but would happily have either again if I had the need.

[WWA]

Just remember the tokina 11-16 is 2.8/f which can be useful for nighttime shots etc

[BoredNerd]

Cheers everyone for the input!

Unfortunately the alternatives are a little out of my price range (I'm only really looking at the Canon because I have Argos vouchers and there's twenty quid cashback on it right now)

[Gold]

I have the 10-18, very happy with it. Light, cheap and sharp enough for me (reviews say as sharp as the 10-22 or Sigma). Unless you want F2.8 I don't see why you would buy any other crop ultra wide.