best wide angle for under £300

[bilko2]

Hi guys.
I'm looking to buy a new lens ( wide angle )
Iv'e been out of the game for quite a few months now so i v'e lost touch with the scene slightly. I want the sigma 12-24 but it's a bit pricey at nearly £500.
I don't want to buy abraod so it narrows my choices a bit.
Ideally the same sort of focal lenght as the Sigma. For a 300D and anywhere up to £300.
Any suggestions?:D
I'm a tiny bit dubiouse about buying second hand unless i know the owner. Ie one of you lot.
Piccy bu$$er aren't i!

[malc350]

I have the Tokina 12-24 (Nikon fit, should be equivalernt for Canon) and it is super-sharp.

I have owned the Sigma 12-24 which is OK but only really sharpens up at F11 (IMHO). Also it's fixed lens hood, bulging eyeball front element design means you can't mount a polariser on the front of it which is a p*g if you're shooting a glass high rise building or blue water / sky...

Nikon's 12-24 is (bless them) crazy money as usual and the Tokina is reckoned to be as sharp. Constant F4 too so none of this variable aperture with focal length rubbish we've all had to get used to...

Only prob is that you may have to order from overseas (mine came from URGalaxy on ebay - they're Hong Kong based but I've used them a few times and the lens arrived in 2 {no kidding TWO} days from HK.

P.S. Tokina 12-24 is a DX lens (another lens-maker's excuse) so no good for EOS 1DS...

Malc www.photosofasia.com (I'm there now!)

[V6GTO]

malc350 said:

it's fixed lens hood, bulging eyeball front element design means you can't mount a polariser on the front of it

Err...I hate to say you're wrong, Malc, but you're wrong. I've just had a look at mine, and the way to screw in the 77mm filter is to take off the lens cap, but leave on the ring that slides over the lens hood. The filter then screws into the ring. I love the lens to bits but it's no L, so I think it's a bit overpriced.

Martin.

[malc350]

Yep did try that when I had the Sigma but had definite vignetting...

Don't regret the change though, my Tokina is definitely sharper (before F11 anyway!)

Malc

[-DeaDLocK-]

Ditto on the Tokina 12-24 - good reviews all round. Hard to buy on the street, but there are usually a couple on eBay at any time.

[beano500]

You might want to go easy on the polariser if you're going that wide. Your sky would probably end up uneven. so I wouldn't see that as a downside.

[bilko2]

Don't know why but ihad dismissed the tokina out of hand. Maybe i should reconsider. Also i saw some 17-40L's on ebay for less than the sigma!. Trouble is 18mm was never enough for me so i'm not sure 17 will be. I realise the 16-35L would suit my needs well but they are too far from my budget.
I'm not getting confused with these focal lenghts am i? I am taking them all at face value plus the 1.6.

[_dobbo_]

bilko2 said:

Don't know why but ihad dismissed the tokina out of hand. Maybe i should reconsider. Also i saw some 17-40L's on ebay for less than the sigma!. Trouble is 18mm was never enough for me so i'm not sure 17 will be. I realise the 16-35L would suit my needs well but they are too far from my budget. I'm not getting confused with these focal lenghts am i? I am taking them all at face value plus the 1.6.

you've got it right - that's why it's so hard to get really wide on digital.

I had never considered the Tokina either, but it seems to be a good one for £280ish.

[simpo two]

Sigma have just launched a 10-20mm:
www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/dclenses/10-20mmEX.htm

bilko2 said:

I'm not getting confused with these focal lenghts am i? I am taking them all at face value plus the 1.6.

A focal length is absolute - it doesn't change if you swap cameras. Most of us are familiar with how they look on 35mm film, so that's usually our starting point before we factor in the 1.5 or 1.6 'seems like' factor!