Wide Angle Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens

dazzerb

Is this a good "starter" wide angle lens

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens MFG Part #: 2505A002

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=216&modelid=7297#ModelTechSpecsAct

I am thinking a zoom on a wide angle is not needed since I can always crop later.

This lens is also quite affordable and very portable.

Anyone have an oppinion on it?

Also I cannot find a cheaper alternative from Sigma or the other Canon alternatives. Can I save money by purchasing a non canon version and what would that be?

Thanks in advance

AnimalRights

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-28mm-f-2.8-Lens-Review.aspx

Others will add their views, I'm eating at the moment.

petercox

The link put up by the previous poster is a good one - that site is usually spot on with its reviews.

He's lukewarm on the lens - it's not stellar in quality, but it is inexpensive and lightweight.

I'd hesitate to buy a wide angle prime if you're planning to zoom by cropping - you're better off getting an inexpensive zoom lens (the Canon 18-55mm kit lens is actually not a bad choice if you have an APS-C sized sensor (which every Canon below the 5D does)).

Prime lenses are excellent if you can get (at least close to) the final framing in camera. If you can't, and you don't have a longer lens then you'll end up losing quality and resolution if you crop aggressively.

If you want to go the prime route, get the 28mm f/2.8 and the 50mm f/1.8 - that way you'll be able to 'zoom' by switching lenses while retaining a lightweight kit.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Peter

dazzerb

now I am confused!

What I am trying to do it take shots of large things very close to the camera.

What do you mean when you talk about "prime"?

I already have two lenses 18-55 and 55-200. I just assumed that the 28mm one I referenced since it was sold as a "wide angle" it would provide me with a wider view. From what you are saying my 18-55 could gave me the same viewing angle?

Rb

Prime = fixed focal length.

18mm is obviously going to be wider than 28mm, on the same sensor of course.

Which body do you have?

Fenster

I use the EF 28mm f/2.8 lens extensively in my portraiture and landscaping, and I will swear by it:

petercox

The focal length on the lens (the number given in millimeters) describes the angle of view of the lens. Smaller numbers equal wider angles.

Your 18-55mm lens includes 28mm in its focal length range, so in fact the 28mm f/2.8 lens will give you a narrower field of view than your existing lens.

And yes, a prime lens is a lens that has no zoom. A zoom lens allows you to change the field of view of the lens by changing its focal length. A prime lens has a fixed field of view.

Peter

peter1892

It's a decent lens, I have one myself.

I don't consider it as a wide-angle lens on an APS-C body though, in fact the reason I got one was to use on a dSLR as the effective focal length would be close to 50mm (I was shooting a lot of BW film with a 50mm f/1.8 at the time).

dazzerb

thanks everyone

Still confused.

My camera is a Canon Rebel XS

So what would you all suggest buying. There are so many times when I cannot get a shot using my 18-55 as I am not far enough back from but I cannot go back any further!

So what you are all saying is that this 25mm will not help and it being labeled as a "wide angle" is not really correct.

So would a "wide angle converter lens" help?

Thanks again!

DotOrg

dazzerb wrote: »

So what would you all suggest buying. There are so many times when I cannot get a shot using my 18-55 as I am not far enough back from but I cannot go back any further!

then you need a lens with a focal length of wider than 18mm
something like a 10-22 would be a good addition to get wider than the 18 your current lens provides
something like
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=148&modelid=10510
would be a great buy for a wider lens

dazzerb wrote: »

So what you are all saying is that this 25mm will not help and it being labeled as a "wide angle" is not really correct.

it is wide angle but then so is your 18mm lens
i think you are looking for something most would classify as a 'super-wide angle'

dazzerb wrote: »

So would a "wide angle converter lens" help?

converters are pretty poor quality filters that go on your existing lens. they are relatively cheap but very limiting

pixbyjohn

Read through this link :
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-lenses.htm

kumate_champ07

EF 24mm f1.4L