The main drawback of Digital is that it kills wide angles.
Let me explain: in APS-C format, given sensor magnification you need to go 12/14mm to get to normal 20mm equivalent. Normal primes are not adapted for digital (deform/cost a lot).
Full frame: normal wides become wides again, but formulas rarely adapted for digital.
Fortunately for APS-C cameras a number of wide zooms have been developed both by camera manufacturer and independent to address these points (reach, digital quality).
Nikon released a 12-24 f4G IF ED to address the requirements of pro shooting with D2X. It has 2 ED glass elements and 3 aspherical lenses.
Roumors have sourfaced recently about the possible release of a new (hopefully cheaper) 10-24 DX f3,5-4,5G.
Canon has a EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM which has range (16-35mm eqiv.), quality (3 asph lenses) and compactness.
Indipendent manufacturers have provided alternative zooms:
Sigma announced recently a new version of its 10-20mm zoom which is this time is a f3.5 constant aperture.
Tamron also has released a new lens with more range (10-24mm f3.5-4.5) which replace its wide zoom that was limited to 11-18mm range (which is also marketed by Sony).
Tokina has a 12-24mm f4 constant, which has been upgraded with internal motor to be used with entry Nikon model without AF motor. Pentax/Samsung is same lens. It is a quite solidly built lens and zooming and focus ring are pleasantly damped.
Main characteristics of such zooms are:
- relatively heavy - still usable for reportage
- relatively expensive - begs the serious question whether it is really a lens you need every day
- all have distorsions - need to spend time on Photoshop to correct
- all have other optical shortcomings (soft corners, flare, etc.) to various degrees - Nikon/Canon probably being the better corrected
- Not adapted for full frame - although some might be used at upper end settings (18-20mm equiv.) for desperate cases.
- All use big filters (77-82mm) that in most cases need to be slim type to avoid (further) vignetting (add at least 50$ to your budget)
- Lower wide angle setting difficult to cover with most flash.
Probably, the best is to use wides with full frame cameras.
APS-C wide angle zooms offer a compromise and all offer competent packages for around a pound in weight and half a grant in cost (except Nikon and Canon which cost more).
The question remains whether extreme wide-angle zooms can be used hand held. The lens need to be horizontal to avoid perspective deformation which already with primes would recommend for tripod use all the time. The zooms are not so fast and probably not at their best at wide apertures, so usability in low/available light is limited unless used with high ISO proficient cameras such as D300.
The good news is that if you like hyper-focal these lenses have plenty and this is further enhanced by the digital sensor - so it will be hard to work on defocus areas. Also, close focus is often very interesting (around 24cm in most cases).
Finally, if you really need to go for a wide zoom with an APS-C cameras, the choice is made easier by the wider offer on the market and clearly competitors have done a lot of work to challenge the market leaders.
Let me explain: in APS-C format, given sensor magnification you need to go 12/14mm to get to normal 20mm equivalent. Normal primes are not adapted for digital (deform/cost a lot).
Full frame: normal wides become wides again, but formulas rarely adapted for digital.
Fortunately for APS-C cameras a number of wide zooms have been developed both by camera manufacturer and independent to address these points (reach, digital quality).
Nikon released a 12-24 f4G IF ED to address the requirements of pro shooting with D2X. It has 2 ED glass elements and 3 aspherical lenses.
Roumors have sourfaced recently about the possible release of a new (hopefully cheaper) 10-24 DX f3,5-4,5G.
Canon has a EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM which has range (16-35mm eqiv.), quality (3 asph lenses) and compactness.
Indipendent manufacturers have provided alternative zooms:
Sigma announced recently a new version of its 10-20mm zoom which is this time is a f3.5 constant aperture.
Tamron also has released a new lens with more range (10-24mm f3.5-4.5) which replace its wide zoom that was limited to 11-18mm range (which is also marketed by Sony).
Tokina has a 12-24mm f4 constant, which has been upgraded with internal motor to be used with entry Nikon model without AF motor. Pentax/Samsung is same lens. It is a quite solidly built lens and zooming and focus ring are pleasantly damped.
Main characteristics of such zooms are:
- relatively heavy - still usable for reportage
- relatively expensive - begs the serious question whether it is really a lens you need every day
- all have distorsions - need to spend time on Photoshop to correct
- all have other optical shortcomings (soft corners, flare, etc.) to various degrees - Nikon/Canon probably being the better corrected
- Not adapted for full frame - although some might be used at upper end settings (18-20mm equiv.) for desperate cases.
- All use big filters (77-82mm) that in most cases need to be slim type to avoid (further) vignetting (add at least 50$ to your budget)
- Lower wide angle setting difficult to cover with most flash.
Probably, the best is to use wides with full frame cameras.
APS-C wide angle zooms offer a compromise and all offer competent packages for around a pound in weight and half a grant in cost (except Nikon and Canon which cost more).
The question remains whether extreme wide-angle zooms can be used hand held. The lens need to be horizontal to avoid perspective deformation which already with primes would recommend for tripod use all the time. The zooms are not so fast and probably not at their best at wide apertures, so usability in low/available light is limited unless used with high ISO proficient cameras such as D300.
The good news is that if you like hyper-focal these lenses have plenty and this is further enhanced by the digital sensor - so it will be hard to work on defocus areas. Also, close focus is often very interesting (around 24cm in most cases).
Finally, if you really need to go for a wide zoom with an APS-C cameras, the choice is made easier by the wider offer on the market and clearly competitors have done a lot of work to challenge the market leaders.
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