What the cheapest, yet best quality option for Wideangle zoom lens?

[TenderMomentsPhotography]

I sport a Canon XTi currently. I have an 18-55mm USM lens (non-IS) but really am needing a decent quality wide angle zoom lens and am not sure what the cheapest way to go on this is. I dont want to spend a ton - because I only need it during certain shooting situations that I just need wider than my regular 50mm that I love. (for example apartment clients - I need wide angle).
It needs to shoot well with semi-low light situations.
Any ideas?

[ronocnikral]

cheap? decent? for low light? hmmm...these words don't usually go together in the photography world.

have you checked this out?

only 3 options from canon in the "wide angle zoom" category....

[MRCPix]

Tamron has some nice lenses 17-50 f2.8 and I think they have a 10-24 and 11-18, but the last two are variable aparature lenses

[venchka]

Cheap sometimes ends up being expensive in the long run. Missed shots. Broken. Not the right choice so you sell it and buy the one you should have bought in the first place.

What exactly do you need? Is 18mm wide enough but not fast enough? Is 18mm NOT wide enough and NOT fast enough? We need more input.

If you really NEED wider than 18mm and FASTER than whatever the maximum aperture of the 18-55 lens is (you didn't say) there are few choices. I doubt that any will be cheap. WIDER and GOODER would be the Canon 10-22. Same wide and FASTER and not bank busting expensive would be a nice low mileage example of the Canon 17-35/2.8 L like the one I bought just before the first 16-35/2.8 was introduced. Superb lens. I love it. It works on the full frame body you also need.

Good luck. Fill in some blanks and we can offer better advice.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by TenderMomentsPhotography

...

because I only need it during certain shooting situations that I just need wider than my regular 50mm that I love. (for example apartment clients - I need wide angle).
It needs to shoot well with semi-low light situations.
Any ideas?

A good flash with a good bounce/diffuser thingie, a polarizer and a good tripod will do wonders for your interior photogrpahs. All of that is less expensive than a new lens.

As for wide anglle, for interiors I again LOVE my 17-35/2.8 usually set to around 20mm-21mm with flash, tripod & polarizer. That's the good news. The bad news is that I'm not sensor deprived. Full frame and loving it.

I just looked at the prices of the 10-22 & 17-40. YIKES!

I know it hurts, but try to buy quality once. It really is cheaper in the long run.

Samples. Interior. Canon 17-35/2.8 L. 540EX. B+W Slim Polarizer. Bogen Tripod. Weston Master V meter.

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...delivered.html

[MRCPix]

oh and don't forget the excellent 12-24 f4 Tokina. Very nice lens

[kayumangi]

Originally Posted by MRCPix

Tamron has some nice lenses 17-50 f2.8 and I think they have a 10-24 and 11-18, but the last two are variable aparature lenses

+1 for the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8


If you want something wider you can't go wrong with the

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8

[venchka]

Y'all are too quick to throw out lens models before you have all the facts.

EDIT:

Shelley,

Tells us what you don't like about the 18-55 3.5/5.6 lens. Image quality? How do the photos look?

Good Grief. Somebody has my 17-35 listed at ebay for about what I paid for it new. I've heard of folks paying more for used stuff on ebay than the new price. Maybe my lens is worth more than I tohught. I doubt it.

[kayumangi]

Hehehe, well I met Shelly at the DOD and I kinda gotta feel on what she was looking for.

[kayumangi]

Hey Shelley, I remember you were shooting with a Nikon? so you've decided to switch to the good side, I mean Canon side =)

[venchka]

Lightbulb!

You need wide indoors? Get a tripod. Get a flash. Turn the camera vertical. Shoot a bunch of overlapping frames. Stitch them together. Don't have overpriced Photoshop? Stitch for free with Microsoft Windows Ice. Cheap solution.

[TenderMomentsPhotography]

Originally Posted by kayumangi

Hey Shelley, I remember you were shooting with a Nikon? so you've decided to switch to the good side, I mean Canon side =)

LOL! Nope - never had a nikon! I can't handle a camera that I have to upgrade lenses on with each new body!

My 18-55mm kit lens isn't actually that bad and would work fine for what Im doing - but I dont know if I got spoiled to my sharpness of my 50mm or what but it doesn't seem sharp. I love my 50mm and use it mostly - but there are times (like when shooting in an apartment) where I just cannot get far enough away from my subject.

So I guess maybe I just answered my own question - maybe I need the IS in the 18-55mm so that it helps get it sharper???

I am shooting a family tomorrow - and I would love to use my 50mm for most shots - but they have a little toddler and Im shooting in Old Town spring - as you know not much sidewalk and I can't just stand in the street, and sometimes with a toddler I might want to zoom in to catch an expression - the only way to do that on a prime lens is to RUN TOWARDS THE CHILD - Im not thinking that would be a fantastic idea! HAHA!

[MRCPix]

"I can't handle a camera that I have to upgrade lenses on with each new body!"

what? I can use any nikon lens ever made on my nikon body

ok go back on topic

[TenderMomentsPhotography]

Originally Posted by MRCPix

"I can't handle a camera that I have to upgrade lenses on with each new body!"

what? I can use any nikon lens ever made on my nikon body

ok go back on topic

Now I haven't researched Nikon - but I was under the impression that Nikons - when you upgrade the body - that often times the lenses will not go with the new one - so you are replacing your gear pretty much constantly. Am I mistaken?

[Davidtxs]

Originally Posted by MRCPix

"I can't handle a camera that I have to upgrade lenses on with each new body!"

what? I can use any nikon lens ever made on my nikon body

ok go back on topic

LOL shes got alot to learn lol