Wide Zoom (12-24etc) Users

CrowdedHouse

I'm half thinking of buying a wide zoom.
I'm not sure if I REALLY need one although there have been occasions when I found I could have used something wider than 18mm on the kit lens.

So question for those that have them - what do you use them for the most and have you found more uses than you had anticipated(before you had one) ?

Thanks

311

I'm not in a great position to make any great comments as I only have it a few weeks.
I bought the 10-20 DC lens ,Its a nice lens for taking pictures of scenes or objects without stepping back ,you can walk as close as you want and still get everything.
I'm dissapointed with the quality of it to be honest , I find theres a great amount of light needed for it to work. Contrast is almost always soft.

I would think a dedicated 10mm or thereabouts would be better.
More than likely it's just me.

Also ,I found that the dynamic range of the 350D on landscape shots is a nightmare with the wideangle,which is why i bought it

Fajitas!

I use my 10-20 for gigs, portraits, landscapes.

I think the quality is great, and it's won so many awards to prove it. Guess it's the way it's used?

Valentia

Using these lenses is very tricky and does take some getting used to. A lot of shots can fail but when they work they can be spectacular. Here are two different examples of the Sigma 12-24. Skies are particularly dramatic with it.

Click on a pic to see a larger version on Flickr.

311

Valentia ,the 12-24 looks to have no distortion really ,looks a lot better than the lines from my lens. Do you meter from a paticular spot or do you just click the frame?? ,My landscapes come out with the foreground underexposed .....

Fenster

Looks good, I do agree that a lens like that can be awkward to work with.

Fajitas!

_Brian_ wrote:

Valentia ,the 12-24 looks to have no distortion really ,looks a lot better than the lines from my lens. Do you meter from a paticular spot or do you just click the frame?? ,My landscapes come out with the foreground underexposed .....

Are you underexposing the shot? Any examples?

Valentia

Don't let those fool ya! There is distortion loads of it especially when close to people:



I usually expose for the sky in landscapes. The sky, to me, is often the most important part of the picture. If you shoot in RAW the exposures can be adjusted later by combining two pics. I have never tried that though but that's just because I haven't had the time( too lazy I mean!).

BTW I think distortion, noise and crooked horizons can all be good:p

311

Fajitas , it's not just the exposure ,the contrast is terrible .
I might have a dud ,but I doubt it .I bought it in conns and they check the stuff before they sell it.
I have read the same problem occurr with the canon lens ,so it's not that I have anything against sigma ,I just think a small wideangle is a no no .
Valentias 12-24 lens is bigger ,so there must be more light getting in ,where it needs to go.

GristlyEnd

I have the Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX lens and is by far my most used lens. I use it mainly for landscape but also for potrait at the 24 end. I agree with the sentiments above, it can be tricky at times to use (or it could just be my poor photography skills )

311

I apologise for trying to stick up for myself ,I don't mean to take a stand with it.
I think I expect too much from the camera at times ,without fully appreciating the picture in view.
Exqweez me.

Valentia

Brian is there any chance you could send me an un altered pic that you took with the lens. One you feel that the contrast is bad. Just out of curiosity.

Send it to my gmail: dannyob (at) gmail (dot) com

311

Will do ,I've a slow connection so I'll resize without going too small.

leinsterman

I have the Sigma 12-24 .... It is a nice lens and I use it for landscapes mostly. I also use it indoors ... though it can be difficult in these circumstances given it is a little on the slow side.

I have found it a bit difficult to get good results but I am putting that down to my own incompetence.

To be fair I have not really given it a good test drive yet and I only have it a few months....

CrowdedHouse

Thanks for the replies folks.

Still thinking about it !