Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: timescapes on October 12, 2008, 10:40:13 am

Title: In need of a very fast, wide lens....
Post by: timescapes on October 12, 2008, 10:40:13 am

I have some specific projects coming up and am in desperate need of a lens with the following specs.

I need either one or the other:

1) An APS-C cropped-sensor rectilinear lens at 10-15mm F/2.  Preferably with an iris ring.

2) A full-frame rectilinear lens at 15-20mm F/2.  Preferably with an iris ring.

Do any such lenses exist?  I am aware of the EF 24mm 1.4, but can't use it for this.

Title: In need of a very fast, wide lens....
Post by: witz on October 12, 2008, 11:14:35 am

Quote from: timescapes

I have some specific projects coming up and am in desperate need of a lens with the following specs.

I need either one or the other:

1) An APS-C cropped-sensor rectilinear lens at 10-15mm F/2.  Preferably with an iris ring.

2) A full-frame rectilinear lens at 15-20mm F/2.  Preferably with an iris ring.

Do any such lenses exist?  I am aware of the EF 24mm 1.4, but can't use it for this.

you might have some luck converting a cine lens.... see this: http://www.naturfotograf.com/roll_your_own_lens.html (http://www.naturfotograf.com/roll_your_own_lens.html)

also... if money is no object.... this cooke lens is pretty dog arn good.... http://www.zgc.com/zgc.nsf/c7a682995edb4e7...8b?OpenDocument (http://www.zgc.com/zgc.nsf/c7a682995edb4e7585256b4d001ebd57/e59768b43e386002852570b4005c9f8b?OpenDocument)

the efs 10-22 is a fantastic lens.... but not as fast as your hopes.....
let us know what you end up doing.....

Title: In need of a very fast, wide lens....
Post by: mahleu on October 12, 2008, 11:18:28 am

Sigma make a 20mm f1.8 although I have't used one. Their 17-35 is 2.8 at the long end but 4 at the other. They've also got a 20-40/2.8.

Title: In need of a very fast, wide lens....
Post by: jeffreybehr on October 12, 2008, 12:37:24 pm

I had a Sigma 20/1.8 in my 1Ds days, kept it thru my year and a half of casual shooting, and then started using it on a 5D.  It had too much distortion and edge softness for me so it's gone*.  Don't know your usage but it MIGHT be good enough.

* Replaced it with a Canon 17-40/4; it seems to be just fine, but I've had it only  a couple weeks and have not used it much.

Title: In need of a very fast, wide lens....
Post by: rolad on October 12, 2008, 12:45:26 pm

if 1mm focal length too much is not a deal breaker the Olympus OM Zuiko-W 21mm 2.0 comes to mind.
according to reviews at 16-9 just beat by CZ and leica glass on canon FF.

Title: In need of a very fast, wide lens....
Post by: timescapes on October 12, 2008, 09:01:37 pm

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.  Keep 'em coming.

Title: In need of a very fast, wide lens....
Post by: John Clifford on October 15, 2008, 02:44:47 pm

Just curious as to why you need what you need?

Is it because you'll be shooting something that is moving fast in low light?

If you can get by with 18mm on an APS sensor, the Sigma 18-50/2.8 EX DG Macro is very sharp wide open and extremely sharp a few stops down. This is a crop-factor (reduced image circle) lens, though, so it won't work on a FF camera.

If you're using an APS sensor-equipped dSLR, you can use the Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye, and because of the crop factor you won't get the extreme fisheye distortion (you will get some barrel distortion). I don't know if this is or isn't acceptable, but at $150 to $250 depending on the eBay option this may be a good alternative.