The Canon 50mm f1.8 lens has been a revelation for me. Much of the shooting I do is low-light action so the speed of this lens is a huge asset. The downside is that I'm also usually shooting in close quarters (mountain biking in the woods on Vancouver's North Shore) so wider is usually much better.

So I'm looking at something with a 1.8-1.4 aperture but because of the 1.6 multiplier I want something much wider than 50mm. 20mm would be great. I'd like something even wider but I'm not willing to break the bank.

The Sigma 20mm 1.8 looks good on paper but I wasn't encouraged by some of the reviewers comments about the performance at max aperture.

So I was hoping someone here might have some ideas about a lens that would fit the bill for me.

I would prefer not to spend over $400 and I could go as wide as 24mm but as I mentioned wider is better. I'm not looking for a zoom - a prime will be just fine.

I shoot with a Rebel XT.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

The Sigma 20mm/f1.8 is a good lens, but I can't personally vouch how good it is at 1.8. Many lenses aren't at their best wide open for that matter. However, for your budget, there isn't much to choose from with f1.8 aperture.

I would also look into these lenses which have good reviews. The first one is the Canon (fisheye) 15mm/f2.8 - but it's $554 after rebate - however, it has great reviews. I think Photo John has one.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=12069&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

These are a bit longer but nothing like the 50mm

Canon 28mm/f1.8
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=102851&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Canon 35mm/f2.0 (I have this lens and it's excellent even wide open) only $229
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=12119&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation



Good luck.
Liz

But the fisheye won't distort the picture?
By coincidence, i was looking at the available wide and fast lenses for my 300D, but noticed the wide lenses are really much more expensive than the 50mm 1.8, and generally slower, also.
I wonder why cost so much to manufacture a wide lens? Won't the shorter focal distance help to make faster lenses?

Thanks for the info Liz!

The fisheye will absolutely distort the picture. Whether that's good or bad depends on the subject and the photographer's taste. It won't distort as much on the EOS 350D/Rebel XT because of the 1.6x conversion, though.

I think the reason that fast 50mm lenses are so cheap is they're simple to make. They were considered the "standard" lens for decades and I don't think the optics are as complicated. Plus, volume will keep the prices down. There's not as much demand for super wide lenses - especially not super-fast ultra-wides.

I see. That's because the wide lenses need more correction than the 50mm, right?

But a wide and fast lens will be very good for shooting on interiors (specially with a 1.6x crop factor camera).

I used to use an zenith slr with a 58mm f/2 lens. The lens was a real pain to use indoors, because of the focal distance, but was great because of speed.

But a wide and fast lens will be very good for shooting on interiors (specially with a 1.6x crop factor camera).


Absolutely correct. They're also very good for shooting outside architecture, although tilt/**** lenses are the best for that. One of example of a lens made for exactly this type of photography is the Canon 14mm f/2.8L (http://www.photographyreview.com/cat/lenses/35mm-primes/canon/PRD_83399_3111crx.aspx). It's very wide but corrected so that lines stay straight. It's perfect for interior shooting - especially if it's critical to have no distortion. But you pay a lot for that - about $1800 US.

The 28mm, f/1.8 is very fast, very sharp. and reasonably priced it you don't have to get real wide. The 24mm, f/1.4 is the fastest lens at that focal length I am aware of, and is unreal in it's sharpness. It is, alas, over a grand.

I have the 28mm, f/1.8, and can vouch for it's low light usefulness.