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A GOOD/ GREAT landscape lens for the XSi/450D?

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Mark in Cleveland

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I have the kit lens 18-55 IS which is not bad but..... I am doing Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons in June with my wife (our 30th wedding anniversary) and I want to do the trip justice with GREAT landscape shots.

I am looking at adding the 100-400mm IS L to my lineup along with a better landscape lens thus I would like to keep this "two lens purchase"

What would be a good/GREAT choice in the

IS is preferred but not necessary.

Thanks
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Canon Rebel XSi w/ 18-55 IS; 70-300 IS;100mm f2.8 Macro and 50mm f1.8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/galloimages
iMac 24 in. Alum., 2.8Ghz / Epson RX595
 
sigma 10-20 and tamron 17-50 f2.8 would be over your budget by a couple hundred but would allow fine work.
 
tamron 17-50 f/2.8
canon 10-22 (worsed IQ of the three but if you want super wide)
canon 17-55 IS
Mark in Cleveland said:
I have the kit lens 18-55 IS which is not bad but..... I am doing
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons in June with my wife (our 30th
wedding anniversary) and I want to do the trip justice with GREAT
landscape shots.

I am looking at adding the 100-400mm IS L to my lineup along with a
better landscape lens thus I would like to keep this "two lens
purchase"

What would be a good/GREAT choice in the

IS is preferred but not necessary.

Thanks
--
Canon Rebel XSi w/ 18-55 IS; 70-300 IS;100mm f2.8 Macro and 50mm f1.8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/galloimages
iMac 24 in. Alum., 2.8Ghz / Epson RX595
Click to expand...
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http://skibum4.smugmug.com
(work in progress, a few galleries up, many more to come)
 
Mark in Cleveland said:
Thanks... would any of the wide angle "L" lenses work well on a APC
sensor or best with FF?
Click to expand...
Any of the EOS canon L lenses will work with the 1.6x crop sensors. In fact, they work better on the 1.6x sensors because they only use the center of the lens which is the best part.

See here, for a bit more info:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Optical/Focal_Length_Multiplier_01.htm

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CityLights
http://www.pbase.com/citylights/favorites
http://www.pbase.com/citylights/show_case
.
 
I think a 10-22 is best bang for your buck here, allowing pictures you wouldn't otherwise get. People often make the mistake of thinking landscapes are particularly demanding of a lens but since they are a) Done on a tripod usually making IS unnecessary b) Usually done at smaller apertures for DOF where most lenses tend to shine anyway - your existing lens may be indistinguishable from 17-55 IS at f/8 or f/11 and c) Not necessary to use AF so USM/AF speed not an issue. For those reasons I'd extend range rather than replace existing. Most feel Sigma 10-20 is virtually equla to Canon 10-22 and less $$. Good tripod if you don't already have one.

Here's a typical shot from my 10-22...

 
Another option would be the Tokina 12-24. Great lens, sharp, excellent color rendition and $500.

Maria
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Mark in Cleveland said:
Thanks... would any of the wide angle "L" lenses work well on a APC
sensor or best with FF?
--
Click to expand...
Yes, they would, but don't forget the crop 1.6 x factor.
a 17mm will become a 27mm, which is only a moderate wide-angle on crop.
But you already know how wide it is approximately from your 18-55 IS kit.

If you want wider, then I also recommend the Canon 10-22 (which I have and love) or you have to go third party (Sigma, Tamron, etc.). There is little other choice there (no L lenses, unless you consider the 14mm L) for crop cameras.

For the "normal" range, you can replace your kit with the EF-S 17-55 IS,
already recommended here,

but a 17-40 L f4 would work as well, but as mentioned, your gain over the kit might not be that much, given that for landscape you usually don't shoot wide open, but want some DOF. you can perhaps look at the lens tests at http://www.photozone.de
 
I have one. I like it a lot but it has lots of CA around 12mm. Might drive me to a 10-20 yet.
Marla said:
Another option would be the Tokina 12-24. Great lens, sharp,
excellent color rendition and $500.

Maria
--

Click to expand...
 
f/2.8 are not that great at landscapes - they tend to flare, and f/2.8 provides no real advantage for landscapes. The 17-55 might be a great all-around lens, but if you're looking specifically for landscapes, it is not the best option.

My personal preference is the Tokina 12-24/4.
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Uzi
http://www.pbase.com/uyoeli
 
Fairly big difference in range between 10-12mm, not sure much advantage vs. the Canon or Sigma.

The 14mm 2.8 seems a bit overkill for a crop camera, a lot of money for a prime where 2.8 is unlikely to matter and the zooms perform so well.
 
Mark in Cleveland said:
or are they equal .....and simply buy the Sigma for less $$?
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Click to expand...
There are "zillions" of threads and comparisons on this.
right here in this forum is a thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1029&thread=27410919&page=2

(you can also google canon 10-22 sigma 10-20)

I in the end went with the Canon, and am happy with it (got it with a cash-back
rebate). While I don't have the sigma 10-20, I have the sigma 17-70,
and I am happier with the canon than the sigma mechanically.
For additional reasons see the thread above.

Just looked up this comparison:
http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/uwatest

I should think that for landscapes you would be better off with the Canon,

due to better flare handling as you might have to shoot in strong contrast situations.
 
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