Best sharp landscape lens for Canon Rebel t3i

[Carrieokie88]

I have been scouring forums trying to piece together the right answer, but I'm still not convinced what is the best lens for me. Here's the details: I'm shooting on a t3i, and will be renting the lens for a trip through many of the national parks in US this summer. I would like a wide angle lens as much of what I will be doing is landscape (is it worth having a more versitile lens though maybe??) I'm struggling to find the line of what isn't worth getting without shooting with a full frame. I have been debating the 24-70mm f2.8 vs 24-105mm f4. However, other options available from the site I'm looking at are (all Canon lenses):

10-22mm f3.5-4.5

16-35mm f2.8

11-24mm f4

14mm f2.8

24mm f1.4

I'm concerned the popular 24-105mm option won't be wide enough to get some really sweeping landscape shots on the t3i, and overall my largest concern is sharpness. I only own the 18-55mm kit lens (which is collecting dust) and the 50mm f1.8 (which is what I primarily use, thus why I'm now looking for something wider than that).

Apologies for any terms I may have gotten wrong, still new to this whole world and would appreciate any and all advice!!!

 

[Rudy61]

Hi and welcome. I have the T3i too, and use it frequently. It is, no question, a great travel camera for the type of trip you have planned. Light and easy to transport, while still being a fully functional DSLR. For landscape shots, I would highly recommend the 10-18mm STM. This lens is so inexpensive right now (see, for example, B&H at $279 U.S. currently) that you might want to consider buying vs. renting.

If your budget permits, I can also highly recommend the 55-250mm STM (on Canon's refurbished site, you can sometimes find this lens as low as $109 or so....crazy price for an excellent telephoto). This will give you the reach you need for some wildlife shots, and is also good for landscape when you want a more compressed effect.

Don't forget to familiarize yourself with the T3i's video features as well. Short videos of scenery where you slowly pan the scene and talk about what you're seeing, or just stay quiet and let the birds or the wind do the talking, can be a great method of reliving moments from a memorable trip.

Maybe most importantly, think about buying or borrowing a lightweight travel tripod. Even though the 10-18mm lens has image stabilization, nothing beats a tripod if you want to maximize sharpness.

Enjoy your trip!

Rudy

 

[seri_art]

I agree with the recs above, except that you might want to consider the Canon 10-22mm instead of the newer, smaller, and less expensive 10-18mm. Why? Because the 10-22mm becomes a very good almost-all-purpose lens because it goes up to 35mm equivalent.

 

[Rudy61]

True, but the OP already has the kit lens for that middle of the road focal range...

 

[seri_art]

Depends on how many lenses he wants to carry (and change).

 

[seri_art]

I used to have an XSi with the 10-22mm, and here's an example of using that lens exclusively on a shoot (I didn't take another lens along). Of the 12 photos, 4 were at 22mm, 1 at 20mm, the rest within the 10-18mm range of the newer WA lens.

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ruthvenphotos2.com

 

[Carrieokie88]

Thanks so much guys!!! Going to look into the 10-18mm/10-22mm range!!!

 

[BAK]

What happened when... you put the 18-55 on your camera, put your camera on a tripod, set the lens at f8, and around 20-24mm, and went out and took landscape pictures, post-processed them carefully, paying attention to sharpening, and then had 12 x 18 prints made at Costco?

BAK