Wide-angle lens.. .. lucrative for all of us is just like an amateur photographers get hands on first DSLR camera, they usually start with the kit lens that comes with it. As they learn more about working and using camera that starter lens, they find themselves wanting more than what the kit lens provides, and they start looking into different options.
Having a great arsenal of lenses at one’s disposal is a must for any photographer. In this article, we will tackle the wide-angle lens, which is one of the staple items in any photographer’s kit.
What is a wide-angle lens?
A wide-angle lens is the lens with a short focal length and a wide field of view. It is a lens that allows the camera to capture much more of the scene than a standard lens can, making it great for architectural and landscape photography or other application which requires the photographer to include background information in the resulting image.
Wide-angle lenses give photographers a chance to get as close to the subject as possible without excluding crucial elements in the background scene, allowing viewers the feeling of being—as though they’re viewing the stage with their own eyes rather than through a photograph.
All wide-angle lenses come in fixed (full prime) and variable (wide zoom) focal length varieties.
What’s the difference between wide-angle and ultra-wide angle lenses?
On a full-frame camera, the lens with a focal length of 35mm or more comprehensive is considered a wide-angle lens, while 24mm and broader is regarded as an ultra-wide-angle lens. On crop-sensor or APS-C cameras, you’ll require a lens with more 28mm focal length on a full-frame camera and a view feild of 65 degrees to get the wide-angle effect.
To determine the focal length, you’ll require to replicate the same field of view that a wide or ultra-wide-angle lens can provide you on a full-frame camera. Only divide the focal length of the lens by the digital multiplier, which is 1.6x for Canon and Pentax, 1.5x for Nikon, and Sony DSLR cameras. For example, a 35mm lens will provide you a focal length of 23.3mm on a Nikon DSLR or 21.8mm on a Canon DSLR.
Are fisheye lenses considered wide-angle lenses?
Fisheye lenses also fall under the wide-angle lens category, but the difference lies in the barrel distortion. A fisheye is an ultra-wide-angle lens with an angle of view of around 100 to 180 degrees. It produces a circular rather than a rectilinear image due to the visual distortion created by the lens.
Focal lengths for full-frame cameras are for cameras with smaller sensors, the typical focal length is about 1 to 2mm and 21.8mm on a Canon DSLR,between 8mm to 10mm.
How to maximize the use of lens?
Keep three things in mind when using lens to achieve perfect wide-angle shots:
Have a clear
Great subject in the image
Get as close as possible to subject
Use leading lines in composition
Best Lenses for Canon
In the wide-angle category, Canon has a lineup of 14 wide and ultra-wide prime lenses and seven wide-angle zoom lenses for full-frame and APS-C DSLR cameras.
Wide Angle Lenses for Canon APS-C Cameras
Here are the best and most cost-effective wide-angle lenses for Canon crop sensor cameras or APS-C:
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Zoom Lens
This extremely versatile ultra-wide-angle zoom lens offers excellent image quality and a wide variety of focal lengths at a highly affordable price. Specially optimized for use with APS-C sensors, this lens gives you the 35mm focal length equivalent of 16-35mm. It offers fast and precise autofocus, thanks to its Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM), superior glass elements, manual focus override, and optimized lens coatings to minimize ghosting, aberrations, and flare.
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens.
Designed specifically for APS-C cameras, lens offers the 35mm focal length equivalent of 16-28.8mm. Lightweight, compact, and affordable, this Canon wide-angle zoom lens features an Optical Image Stabilizer to combat camera shake, a seven-blade circular diaphragm for pleasing out-of-focus areas, and an STM stepping AF motor for smooth and quiet autofocus.
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Ultra
Zoom Lens
With a 35mm focal length equivalent of 27-88mm, thanks to its wide-angle to short telephoto zoom range, this lens offers a lot of versatility, The large maximum aperture offers superior low-light capabilities and shallow depth of field control. The Ring-type Ultrasonic Autofocus Motor (USM) provides highly accurate, fast, and silent autofocus.
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM Wide Angle Lens
If you want a wide prime lens for your APS-C Canon DSLR, this lens is a affordable and good option. Since it’s made for full-frame and APS-C cameras, lens isn’t the widest when used with a crop sensor. But the moderate wide-angle it provides image stabilization and Canon’s Ring-type Ultrasonic Focus Motor (USM), thus making it worth the cost.
Wide Angle Lenses for Canon Full-Frame Cameras
Here are the best and most cost-effective wide-angle lenses for Canon full-frame cameras:
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM AutoFocus Wide Angle Lens
This prime wide-angle lens delivers a large maximum aperture, ultra-fast shutter speeds, and an ultrasonic focus motor for accurate and fast autofocusing as well as excellent low-light performance. It’s also compatible with APS-C cameras which have a view feild equivalent to 45mm.
Canon EF 35mm f/2 : IS USM Lens
The Canon 35mm f/2 is another excellent prime lens for your wide-angle shooting requires. Best called as an everyday lens, it has a fast maximum aperture for shooting in low light, a Ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM) for accurate and fast autofocus, and a Glass Molded (GMo) aspherical lens element minimizes aberrations and better overall image quality.
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AutoFocus Wide Angle Telephoto Zoom Lens
For amateur and professional shooters to intermediate photographers with bigger budgets, the wide-angle to medium telephoto zoom lens is a stellar choice. It includes Canon’s three-stop Image Stabilizer, a fixed maximum aperture throughout the focal length range, the Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor, and water and dust resistance for protecting while shooting during rugged conditions.
Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Nikon
Nikon users have a choice of 20 wide-angle prime lenses for both full-frame (FX) and APS-C (DX) cameras, including five wide-angle zoom lenses.
Wide-Angle Lenses for Nikon APS-C Cameras
Here are the best and most cost-effective, wide-angle lenses for Nikon APS-C or crop-sensor cameras:
Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Lens
Specifically designed for Nikon DX-format (APS-C) cameras, ultra-wide lens efficiently works with full-frame or FX-format DSLRs, with an view angle equivalent to a 15-36mm lens. It provides a decent focal length range and features two extra-low dispersion (ED) and three aspherical lens elements to reduce aberrations. It has Super Integrated Coating to promote color consistency and eliminate ghosting and flare, and Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor AF System for quick and near-silent autofocus.
Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor ED (VR) Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens
Unlike other lenses that are compatible with both full-frame and APS-C cameras, this wide-angle zoom lens is exclusively made for Nikon DSLR cameras with DX-format sensors. Compact, lightweight, and versatile, the Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G is ideal for a wide variety of applications. Features include Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR II) system, Silent Wave Motor, Super Integrated Lens Coating, two ED glass and three aspherical elements, and a rounded seven-blade diaphragm.
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor VR II Lens
If you’re looking for a wide-angle zoom lens with a broad focal range for your Nikon DX-format camera, this lens is one of the best choices out there. Made especially for APS-C sensors, it’s a wide-angle to a telephoto zoom lens with 11x zoom versatility that gives you the 35mm focal length equivalent of 27-300mm. Features are similar to the Nikon 16-85mm.
Wide-Angle Lenses for Nikon Full-Frame Cameras
Here are the best (and most cost-effective) wide-angle lenses for Nikon full-frame cameras:
Nikon 28mm f/1.8G AF-S Nikkor Lens
While compatible with both full-frame (FX) and APS-C (DX) cameras, this 28mm wide-angle prime lens specially optimized for use with FX-formats. It features a ultra-fast maximum aperture of f/1.8 for large, excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field control, two aspherical lens elements for minimized aberrations and better overall image quality, Nano Crystal Coat and Super Integrated Coating for reduced ghosting and flare, and an M/A Focus Mode Switch for quick switching from manual to autofocus operation.
Nikon AF-S 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Lens
This wide-angle to the standard zoom lens, which works with both FX and DX formats, is best for photographers who need a reasonably priced wide-angle lens that is compact, lightweight, and moderately versatile (with a good range of focal lengths). It has most of the usual features in a Nikon lens, such as the Silent Wave Motor AF System for fast and accurate autofocus and a combination of aspherical and ED lens elements for minimized chromatic aberrations and increased sharpness, clarity, and color accuracy in the resulting images.
Nikon 24mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor Lens
Featuring a fast maximum aperture for low-light photography, Nikon’s Super Integrated Lens Coating for reduced ghosting and flare. The Close-Range Correction (CRC) system for an improved quality of the image at close focusing distances, this Nikon 24mm lens is one of the best choices for full-frame camera users. They want a prime wide-angle lens that won’t break the bank.
Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S Nikkor VR Vibration Reduction Lens
With its broad focal length range to super-telephoto zoom and compatibility with both full-frame and APS-C cameras, this lens is one of the most versatile wide-angle lenses in Nikon’s lens lineup. It’s also packed with features that make the price tag worth it:
Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor AF System for fast and precise auto focusing, three aspherical and two ED elements for superior image quality. The M/A Focus Mode Switch for fast switches from manual to auto focus operation, Super Integrated Coating for color consistency and reduced flare, and most important of all, the VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization for optimum handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds.
