I realized that I really need a wide lens in my kit

ZombieArmy · 07-02-2015, 04:31 PM

After helping out my local girlscout camp with some photography on my off time (I'm their lifeguard) I just realized how much I actually need a wide angle lens. Currently my widest prime is my 40mm XS and my widest zoom is my 35-70 F. I was constantly running into issues inside and outside where my shots were far too narrow and I could never get into a position where I could really take a good candid photo of multiple people in a frame.

I want something that's versatile, something that I could use for something I'm really interested in (like astrophotography) while also being good for a shoot indoors or in close quarters outdoors.

I don't have very much money at all, so this would be something that I'd be working towards in the future. I wouldn't want to spend any more than 300 dollars on a lens and less would be preferred. Auto focus is nice but not necessary since I'm pretty proficient with manual focus thanks to my rather stingy budget as it is

I'm also not averse to zooms entirely but I'd prefer to avoid them if possible.

Anything that could be for me?

Last edited by ZombieArmy; 07-02-2015 at 04:46 PM.

waterfall · 07-02-2015, 04:44 PM

DA 18-135 is good glass and can be found used for close to your budget. It is Weather Resistant, silent DC focus and not bad at 18mm. Best resolution I find is around 28mm. The DA 21 Ltd is great and can be found used for $350. DA15 Ltd is first choice in wide angle. Search patiently for a used bargain and it will be close to your budget.

ZombieArmy · 07-02-2015, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

DA 18-135 is good glass and can be found used for close to your budget. It is Weather Resistant, silent DC focus and not bad at 18mm. Best resolution I find is around 28mm. The DA 21 Ltd is great and can be found used for $350. DA15 Ltd is first choice in wide angle. Search patiently for a used bargain and it will be close to your budget.

Yah if only the DA 21 was a bit cheaper, would be perfect. DA 15 is beautiful too, maybe by the time I get the money it'll be a lil bit cheaper on average but that's wishful thinking

SpecialK · 07-02-2015, 04:50 PM

Don't know about the astrophotography part, but the basic used 18-55 is cheap.

ZombieArmy · 07-02-2015, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

Don't know about the astrophotography part, but the basic used 18-55 is cheap.

I don't even include the basic 18-55 in my kit. Because I dunno if it's just mine but the low end is atrocious, and is only decent in the 30-50mm area. And that's better taken care of from my other lenses like the 35-70.

I also hate that I'm forced to shoot in really high f stops for the damn thing to look good period...

stevebrot · 07-02-2015, 05:00 PM

DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 (kit)

Best bang for your buck at the wide end of things. If you are concerned about performance, you might want to take a stroll through the "Kit Lens Club" thread.

Steve

**clackers** · 07-02-2015, 05:00 PM

Samyang make excellent and well-priced 24mm f1.4 and 14mm f2.8 manual focus primes. Second hand you have to be careful because of sample variation.

You can also consider the Sigma 17-70 as a zoom.

ZombieArmy · 07-02-2015, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 (kit)

Best bang for your buck at the wide end of things. If you are concerned about performance, you might want to take a stroll through the "Kit Lens Club" thread.

Steve

Kind of inspires me to try my 18-55 again. Maybe I've been doing something wrong in the past, it has been a while after all.

**Tony Belding** · 07-02-2015, 05:10 PM

If you really want to go wide. . . How about the Samyang 8mm f/3.5 fisheye lens? These are also sometimes known by astronomers as "all sky" lenses, for reasons that should be obvious. Using PTLens software you can de-fish the output and make it double as a conventional (rectilinear) ultra-wide too.

ZombieArmy · 07-02-2015, 05:12 PM

Originally posted by clackers

Samyang make excellent and well-priced 24mm f1.4 and 14mm f2.8 manual focus primes. Second hand you have to be careful because of sample variation.

You can also consider the Sigma 17-70 as a zoom.

Holy crap the 17-70 looks beautiful, def something to consider in the future.

I need to look more into the samyangs.

Arjay Bee · 07-02-2015, 06:08 PM

16-45 new is close to your price range. I am frequently in the circumstances you describe an this fits the bill nicely. Constant f4 is sn added feature. I use it for everything you describe and would fill in below the 35-70 nicely.

I have just recently purchased the 21 and use that more now but that is due to ease of carrying the smaller set up. The 16-45 is big...

**jatrax** · 07-02-2015, 06:12 PM

+1 for the 16-45 good quality and quite inexpensive.

ZombieArmy · 07-02-2015, 06:49 PM

Originally posted by Arjay Bee

16-45 new is close to your price range. I am frequently in the circumstances you describe an this fits the bill nicely. Constant f4 is sn added feature. I use it for everything you describe and would fill in below the 35-70 nicely.

I have just recently purchased the 21 and use that more now but that is due to ease of carrying the smaller set up. The 16-45 is big...

140 on KEH, wow it's something I could realistically get once I get my bills in order.

The constant F4 aperture is quite sexy too, thanks for the suggestion I'll be looking into it.

I wonder if there are some example shots for astrophotography with it?

th1952 · 07-02-2015, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

140 on KEH, wow it's something I could realistically get once I get my bills in order.

The constant F4 aperture is quite sexy too, thanks for the suggestion I'll be looking into it.

I wonder if there are some example shots for astrophotography with it?

+1 on the 16-45. I just picked up a good copy on eBay for about 165.

ZombieArmy · 07-02-2015, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by th1952

+1 on the 16-45. I just picked up a good copy on eBay for about 165.

Yah this thing looks like a great bang for buck. Fills in an entire range that I need and the images are quite nice.

Do wish it was a bit smaller but you can't have everything unless you're willing to shell out.

07-02-2015, 04:31 PM	#1
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	I realized that I really need a wide lens in my kit After helping out my local girlscout camp with some photography on my off time (I'm their lifeguard) I just realized how much I actually need a wide angle lens. Currently my widest prime is my 40mm XS and my widest zoom is my 35-70 F. I was constantly running into issues inside and outside where my shots were far too narrow and I could never get into a position where I could really take a good candid photo of multiple people in a frame. I want something that's versatile, something that I could use for something I'm really interested in (like astrophotography) while also being good for a shoot indoors or in close quarters outdoors. I don't have very much money at all, so this would be something that I'd be working towards in the future. I wouldn't want to spend any more than 300 dollars on a lens and less would be preferred. Auto focus is nice but not necessary since I'm pretty proficient with manual focus thanks to my rather stingy budget as it is I'm also not averse to zooms entirely but I'd prefer to avoid them if possible. Anything that could be for me? Last edited by ZombieArmy; 07-02-2015 at 04:46 PM.

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07-02-2015, 04:44 PM	#2
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812	DA 18-135 is good glass and can be found used for close to your budget. It is Weather Resistant, silent DC focus and not bad at 18mm. Best resolution I find is around 28mm. The DA 21 Ltd is great and can be found used for $350. DA15 Ltd is first choice in wide angle. Search patiently for a used bargain and it will be close to your budget.

07-02-2015, 04:47 PM	#3
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Originally posted by waterfall DA 18-135 is good glass and can be found used for close to your budget. It is Weather Resistant, silent DC focus and not bad at 18mm. Best resolution I find is around 28mm. The DA 21 Ltd is great and can be found used for $350. DA15 Ltd is first choice in wide angle. Search patiently for a used bargain and it will be close to your budget. Yah if only the DA 21 was a bit cheaper, would be perfect. DA 15 is beautiful too, maybe by the time I get the money it'll be a lil bit cheaper on average but that's wishful thinking

07-02-2015, 04:50 PM	#4
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Don't know about the astrophotography part, but the basic used 18-55 is cheap.

07-02-2015, 04:52 PM	#5
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpecialK Don't know about the astrophotography part, but the basic used 18-55 is cheap. I don't even include the basic 18-55 in my kit. Because I dunno if it's just mine but the low end is atrocious, and is only decent in the 30-50mm area. And that's better taken care of from my other lenses like the 35-70. I also hate that I'm forced to shoot in really high f stops for the damn thing to look good period...

07-02-2015, 05:00 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 (kit) Best bang for your buck at the wide end of things. If you are concerned about performance, you might want to take a stroll through the "Kit Lens Club" thread. Steve

07-02-2015, 05:00 PM	#7
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Samyang make excellent and well-priced 24mm f1.4 and 14mm f2.8 manual focus primes. Second hand you have to be careful because of sample variation. You can also consider the Sigma 17-70 as a zoom.

07-02-2015, 05:10 PM	#8
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 (kit) Best bang for your buck at the wide end of things. If you are concerned about performance, you might want to take a stroll through the "Kit Lens Club" thread. Steve Kind of inspires me to try my 18-55 again. Maybe I've been doing something wrong in the past, it has been a while after all.

07-02-2015, 05:10 PM	#9
Tony Belding Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hamilton, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 781	If you really want to go wide. . . How about the Samyang 8mm f/3.5 fisheye lens? These are also sometimes known by astronomers as "all sky" lenses, for reasons that should be obvious. Using PTLens software you can de-fish the output and make it double as a conventional (rectilinear) ultra-wide too.

07-02-2015, 05:12 PM	#10
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Originally posted by clackers Samyang make excellent and well-priced 24mm f1.4 and 14mm f2.8 manual focus primes. Second hand you have to be careful because of sample variation. You can also consider the Sigma 17-70 as a zoom. Holy crap the 17-70 looks beautiful, def something to consider in the future. I need to look more into the samyangs.

07-02-2015, 06:08 PM	#11
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	16-45 new is close to your price range. I am frequently in the circumstances you describe an this fits the bill nicely. Constant f4 is sn added feature. I use it for everything you describe and would fill in below the 35-70 nicely. I have just recently purchased the 21 and use that more now but that is due to ease of carrying the smaller set up. The 16-45 is big...

07-02-2015, 06:12 PM	#12
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	+1 for the 16-45 good quality and quite inexpensive.

07-02-2015, 06:49 PM	#13
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Originally posted by Arjay Bee 16-45 new is close to your price range. I am frequently in the circumstances you describe an this fits the bill nicely. Constant f4 is sn added feature. I use it for everything you describe and would fill in below the 35-70 nicely. I have just recently purchased the 21 and use that more now but that is due to ease of carrying the smaller set up. The 16-45 is big... 140 on KEH, wow it's something I could realistically get once I get my bills in order. The constant F4 aperture is quite sexy too, thanks for the suggestion I'll be looking into it. I wonder if there are some example shots for astrophotography with it?

07-02-2015, 06:54 PM	#14
th1952 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Berea, Ohio Posts: 446	Originally posted by ZombieArmy 140 on KEH, wow it's something I could realistically get once I get my bills in order. The constant F4 aperture is quite sexy too, thanks for the suggestion I'll be looking into it. I wonder if there are some example shots for astrophotography with it? +1 on the 16-45. I just picked up a good copy on eBay for about 165.

07-02-2015, 07:02 PM	#15
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Originally posted by th1952 +1 on the 16-45. I just picked up a good copy on eBay for about 165. Yah this thing looks like a great bang for buck. Fills in an entire range that I need and the images are quite nice. Do wish it was a bit smaller but you can't have everything unless you're willing to shell out.