How Wide?

[nngrendel]

I have a Canon 50D with the 28-135 IS Kit lens. I am into landscapes mostly but also want to shoot some great night shots and firework shots when I visit next time. Should I invest in a wider lens? What is everyone else using to do similar shots?
Also recommendations for some wide lenses would be useful. Tamron or Sigma vs. Canon?

 

[everestnut]

Kit Lens

Hi

The question is kinda tough to answer. Not knowing what your budget for lenses is.

The shot below was shot with a kit lens from my canon 60D set at 18. Fireworks really don't require a fast lens (this was shot at f14). 28 may be wide enough depending on where you set up for the fireworks. I use a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 as my walk around lens at Disney and it does a good job at night. I also have a Canon 50 1.4 I use for dark rides.

I'm fortunate in that I have lenses from each of the vendors you mention. Each company has a sweet spot lens in my opinion. Sigma has 70-200 F2.8 that is awesome. The Tamron I mentioned is really good for the price. i don't own a Tokina, but their are guys here that swear by them.

 

[nngrendel]

Yeah I dont need speed just want to make sure the kit lens I have should be wide enough to capture most of what you have posted. Most of the shooting I enjoy doing requires a tripod anyway. It should from what you say you normally use.

I Have taken some firework shots here at home but nothing as large as Wishes.
Shot below was at 13.

I have heard a lot of good things about Tamron. I may start to look at some of their wide lenses. I just know that Canon glass maybe out of my budget by the next time I visit.

 

[everestnut]

The more I thought about where I shot from, I think you could definitely get back far enough to get it with a 28.

The price for the fast canon zoom glass was definitely prohibitive for me. I can't say enough good stuff about the Tamron. It's sharp even wide open.

Btw really nice shot!

 

[nngrendel]

The more I thought about where I shot from, I think you could definitely get back far enough to get it with a 28.

The price for the fast canon zoom glass was definitely prohibitive for me. I can't say enough good stuff about the Tamron. It's sharp even wide open.

Btw really nice shot!

The shot is decent compared to your shot. However the fireworks I shot were very amateur compared to the ones that Disney show nightly.

Speaking of zooms I do want to get a decent zoom lens one day. I have access to a slow zoom now and its ok to use during plenty of light. However, I am so drawn to landscape photography right now I think something wide would make me happier.

 

[KeithVH]

I would say, with a 1.6x body, 28mm is not wide enough. Yes, I have that type of body and that lense. It's a very nice lens. But it's perspective/view is that of a 45mm. On a trip once to a National Park, I learned how even 28mm really isn't wide enough when outside.

It's not just about getting back far enough, there is the perspective issue to deal with too. I would say, at the least, get a 17-50/55.

 

[wdwmagic]

The Canon 10-20mm is really nice at WDW.

 

[nngrendel]

The Canon 10-20mm is really nice at WDW.

Thats the range I have been looking at. I have subscriptions to Popular Photography and Outdoor Photographer and been pricing or maybe more like drooling. Its getting harder to find local shops that carry lenses or any DSLR gear anymore. I am about 30 miles outside of Atlanta, GA but hate the hassle of traveling in town. The Wolf Camera in town doesn't carry Canon lenses anymore however they tell me they may start again.

Keith perspective is king. Thats what I do not want to do is come back with a ton of photos that everyone else has already taken. Being Disney World I know that's going to be hard.