90D + 12mm zero D Recommendation

[wildwoodphoto]

Hi all,

I have a Canon 90D as a backup camera for shooting real estate (main body is a 5D MkIV). I use a 16-35 lens.

Due to the crop sensor on the 90D, the FOV is frustrating, so I want to try and increase this and am thinking about a 12mm zero distortion lens (e.g. a Laowa).

Has anyone tried this and what were the results?

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

Most obvious question.  Why not shoot with the 16~35 on the 5D4.  You are trading one problem for another.  

Use this calculator (Canon)

Laowa 12mm FOV 122*

Canon 16-35 FOV 112*

The moment you put either on a APS-C body, the FOV equivalent becomes 19.2mm.  Personally, I feel there is a fine line when shooting home interiors for real estate.  Small rooms are just that, small.  How wide is too wide?  The Laowa is not perfect, "close-to-zero optical distortion" so inevitably post processing is going to be needed to correct images shot under less than ideal conditions.  I know what agents have to go through.  Homes with no drapes, blown out or inadequate lighting, etc.  If you are going to shoot with the Laowa, I would do it on your 5D4 if you want the 122* FOV.  

If shooting on the 90D is mandatory, you can get 107* using Canon's 10~18 or 10~22.  What are you using for post production?  I don't know about Lr, but DxO has a dedicated application called Viewpoint which corrects geometry.  If you use Canon lenses DPP supports geometry correction.  Hope this provides some additional perspective and options.

[ebiggs1]

Boy before I would consider the Laowa lens I would simply check out and buy the old standby EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM.

Plus, if I were you I would also look at Rokinon 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC, too. The Rokinon is super sharp! And at a third of the cost.

[MikeSowsun]

I think the Canon EF-S 10-18mm STM would be great for interior photos on a 90D. It is reasonably priced, and is pretty sharp with very little distortion. Plus, it would be even wider than the Laowa 12mm. 

[shadowsports]

Ernie,

All true.  I'm not sure if the 18~55 will offer the FOV he desires?  I have the Rokinon 12mm.  I thought you have the 14mm?  Didn't I see some pics from you on B&H's website?  The 12mm Rokinon does 180* and would require geometry correction for real estate. 

[ebiggs1]

Rick,

The thing you need to remember is this EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM will do 90% of what is needed for real estate photography. Yes, likely, there will be some times where it isn't wide enough. It is a readily available lens that will offer more versatile use besides real estate work. The Rokinon 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC is a fantastic inexpensive lens that could fill that gap when needed. I was keeping the mention of distortion in mind since the OP mentioned the Laowa. I also like Mike's suggestion of the Canon EF-S 10-18mm STM 

My mother's side aunt and uncle were real estate agents and I did work for them way back in the dark ages in Rockville with Wilma and Fred and Bam-bam. The fact is you don't need an UWA all the time. Times you will however. I had my Argus C3, a Kodak Retina IIIC and later a Canon F1n and a 28mm f2.8 lens.

Give me a good tripod and Photoshop and I could do it all with a 50mil. 😁

[ebiggs1]

BTW, both the Argus C3, a Kodak Retina IIIC had 35mm lens adapters for the standard 50mm lens.

[deebatman316]

I do agree with Rick the EF-S 18-55mm lens lineup is simply NOT wide enough for real estate work. The EF-S 10-18mm F/4.5-5.6 IS STM would be a better choice for this application. I can't say how good the the EF-S 10-18mm F/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens is because I've never owned or used this lens before. I used to own the EF-S 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM lens and it was plenty wide enough. But the EF-S 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM comes with a price tag though because the lens has a Ring Type USM AF motor. I have since donated this lens to a friend who has an APS-C camera. I replaced this lens with the EF 16-35mm F/2.8L III USM lens when I went Full Frame.

-Demetrius

Current Gear: EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 16-35mm F/2.8L III USM, EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM, EF 50 F/1.8 STM, EF 85mm F/1.8 USM, EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS III USM, 470EX-AI & 600EX II-RT

Retired Gear: EOS 40D & Sigma 17-50mm F/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

[ebiggs1]

"...  the EF-S 18-55mm lens lineup is simply NOT wide enough for real estate work."

Done a lot of real estate work have you? It's probably best to comment on stuff you have actually done.

[amfoto1]

The Venus Laowa 12mm Zero D is a pretty amazing lens... for full frame... if you're willing to pay $849 for a manual focus and manual aperture control lens.

However, 12mm on a 90D will not give as wide angle view as 16mm on full frame. So you'd be better off just using your 16-35mm on your 5DIV.

You need a 10mm lens to have the same angle of view on an APS-C 90D as you are already getting with 16mm on a full frame 5DIV.

If you want autofocus and auto exposure, as of now there are only two lenses that will go that wide... Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM (~$300) and Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM (~$650).

If you're okay with manual focus and manual aperture, there's one more possibility: Rokinon 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS. That's currently on sale for $340 (reg. $429). Note: The Samyang 10mm f/28 is exactly the same lens. Samyang makes both, but they sell under the Rokinon name in N. America.

No current lens goes any wider on 90D, except for fisheye lenses with very strong curvature distortion in images.

In the past Sigma offered an 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM FLD lens for APS-C Canon DSLRs like the 90D. If you can find one used it would give you a wider view on your camera,  But even though it's not a fisheye, it does have fairly strong curvature distortion and cannot be used with standard filters due to a convex front element. 

There also is a Tokina AT-X 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AF DX lens available in Canon mount, but this is a fisheye lens at the short focal lengths, largely uncorrected for curvature.

Your best bet for ultra wide lenses is your full frame 5DIV. There are 15mm, 14mm, 12mm and 11mm lenses that go wider than 16mm on full frame. Canon themselves offer an EF 11-24mm, while Sigma has made 12-24mm and 14-24mm lenses for use on Canon full frame DSLRs. Of course they all can also be used an APS-C 90D, but will be less wide on that camera, than a 16mm is on full frame. 

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2), EOS M5, some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
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