Affordable Wide Angle Low Light Lens

[Metalliogre]

Good Morning!

I am in search for a nice wide angle low light lens I can use on my 70D. I would prefer something under $500. I am looking to capture photos of the night sky and landscapes at all times of the day/night. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[Waddizzle]

I think the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens is a best buy.  It is fast and wide, which is good for astrophotography.  Despite being a fully manual lens, it is also great for landscapes.  Because most landscape shots are of subjects that are not close to the camera, you can dial in the hyperfocal distance on the lens, and shoot away. 

Everything more than a few feet from the lens will be in perfect focus.

Both photos were shot with a 7D Mark II.  Folks who live far from large urban areas are lucky.  I live in NYC, which means it is a several hours drive to find dark sky, suitable for capturing the Milky Way.

[ebiggs1]

Bobby my boy,

He said, "I am in search for a nice wide angle low light lens..."

He did not say, how wide?  So the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon fills the bill as a, "nice wide angle low light lens", does it not?  Even up to 30mil, it is still a WA lens, is it not?

[ebiggs1]

You better stop it !  You are going to cause me to buy a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens.  

Actually the only thing that has stopped me was Rokinon's horrendous lack of QC.  My astro buds have them and some have had to return them several times to get a good one.  I understand Rokinon has tried and made some great efforts to improve the QC.  I wonder what happens to all the returned lenses?  Do they just get shipped out to the next unsuspecting buyer? Or are they sent back to Rokinin?  Hmmm?

[RobertTheFat]

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ebiggs1 wrote:

Bobby my boy,

He said, "I am in search for a nice wide angle low light lens..."

He did not say, how wide?  So the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon fills the bill as a, "nice wide angle low light lens", does it not?  Even up to 30mil, it is still a WA lens, is it not?

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Not in my book, it isn't. I'll concede that the 14mm Rokinon is a WA on a 70D, but 30mm is straight up normal - nothing remotely wide about it. True APS-C WA zooms top out at around 20mm.

[Waddizzle]

"You better stop it !  You are going to cause me to buy a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens.  "

Actually, I use the cinema version of the lens 14mm T3.1.  Same lens, but with a declicked aperture, marked as T values.

[ebiggs1]

Bob
Boston, Massachusetts USA

"Not in my book, ..."

Perhaps you need to update your book, Robert. Anything from 30mil down is considered WA on a cropper.

"True APS-C WA zooms top out at around 20mm."

Oh, the OP wanted a "true" APS-C WA zoom.  How could I have misunderstand?  

[ebiggs1]

"Actually, I use the cinema version ..."

Does that indicate the QC is better, too?

[Waddizzle]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"Actually, I use the cinema version ..."

Does that indicate the QC is better, too?

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It might.  It might not.  Who knows.  I've bought three of them, and all three perform better than expected for the price. 

I have purchased two of them, 14mm and 85mm, and both are very sharp when you get them dialed in.  Another 14mm that i bought for my videographer son is pretty sharp, too.  The 85mm is almost as sharp as my EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.  It does show a little CA at the edges of the DOF, which can be easily removed.

[Metalliogre]

I ended up getting the Rokinon 14mm. What do I need to buy to get it to fit my Canon 70D?

[Metalliogre]

I think someone sold me a Nikon lens when they advertised it being a Canon