Do I REALLY NEED...

[ColleenG]

...Sigma Zoom Super Wide Angle 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras? We leave for the World next Tuesday and I am feeling the itch for a new toy to take with me. I was thinking about the Sigma 30 mm, but B&H is out of stock on it. So I was thinking why not try a wide angle. I currently have my kit lens-18-55mm, 50 mm f/1.8, and 55-250 mm. The wide angle is just what I have in my "secret lens fund".

So, should I splurge?

The other factor is if B&H can have it here by Monday. If they ship from Manhattan, I am only about an hour and half away, so it doesn't have to go too far.

 

[ColleenG]

B&H says it will be here this Thursday. I'd even get time to practice with it!

Where are all my photography gurus?

 

[AlbertZeroK]

Congrats! I remember getting mine and walking into a post. The lens is wider that your own eye's ability to see and it's easy to run into things!

Enjoy your new lens!

 

[Uncle Greg]

What about the Tamron 11-16...or a fisheye?

 

[annnewjerz]

My initial reaction was to tell you to go elsewhere to get the Sigma 30/1.4 before you leave. It's my favorite lens, great for group shots, dark rides, fireworks and those shots that you want some nice shallow DOF. Then I saw you had the 50/1.8 and even though my preference is still the Sigma 30, as long as you aren't hell-bent on trying to get the best dark ride pictures, I think that will suit your needs right now just fine!

I think whenever the question is "Do I really need?" the answer should always be "YES!" when it comes to new gear. So my vote would be to get the Sigma 10-20, there are a lot of people on here who have/had the lens and brought back some pretty awesome shots from WDW...so I'm sure you'll love it!

 

[zackiedawg]

I'd say it's a fun purchase and a great part of a lens collection. My only advice would be to shop the available prices on the Sigma 10-20 F4-5.6m the Tamron 10-24 F3.5-4.5, and the Tokina 11-16 F2.8, as well as the UWA of your own camera brand - see if any of them are on particular sale price over the others. When it comes down to it, they're all fine lenses, all quite capable - some slightly better than others in a few areas, but you'd likely get as good results and have as much fun with any of them. So if you can get one of these for $400, and the others are $500 or more, I'd say go for the one with the best deal.

 

[WDWFigment]

If you do decide to get it, make sure to read some literature on using an UWA before it arrives, then get out and practice extensively once you get it. There's a fairly steep learning curve for using the lens properly.

 

[Suburbanmom]

While my UWA - Tokina 11-16 does not get used everyday, I have never regretted it's purchase. It gives me just want I need when I need wide angle and it doesn't take up much room in the bag, so it's goes everywhere I do.
Of course you NEED it...silly.

 

[mom2rtk]

Of course you NEED it...silly.

Ditto that!

 

[ColleenG]

If you do decide to get it, make sure to read some literature on using an UWA before it arrives, then get out and practice extensively once you get it. There's a fairly steep learning curve for using the lens properly.

Tom, is there anything you recommend. Hopefully it will arrive on Thursday and we leave Tuesday. Other than some stuff around the house I'm not sure how many big things I'll get to practice on.

 

[Groucho]

NO you do not need that lens.

YES you need a fisheye instead.

 

[ColleenG]

NO you do not need that lens.

YES you need a fisheye instead.

I would love a fisheye but it's just not in my budget at teh moment. Someday though!

 

[Groucho]

You can get the Samyang fisheye for pretty cheap...

 

[ColleenG]

Well, I caved and ordered it last night! According to B&H's estimations it should be here tomorrow. An extra day to practice, but I think we are supposed to get rain all day . I'll post my first attempts.

 

[tlcmommyx4]

I am so excited for you. I am going to the World in 42 days and was really thinking that I need an UWA. I have looked at Toms photos since I first got my DSLR and I am trying to decide on the Tokina 11-16 F 2.8 or the Sigma 10-20 F 4-5.6. Do they both have a big learning curve? Hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[boBQuincy]

As long as we understand how lenses work and how perspective is determined there should be little learning curve for a new lens. One thing to watch for is to keep a wide angle lens level to avoid keystoning (unless that is the effect we want).

It's not about "need", we want it and that's good enough!

 

[Experiment_626]

Another good thing to learn with UWA is that you can -- and usually should -- try to get startlingly close to something in the foreground of an image. Having items of interest in the foreground, mid-ground and background of an image shot with a UWA helps create a sense of depth. Too many people use the lenses as simply a way to "get more in the shot." A UWA will allow this, of course -- and nothing says you can't do that too -- but it creates shots that look flat and separate from the subject (because the lens exaggerates the apparent distance between objects, it makes the background look farther away than it actually is).

Take a look at the lengthy wide-angle thread hereabouts -- it's filled to bursting with good UWA shots you can use for education and inspiration.

I'd never dream of going to Walt Disney World -- or any scenic location -- without my own Sigma 10-20 (or suitable equivalent) in my camera bag.

 

[WDWFigment]

As long as we understand how lenses work and how perspective is determined there should be little learning curve for a new lens. One thing to watch for is to keep a wide angle lens level to avoid keystoning (unless that is the effect we want).

I disagree. I've read things from plenty of people who have all the technical expertise of different aspects of photography, know how everything works and why, and yet still can't effectively apply these principles to fully leverage the different tools at their disposal to their advantage. I think that knowledge is something wholly different from mastering the actual use of a lens (the latter being what I'd consider the true 'learning curve'). I've had my Tokina 11-16 for around a year and a half, and yet I still haven't fully mastered it.

Another good thing to learn with UWA is that you can -- and usually should -- try to get startlingly close to something in the foreground of an image. Having items of interest in the foreground, mid-ground and background of an image shot with a UWA helps create a sense of depth. Too many people use the lenses as simply a way to "get more in the shot." A UWA will allow this, of course -- and nothing says you can't do that too -- but it creates shots that look flat and separate from the subject (because the lens exaggerates the apparent distance between objects, it makes the background look farther away than it actually is).

Take a look at the lengthy wide-angle thread hereabouts -- it's filled to bursting with good UWA shots you can use for education and inspiration.

I'd never dream of going to Walt Disney World -- or any scenic location -- without my own Sigma 10-20 (or suitable equivalent) in my camera bag.

This is along the lines of what I mean about the learning curve of the lens.

 

[zackiedawg]

Time to throw in a quick link back to my UWA advice article/post! I'm far from an expert on the topic, but I have been playing with and learning with my UWA for a bit over a year, and along the way picked up various tips or made various observations in using them that helped me learn the lens and the UWA shooting style...I've posted this in a few forums when folks asked for advice on using UWAs, and added the advice as a guest writer on a blog...so maybe some of these 10 tips might be useful for anyone considering such a lens here and looking for ideas on using them:
http://stphoto.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/10-tips-on-using-a-wide-angle-lens/

There are other tips out there, the UWA thread can give you visual inspiration...so look around and see if any of it helps you decide if a UWA would be a fun pickup for you. And if you got one, maybe you'll get some ideas or inspiration to go out and experiment with it and get your own favorite style.

 

[ColleenG]

It's HERE!!! My new toy arrived today. Now if it would just stop raining so I can go out and play. I played with it around the house a bit just to see how some of the distortion affects things. I got a really weird shot of DS where his nose looks way too big for his face. Thanks for all the advice and links to articles. I'm still working my way through the UWA thread. There are some amazing and inspiring shots on there. Any more advice and tips are always welcomed. I'll try to post something later.