Need lens recomendations

[Luvscrappin]

My DH surprised me with a Dec visit to WDW for our anniversary. I would love to get some great pics of the castle, osbourne lights, and parades. I have a canon t4i currently. Was thinking about renting the sigma 18-35mm 1.8 . Any thoughts? This is probably my one shot at a Christmas Visit and I am SOOO excited! What a great anniversary present!

 

[bob100]

My DH surprised me with a Dec visit to WDW for our anniversary. I would love to get some great pics of the castle, osbourne lights, and parades. I have a canon t4i currently. Was thinking about renting the sigma 18-35mm 1.8 . Any thoughts? This is probably my one shot at a Christmas Visit and I am SOOO excited! What a great anniversary present!

I don't have it or ever used it but the new Sigma 18-35 1.8 gets great reviews so yes, it sounds like a good lens to rent or own

 

[LarryFmScotland]

I would agree you need to get a pretty wide angle lens for the Osborn Lights etc. I have a couple of other sigma lenses and and have always thought that the quality was good.

 

[jrdgtr]

18-35 mm isn't that wide at all. The 1.8 aperture will be great for low light situations like dark rides or osborne lights. The lens will do fine photographing the castle. But it will be more zoomed in than you think. Think of the kit lens that came with your camera. It's going to be either 18-55 or 18-135. So unless you are going to be photographing dark rides or extremely low light situations I wouldn't rent it. I would go for something in the 10-22 mm range of you are looking for a wide angle. You could probably get away with a lens that has a smaller aperture when photographing the osborne lights because it will be semi lit up and you can always bump the ISO up too.

 

[mom2rtk]

It would be my first choice for photographing the Christmas parade. I have shot it at 2.8, but that's just not quite fast enough for some parade elements. I have a 1.4 but hate being locked into 30mm. I want a faster wide-ish lens. Up until now 2.8 was the fastest I have seen under around 28-30mm.

It's highly likely I will rent or buy this lens for our own December trip.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

This lens is on my list for my next WDW visit. Fortunately, I don't have any visits planned in the near future, so that is saving me some $$! I also have the 30mm f1.4 and it is very good for the dark rides, but the lure of a zoom (18-35) with a f1.8 is just too good to pass on.

 

[Groucho]

If you're after width and speed, the Samyang (and the rebadged versions) 24mm F1.4 is one to consider, also. That's on my list for one of these days.... it seems like a good option for dark rides.

For more general use, the F1.8 zoom is certainly more flexible.

 

[*pixie*]

Can this lens be used on FF, or is strictly for crop? I have a Canon 5D Mark III and I found on my last trip that my 24-105 just isn't quite wide or fast enough.

 

[photo_chick]

Can this lens be used on FF, or is strictly for crop? I have a Canon 5D Mark III and I found on my last trip that my 24-105 just isn't quite wide or fast enough.

The Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 is a crop only lens. I've seen it used on a full frame but you don't get a large enough image projection to cover the frame with it.

 

[*pixie*]

The Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 is a crop only lens. I've seen it used on a full frame but you don't get a large enough image projection to cover the frame with it.

Thanks, I thought it was crop only, but was pretty sure I had seen somewhere mention of it being used on FF. That's makes sense. Guess I'm still searching for a new lens then!

 

[jfinke]

If you want wide for a crop, I love my Tokina 11-16.

 

[justinlauck]

If you want wide for a crop, I love my Tokina 11-16.

I'll second the Tokina. Awesome lens!

 

[Luvscrappin]

I used the Tokina 11-16 last week and love that lens. Was thinking that the 18-35 f/1.8 might be better for the parades. Also considering the Tokina again, but starting to think this will be the 3rd time I have rented it ...maybe I just think about purchasing it, lol.

 

[Animagic!]

If you're after width and speed, the Samyang (and the rebadged versions) 24mm F1.4 is one to consider, also. That's on my list for one of these days.... it seems like a good option for dark rides.

For more general use, the F1.8 zoom is certainly more flexible.

I'm a really big fan of the Rokinon fast primes. I would definitely use the 24mm f/1.4 or the 35mm f/1.4 for parades on a Full Frame camera. I'm not sure if the 24mm f1.4 would be a good choice for APS-C users looking for something wide. Or those unfamiliar with fully manual lenses.

Personally I'd be comfortable with the Sigma 30mm f1.4 but I'd prefer something tighter. At the end of the day though I think a wide aperture is more important than a wide angle.

However on the Canon the 18-35mm f/1.8 should be just fine.

As a side note I would like to point out that Tom Bricker wrote up a blog post about photography tips for the Main Street Electrical Parade. All the principals should be the same so you'll find that info very helpful.

 

[Luvscrappin]

I'm a really big fan of the Rokinon fast primes. I would definitely use the 24mm f/1.4 or the 35mm f/1.4 for parades on a Full Frame camera. I'm not sure if the 24mm f1.4 would be a good choice for APS-C users looking for something wide. Or those unfamiliar with fully manual lenses.

Personally I'd be comfortable with the Sigma 30mm f1.4 but I'd prefer something tighter. At the end of the day though I think a wide aperture is more important than a wide angle.

However on the Canon the 18-35mm f/1.8 should be just fine.

As a side note I would like to point out that Tom Bricker wrote up a blog post about photography tips for the Main Street Electrical Parade. All the principals should be the same so you'll find that info very helpful.

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm a huge fan of Tom Bricker and his blog. That is actually where I first read about the sigma 18-35. I am pretty sure this is what I am definitely leaning towards.

 

[firemanchip]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm a huge fan of Tom Bricker and his blog. That is actually where I first read about the sigma 18-35. I am pretty sure this is what I am definitely leaning towards.

I ordered mine( Sigma 18-35mm ) a month ago and I`m still waiting. It`s been back-ordered for some time now. I`ll be using it on my 70D. I just hope to have the lens before my trip in Dec..

 

[kmclark]

I ordered mine( Sigma 18-35mm ) a month ago and I`m still waiting. It`s been back-ordered for some time now. I`ll be using it on my 70D. I just hope to have the lens before my trip in Dec..

Where did you order it from?

 

[firemanchip]

Where did you order it from?

B@H. Back-ordered on Amazon too.

 

[Luvscrappin]

I ordered mine( Sigma 18-35mm ) a month ago and I`m still waiting. It`s been back-ordered for some time now. I`ll be using it on my 70D. I just hope to have the lens before my trip in Dec..

Really thinking about purchasing the 70D, I currently have the t4i. How are you liking it? I will be renting the sigma 18-35 for our Dec trip.

 

[mom2rtk]

Really thinking about purchasing the 70D, I currently have the t4i. How are you liking it? I will be renting the sigma 18-35 for our Dec trip.

I've been wondering about the 70D myself. My T2i has lasted longer than any other Rebel I have had, so I'm thinking it might not be long for this world. I was really excited about the 70D but what I'm really after is better high-ISO performance, and I'm not sure if it moved the bar enough to justify pulling the trigger. I'd probably consider the 6D for that amazing high-ISO performance but couldn't bear to part with some of my favorite lenses.