Ive been shooting with my 90D for a couple years now, mostly portraits and some street stuff, but I have a trip to Iceland coming up in three weeks and I realized my current glass just isnt cutting it for landscapes. I keep trying to get these wide shots but even my 18-55mm kit lens feels super soft at the edges and the distortion is driving me nuts. I really need something sharper that can handle the wider field of view without breaking the bank since I only have about 400 to 500 bucks to spend right now.
My logic was to look at the Tokina 11-16mm because Ive heard great things about the sharpness but I keep reading mixed reviews about the flare resistance which sounds like a nightmare for sunrises. So I was thinking about maybe the Sigma 10-20mm but Im just stuck. Is it worth hunting for a used EF-S 10-18mm to save cash or am I gonna regret not going for something with a constant aperture? My photos are just feeling kinda flat lately and I really dont want to come back from this trip with soft images. Has anyone used these on a 90D specifically and actually been happy with the results?
Honestly, if you are heading to Iceland, you really need to prioritize gear that wont fail you. Forget the constant aperture obsession for landscapes, because you will be shooting at f/8 or f/11 anyway! I have used the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM on my 90D and it is honestly fantastic for the price. The sharpness is surprisingly solid and having image stabilization is a huge lifesaver when you are handheld in windy conditions. You could save so much cash and put it toward a really sturdy tripod instead, which is way more important for those epic long exposures. If you find one used, it is such a steal! Seriously, dont overthink the gear and just focus on capturing those amazing views. You are gonna love it!
Honestly, I had issues with flare on the Tokina and it was pretty disappointing. Since you're on a budget for Iceland, don't overspend if you don't have to.
- Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
- Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM The Canon is cheap and honestly sharp enough for landscapes. Grab it used and spend the extra cash on a solid tripod. You'll definitely want the stability for those Icelandic winds anyway.
Been thinking about your setup! If you want pro-level sharpness on a budget, definitely grab the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 PRO DX II. The constant aperture is fantastic for those low-light Icelandic dawns. While flare can be tricky, just use a good hood and watch your angles. It is optically superior to the kit lens and fits your budget perfectly if you buy used. You will love the results!
🙌
Can vouch for this
To add to the point above: I honestly have to agree that obsessing over aperture is a trap. I learned this the hard way on a trip a few years back. I brought this heavy, expensive piece of glass that supposedly had better light gathering, but it was just a nightmare to lug around and the weight balance on my body was completely off. Unfortunately, it failed me right when the weather turned. I ended up missing so many shots because I was fiddling with settings instead of just shooting. It just wasnt as good as expected, especially since I was mostly at f/11 anyway. Reliability matters way more than a slightly wider opening when you are standing in the middle of nowhere. My current setup is much lighter and I honestly dont look back. TL;DR: Dont overthink the specs. The best lens is the one that stays attached to your camera and doesnt give you grief when the wind picks up. Just make sure whatever you bring is weather sealed or at least manageable.
Regarding what #6 said about "Can vouch for this" - it totally reminds me of my cousin's big road trip out west a few years back. He spent weeks agonizing over lens charts and specs right before leaving, literally losing sleep over constant apertures and corner sharpness. When he finally got out there, he dropped his entire camera bag in a muddy creek on the second day and had to spend the rest of the vacation using a cheap backup point-and-shoot he bought at a gas station. Honestly, the whole ordeal turned into a legendary family joke about overpreparing gear versus just enjoying the scenery. You end up stressing so much about technical perfection that you almost forget to look at the actual view in front of you.