Ive been shooting with my 90D for a couple years now, mostly portraits, but I have a week-long trip to Iceland coming up and realize my 50mm prime just isnt gonna cut it for those wide vistas. Im really struggling to decide between grabbing a dedicated ultra-wide zoom or just sticking to a wider prime. My budget is around 600 bucks tops since I still need to buy gear for the cold. I was looking at the Sigma 10-20mm because of the price but then I started reading about corner softness and now Im honestly just panicking a bit. Does anyone have a better recommendation that stays sharp on the 32mp sensor?
Iceland is absolutely breathtaking, you are gonna have such an amazing time! Shooting landscapes on that 32mp sensor is demanding tho, it really shows up any lens flaws instantly. Honestly, forget the older glass. You definitely want something designed to resolve that high pixel density. I used the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM on my 90D last year and it is fantastic for the price! It is super lightweight for trekking and that stabilization is a lifesaver when you are fighting wind chill or trying to get sharp shots handheld in lower light. If you want more light gathering power, check out the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 Pro DX II. It is built like a tank and the constant f/2.8 aperture is super handy for those moody, darker skies. You might see some minor chromatic aberration in high contrast edges, but Lightroom cleans that up in a second. Just a quick tip: keep your shutter speed high since that high-res sensor will catch every bit of camera shake, especially if your hands are freezing. Also, bring a solid circular polarizer to really make those waterfalls and glacial blues pop. Have a blast out there!
Re: Iceland is absolutely breathtaking, you are gonna have... honestly, dont panic over the 32mp sensor. People obsess too much about pixel peeping when the reality is that ultra-wide shots are rarely viewed at 100 percent crop anyway. I have shot extensively with the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 PRO DX II and it is a total workhorse for landscapes. It handles distortion better than the older Sigmas and that constant f/2.8 aperture is a lifesaver if you decide to shoot northern lights. It fits your budget perfectly and leaves you cash for good gloves. Personally, I would take a solid zoom over a prime for Iceland because you dont want to be swapping lenses in that freezing wind and grit. Just bring a good blower for your sensor and you will be golden.
@Reply #2 - good point! Honestly, just grab any wide-angle zoom from Sigma or Tamron. You'll save cash for thermal layers, and honestly, the slight softness matters less than the epic view.
- Dont stress the corner sharpness too much when you are out freezing your hands off in Iceland, seriously!
- The build quality matters way more down there with the wind and moisture, so just grab a solid weather-sealed body or a cheap lens you dont mind getting wet. Have an amazing trip!