Ive been shooting with my 90D for a few years now, mostly portraits, but I've got a road trip to the Pacific Northwest coming up next month and my current 18-55mm kit lens just isnt cutting it for these massive mountain ranges. My logic was to grab something wider but I'm kinda stuck between the Canon EF-S 10-18mm and the Sigma 10-20mm. I really dont wanna blow more than 400 bucks since I just dropped cash on a sturdy tripod. Is the extra aperture on the Sigma worth the trade-off in weight? Or should I just stick with the first-party glass and call it a day? Just feeling a bit indecisive honestly...
Honestly, skip the Sigma and just grab the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM. I have used it for years on my crop bodies and have been super satisfied with the results. That aperture difference on the Sigma really wont matter for landscape work because you're gonna be stopped down to f/8 or f/11 anyway to keep everything sharp from foreground to infinity. The stabilization on the Canon lens is actually clutch for handheld shots when the light gets weird or you dont want to deploy the tripod for every single snap. It is super lightweight too, which makes a huge difference when you are hiking all day. Save your cash for some filters or gas money, because this lens is a total workhorse for the price.
Regarding what was mentioned about the 10-18mm, I honestly think there are some other fantastic ways to spend that budget if you want professional results! If you are feeling indecisive, check these out:
- The Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 Pro DX II is a tank. It is built like a brick and that constant f/2.8 is just amazing for low light, especially if you try any night sky shots in the PNW. It feels much sturdier than the Canon plastic.
- If you really want a sharp prime, the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC is legendary for landscapes. It is manual focus only, but for mountains, you just set it to infinity and forget it. Super crisp images every time! Just remember to grab a solid protective filter like a Hoya 77mm Digital Filter Kit so you don't scratch that front element on your trip. You will love the results!
Saw this earlier but just now getting to a computer. Honestly, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I had issues with that Tokina mentioned above. Unfortunately, the autofocus motor on mine was super noisy and felt dated compared to the newer STM glass, so it really wasnt as good as I expected for travel. Since you want reliability for that PNW trip, I would suggest sticking with something that just plain works every time:
- Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is way tougher than the 10-18mm and the USM focus is silent and fast. You can find them used for a steal now.
- Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD is another solid pick because it has weather sealing, which is a lifesaver if you get caught in PNW rain. I really wouldnt worry about that f/2.8 constant aperture unless you plan on doing serious astrophotography. If you are just doing landscapes, the weather sealing and reliability are gonna serve you way better than a fast lens that might fail you on the trail.
Re: > Honestly, skip the Sigma and just grab the...
- totally agree. Save that cash for filters or a SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I card. Just be careful with flare, keep a cleaning kit handy.