So I've been shooting with my 90D for about a year now and I'm finally hitting a wall with my 18-135mm kit lens. It’s a great all-rounder but man it just doesn’t get wide enough for what I want to do lately. I’ve got a trip to Zion National Park coming up in like three weeks and I really want to capture those massive cliff faces without having to do a million panoramas that never stitch right anyway.
I’ve narrowed it down to a few options but honestly I'm stuck in a loop of reading reviews. My logic was that I should stay native with Canon glass, but then I see people talking about third party stuff being sharper. Here is what I'm looking at:
- Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
- Tokina atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF
- Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
The 10-18mm is so cheap and lightweight which is a huge plus since I’ll be hiking a ton, but I worry about the plastic mount and if the f/4.5 is gonna be a problem if I try some astro shots at night. I thought the image stabilization might make up for it for handheld stuff, but then I looked at the Tokina. People rave about that one for the build quality and that fast aperture would be killer for stars. But it’s way heavier and I’ve heard it flares like crazy when the sun hits it directly.
There’s also the older 10-22mm which I can find used for a decent price. It feels more pro than the 10-18 but it doesnt have IS and it’s an older design so I dunno if it still holds up on the 32.5MP sensor of the 90D. I’m trying to stay under $450 if possible, maybe $500 if it’s really worth it. I might also use it to help a buddy take some photos of a house he’s selling next month so low light performance matters a bit for those indoor shots.
Is the 10-18mm good enough or am I gonna regret not getting the Tokina for the extra stop of light? The weight difference is what’s really tripping me up since I’m trying to keep my pack light for the Narrows...
Building on the earlier suggestion, are you open to manual focus?
- Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS works well and saves tons, honestly.
- Lemme know, cuz its a killer budget pick.
Zion is gonna be incredible! For hiking the Narrows specifically, I would grab the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM without thinking twice. It is so light it basically feels like a toy, but the optics are actually fantastic for the price point. The Image Stabilization is the real hero here. Since you are doing interiors for your buddy too, the IS helps way more than a fast aperture because you can keep your shutter open longer while keeping the room sharp without a tripod.
- Super lightweight for those long Zion treks
- IS is magic for handheld shots in dark canyons
- Optics are surprisingly sharp on high res sensors Dont stress the plastic mount... it is plenty durable for regular use. If you are dying for a faster lens for astro tho, maybe check out the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM as a solid middle ground. But seriously, that 10-18 is such a win for your budget!
Honestly, the 32.5MP sensor on your 90D is a bit of a beast to feed. In my experience, older glass like that Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM starts showing its age on high-res bodies... it just cant resolve the fine detail you want for those massive Zion landscapes. Its basically a legacy lens at this point and I wouldnt touch it for a modern sensor. If you are serious about astro, f/4.5 on the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is gonna be a massive struggle. Youll have to crank your ISO so high the noise will eat your stars for breakfast. For night shots and that real estate gig, the Tokina atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF is the clear winner technical-wise. Yeah, it flares if you point it right at the sun, but you just gotta learn to shade the lens with your hand or a hat. The build quality is like a tank compared to the 'thocky' plastic feel of the STM. That said, if you are doing the Narrows, weight is a real factor. I have used the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM on long treks and you basically forget it is even in the bag. The IS is incredible for handheld shots when your hands are shaking from a long climb. But for the 90D sensor, the Tokina optics are just sharper. TL;DR: Grab the Tokina atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF for the f/2.8 speed if stars and indoor shots are priorities. If you just want the lightest kit for hiking and dont mind bumping ISO at night, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a total steal.
