Best Wide Angle Lenses for Canon

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 5, 2024
Want to know how to fill the frame of your photos with more objects without moving away from them? Then use the distortion of a wide-angle ...Read more
PROS
This Luxury-series lens is weatherproof and it is compatible with both Full-Frame and APS-C cameras.
CONS
Might seems a bit sophisticated for entry level photographers.
OUR VERDICT
Whether you are a professional or amateur photographer, this L-series lens will help you bring your artistic ideas into life with the sharp detailed wide-angle photos. And it doesn't matter how wild they are, the barrel is water and dustproof.
detailed parameters
Compatible with
Full Frame, APS-C
Focal Length
16-35mm
Aperture
Max: f/4 Min: f/22
Diagonal Angle of View
108°10' - 63°
Image Stabilization
Yes
Warranty
1 year
PROS
The light transmittance of this model is better than in many other models with the same focal length.
CONS
Sometimes it's hard to get a sharp picture, especially with the AF.
OUR VERDICT
All-in-all, this lens has all the necessary features to provide you with the bright shots even in dim lighting, thanks to the wide f/3.5 aperture.
detailed parameters
Compatible with
APS-C
Focal Length
10-22mm
Aperture
Max: f/3.5-4.5 Min: f/22-29
Diagonal Angle of View
107°30' - 63°30'
Image Stabilization
No
Warranty
1 year
PROS
It is the most popular wide angle zoom lens on the market and it's weight is 0.53 lbs.
CONS
The lens mount is made of plastic.
OUR VERDICT
Along with the beautiful photographs due to the built-in optic stabilization and almost inaudible autofocus you can use this lens to record videos, too.
detailed parameters
Compatible with
APS-C
Focal Length
10-18mm
Aperture
Max: f/4.5-5.6 Min: f/22-29
Diagonal Angle of View
107°30' - 74°20'
Image Stabilization
Yes
Warranty
1 year
PROS
For a comparatively low price, it has high-quality assembly and material design. Has TIPA Awards as Best Entry Level lens.
CONS
The maximum angle of view at 10mm is narrower than in other models with the same focal length.
OUR VERDICT
If you are looking for a lens with a quick and silent autofocus and the universal focal length, then take a look at this model. It also has +3 year of extended warranty if bought in the US.
detailed parameters
Compatible with
APS-C
Focal Length
10-20mm
Aperture
max: f/4-5.6 min: f/22
Diagonal Angle of View
102°24' - 63°48'
Image Stabilization
No
Warranty
1 year + 3 (for US only)
PROS
With this exceptionally bright lens, you can take photos even in the nighttime.
CONS
The focusing ring is very thin, so it might take some time getting used to it.
OUR VERDICT
This 28mm wide-angle prime lens for Canon is designed for the experienced photographers who know exactly what they want. It's lightweight, compact, and boasts great assembly quality.
detailed parameters
Compatible with
APS-C
Focal Length
24mm
Aperture
max: f/2.8 min: f/22
Diagonal Angle of View
59°10'
Image Stabilization
No
Warranty
1 year

In Any Weather

It's no wonder that the best wide-angle lens for Canon DSLR cameras is made by Canon itself. Moreover, the red thin line next to the focusing ring and the letter 'L' in the name speak of the highest lens quality and assignment to the Luxury series of camera equipment. It goes without saying that there are no loose elements or annoying squeals when the lens changes a focus. Even more, R&D team seems to have thought through every little detail and installed a special button to fix the hood in place.

Anyway, the L-series lenses are designed for the full-frame cameras but also fully compatible with APS-C cameras. With the 16-35mm focal length, you can drastically change the angle of view from the ultra-wide to narrower 35mm. The maximum diagonal angle of view is set at 108°10', which makes it excellent in capturing things like the sunrise over the sea, the architecture masterpieces or cultural monuments. The built-in optical image stabilizer will come handy in the situations when there's no possibility to use a tripod and get a steady shot.

We should say that all moderate-priced wide angle lenses aren't 100% aberrations free and Canon EF 16-35mm is no exception; you still may get barely visible chromatic aberrations near the edges. Vignetting is especially noticeable if you mount it on a camera with a cropped sensor. Thankfully, most of this can be easily fixed in a photo editor. Like most L-series lenses, this one has water and dustproof qualities. Therefore, we can recommend it right off the bat if you are looking for a tool for creating magnificent photos. For example, on a rainy day or a dusty construction site. Still, additional protection will never hurt. We can recommend a clear 77mm protection filter by Canon or other company to prevent the lens glass from scratches.

Whether you are a pro or a beginner, this lens will lend you a steady hand in creating crisp, beautiful shots in any weather. In our opinion, this is the best wide angle lens for Canon 7D or any other full-frame DSLR.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $1,099.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00K8942SO

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Features(4.7)

This is a great all-around lens and it's very sharp.

Imaging(4.8)

The ribbed rubber zoom and focus rings are large and grippy.

Key Specs(4.8)

It's very good at f/4.

Size & Weight(4.7)

Lightweight enough that it was no problem carrying it out on a hike.

Solid Combination

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 is designed for APS-C sensor cameras. Although it has a non-constant aperture that is getting narrower as it's zooming in, it shows a comparatively bright picture at any focal length. The diagonal angle of view here is 107°30 at 10mm. Without a doubt, it is a great lens for shooting scenery or narrow city streets. At the shortest focal length, you can also get funny-looking photos of kids and animals with different body proportions by shooting them head first from above. We think, that the most impressive photos will be of the night city. Find an elevated place like a tall building or a bridge with a captivating look, mount the camera on a tripod, set exposure somewhere between 1-30 seconds and shoot. Although such photos are a bit cliché, the results are extremely satisfying.

The Canon's special Super Spectra glass coating is a welcomed feature as the sun often gets in the frame at 10mm focal length. The USM autofocus works flawlessly, too. Still, the lens has no image stabilizer. So, if for any reason you haven't got a tripod yet, we can offer you our thorough guide on different camera tripods. Using it will aid you greatly in getting steady shots of the static objects in dim lighting.

Summarizing, this will be a solid wide-angle lens for Canon 70D, 80D or any other APS-C camera by this company.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $649.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B0002Y5WXE

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Key Specs(4.8)

It gave enough aperture to capture beautiful photos.

Imaging(4.8)

The colors are vivid and not as flat; the focus is sharp.

Features(4.7)

Very sharp and fast focus, nice colors and very good in low light.

Size & Weight(4.7)

Solid construction and a reasonable weight. Good crisp images.

Ligths, Camera, Action!

If you are looking for a wide-angle lens for occasional use and don't want to spend a lot of money on a very expensive lens, check Canon EF-S Zoom Lens out because it's got just the right features to make not only incredible photos but videos too. The lens has an image stabilizer to compensate all vibrations that may occur when shooting in crowded places. It's also got a whisper-quiet autofocus which is especially handy when filming videos.

Back to the optic characteristics, the angle of view is 107° at the 10mm focal length. The maximum aperture changes along with the zoom from f/4.5 to f/5.6. Plus the lens is very lightweight - only 0.53 lbs. Anyhow, we strongly advise getting a UV filter to protect the glass from the scratches and dust on a windy weather. The 67mm filter by Tiffen or any other company will do just fine.

Overall, it's a wonderful wide angle lens for Canon Rebel or any other APS-C Canon camera. We want to point out that it shows exceptionally good results in shooting videos at an auditorium or a concert, where it can get as many people and things in the frame, as possible. Moreover, the almost inaudible STM autofocus is surely useful for filming a wedding ceremony, particularly at the exchange of the vows.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $299.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00K899B9Y

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Key Specs(4.6)

Very sharp images for a zoom lens.

Size & Weight(4.8)

I love it! Small, lightweight and perfectly fine wide angle performance.

Features(4.8)

Silent, lightweight, takes amazing photographs.

Imaging(4.7)

Focus is fast and silent as you'd expect.

Silent Hunting

In Sigma's lens, the DC mark means that this lens works with APS-C sensors, while the EX logo symbolizes the excellent quality of its design and performance. At 10mm focal length, the diagonal angle is 102°24' - this is a bit narrower than on the similar lens with the same focal length, yet the difference is hard to notice even if you compare them side-by-side.

We really enjoyed the silently working HSM autofocus in this model too. Furthermore, the lens shows magnificent results in bright lighting. On a bright day, you can easily get nice handheld shots at f/4.0 aperture. When zoomed in at 20mm, the aperture closes to the f/5.6 and somewhat darkens the image. Clearly, the constant aperture would be a lovely feature. Still, you will more often use it at the ultra-wide setting anyway. The close-up shots are nice and crisp as well. The lens comes with a hood, which you will really need on any sunny day because the glass is prone to produce some flares. Nevertheless, the contrast of the objects, shot against the sun, stays pretty much the same.

For these reasons, this lens is recommended for beginners and amateur photographers who are looking for a solid ultra-wide lens with a great build but without the overwhelming price tag.

If you have only recently bought your first DSLR, let us remind you that from time to time your camera requires some maintenance. For this task, you can get a specialized camera cleaning kit.

Last updated price $199.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0007U00X0

VIDEO

Time-Lapse Beauty

As you might have already guessed, the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens is a prime lens with a fixed focal length. The ultra-compact 0.91" thick barrel consists of the mere 6 optic elements combined in 5 groups. The minimum focusing distance starts at 6.24" and shows a surprisingly crisp, detailed image even along the edges. The 24mm focal length gives you almost 60° angle of view. For reference, try closing one eye and look around with the other one and you will get approximately the same angle. As a result, this lens is helpful for picking out one object and capturing enough details around it to give the image some more context.

Actually, this lens shows great results at the group photos in close quarters as well. You might also want to take snapshots of some scenery, architecture masterpieces or even portraits - and the lens won't let you down, delivering brilliant results. Additionally, if your DSLR supports long exposures, you can get yourself really inspiring pictures of a beautiful starscape. If you decide to do that - with this lens or any other wide-angle, don't forget to grab a tripod. For instance, Amazon offers its AmazonBasics 50-Inch model for a relatively low price. It is lightweight and comes with a bag.

Summarizing, this Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens is an awesome choice for professional photographers who know exactly when and how to use it. As for the less experienced users, we can recommend it as a tool for improving their skills. Fortunately, it's very compact and lightweight, so you can always have it on you anywhere.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $149.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00NI3BZ5K

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Key Specs(4.8)

The 2.8 aperture makes it work decently in low light situations.

Size & Weight(4.7)

It's small, compact and lightweight size makes it the ideal travel lens.

Features(4.7)

I love this lens, it has great build quality and great picture quality.

Imaging(4.8)

Super sturdy feel with a quick focus.

What is a Wide Angle Lens For Canon

You might have noticed that some of your photos just can't capture the things the way you see them. In most cases, this is due to the perspective difference between our eyes and the camera lens. For close-up shots like a bee on a flower, you need a macro lens that can focus on close objects. Faraway objects can appear closer, bigger with a telephoto lens that has a great magnification ratio. Portraits usually require a short telephoto lens. But in order to capture the scenery exactly like it is before your eyes, you need a wide-angle lens.

Normally, a human binocular vision has about 120° viewing angle while a standard 50mm lens has around 45-50°. For this reason, you just can't take photos of the subject without cropping some parts off with such a lens. But if you mount a wide-angle lens on your camera, you can fit more objects in the frame even when standing close to it. The distorted edges immerse the viewer into the picture.

For DSLR cameras, a 35mm or lesser focal length is considered to be wide-angle. In the next part, we'll sort out the main features and things to look for when buying a wide angle lens.

We want to mention that you can use a wide-angle lens for taking portrait photos. However, there's a special category of lenses out there considered to be more suitable for this. That is why don't miss out the chance to take a look at our pick of the best portrait lenses for Canon. We've also prepared similar reviews on the best zoom lenses and macro lenses for Canon.

What Features to Compare

First of all, check out the Camera Sensor Compatibility. The lenses for the APS-C sensors are not compatible with the Full-Frame cameras. On the other hand, the lenses designed for the Full-Frame DSLR do support APS-C type.

The Angle of View depends inversely on the Focal Length. The smaller it is the wider the angle will be. For example, 24mm lens on a Full-frame Canon camera has approximately 85° of view, while the 16mm lens has it at around 108°. Note, that the prime lenses have the focal length fixed at a specific distance from the sensor, while in the zoom type you can change it by moving a corresponding ring on the camera body. If you are an amateur photographer, we'd advise getting a zoom one as it allows a more flexible approach for different types of shooting. Also, a single zoom lens can replace several prime lenses in your collection at once. On the other hand, prime lenses are usually lighter, have a special design to attain the best picture quality within its length, and more preferred in performing some specific tasks. To sum it up, if you want a versatile wide-angle lens, grab a zoom one. Get a prime wide-angle lens only if you are sure you will be okay with a relatively small angle of view and other tech characteristics.

Another feature to give consideration to is the Diaphragm. It has an Aperture through which the light travels before it gets on the camera sensor. The wider the aperture is the more light will get through. By increasing or decreasing the aperture size with the special diaphragm blades, you can make your photos appear darker on a sunny day or brighter in a dim lighting. The aperture is given as "F-number". The smaller this number is the larger the opening will actually be. Also, a wide-open aperture has a shallower depth of view that is great for highlighting an object by outfocusing the background around it. For the portrait photography, the f/1.8 or smaller F-number are more preferred. As for the wide-angle, the sufficient maximum aperture is considered to be f/2.8-f/4.0. 

Optional Extra Features may include a variety of things. Imagine being in some old street of a European city with a crowd moving fast around you, giving you absolutely no chance to install a tripod and take a professional quality photo. The only thing you can do is hold your camera in hands, wobbling and trying to set a focus. Or you can use an optic image stabilizer which would be a much more sensible idea. Optic image stabilizer can compensate all shaking, helping you get a crisp, sharp picture under any circumstances. The lenses with ultrasound motor produce less noise and come in handy when one needs to hunt for an object without scaring it off. Some manufacturers equip lenses with hoods to dimish flares and glares from the sun, which is also a great feature for photographers who often take pictures in the broad daylight.

 

Sources:

1. Josh Johnson A Beginner's Introduction to Wide Angle Photography, Evanto. March 22, 2012.

2. Andrew S. Gibson Wide-angle Lenses and the Landscape, Digital Photography School.

3. Camera lens buyers guide, Camera Labs.

4. Bjorn Petersen Essential Wide-Angle Lenses for the Wedding Photographer, B&H.

5. Jeff Sinon Beyond the Wide Angle: Choosing a Landscape Photography Lens, Craftsy. September 5, 2014.

6. Jeremiah Gilbert 10 TIPS FOR SHOOTING WIDE-ANGLE, IMPROVE PHOTOGRAPHY LLC.

7. Andy Lim Wide Angle Photography Tips, PictureCorrect.

8. Paul Harcourt Davies Wide-angle macro photography: Positioning, depth of field and other tips and tricks, Imaging Resource. July 22, 2013.

9. USING WIDE ANGLE LENSES, Cambridge in Colour.

10. Fritzi Newton Wide Angle Vs. Fisheye Lens, eHow.

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