10-22mm vs 15-85mm

[AgreaterJoe]

Hi All!Since most of my favorite Landscape shots on flickr always seem to have been taken using super wide lenses, I assumed I will need to get one.
I thought of getting (due to budget limitations) Sigma 10-20mm, Sigma 17-70mm and Canon 70-300mm
But I have been reading very good things about Canon's 15-85mm IS USM, and I could afford it if I drop the 10-20mm.
Question is, dear experienced Landscape photographers out there, will 15mm of the 15-85mm be wide enough on my 50D?
Help?!

[jodaco]

As I said in your other thread 15mm on a crop body is wide but not ultra-wide. I think if that's the look you want then you will miss it. I do use the 10-15 range on my 10-22 Canon but not nearly as often as the 15-22 range but I would miss having the option.

I don't know much about the Sigma 17-70 but my guess is the image quality from it and the 15-85mm will not be dramatically different. If you feel the 15-85mm is your best bet you can always start there see if 15mm is good enough for you and save for a super wide in the meantime.

[Bob Atkins]

I recently did a full test of the Canon EF-S 15-85/3.4-5.6IS USM (which will be published here in a few weeks) and I was pleased by the image quality. At the wide end of the range it's significantly better than that of the 17-85, especially out at the edges of the image. 15mm is wide but not ultrawide. It's the same FOV on a crop sensor camera as you would get with a 24mm lens on a full frame camera. That's about as wide as you can go without getting into the special look of the "ultrawides". Ther are lots of landscape photographers who don't shoot any wider than that.

I also have the Canon EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5 USM and it too is a very good lens, but like jodaco the wide end of the range doesn't get used a lot. It's nice to have for a few special shots, but I'd say for most photographers a 15-85 lens would get a lot more use than a 10-20 lens. Of course if you are addicted to the ultrawide look, then that would be a different case.

I'd say that the Canon EF-S 15-85/3.4-5.6IS USM plus the Canon EF 70-300/4-5.6IS USM would make an excellent lens set, covering just about all the focal lengths most photographers will use and having image stabilization at all focal lengths. If you find that 15mm isn't wide enough for you then you can wait and save and maybe look at the new Sigma 8-16mm zoom sometime in the future (it's been announced but not yet released as far as I know). I have a brief preview of the Sigma 8-16 here - http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/sony_pma_2010.html. I've seen no price or release date but I'd guess at maybe $500-$600?

[AgreaterJoe]

Hi
Thank you both for the feedback. Bob, I think you have confirmed what I was already thinking, that 15-85mm IS USM and 70-300mm IS USM from Canon are my best choice.
Bob would you just confirm 1 point please:
While 10-22mm and 18-200mm combo would cover about the same range I need and supply me with a good ultra wide lens, the 18-200mm is a far lesser lens (IQ etc) then either 15-85mm IS USM or the 70-300mm IS USM lenses, and thus I am better off with that combination.
Thanks in advance!

[jodaco]

I know you're looking for Bob's answer but if you haven't already look at the reviews on photozone.de

To me it's no contest - between the two get the 15-85. And remember if you really want wide 18 will certainly not be enough.

[AgreaterJoe]

Well i did it.
I just ordered online Canon EOS 50D with Sigma 17-70mmf/2.8-4 DC OS HSM and Canon 70-300mm IS USM
Reviews based on IQ, Build and price were the best for these, so thats what i went for.
I will wait few more months, and if i miss it, i'll get the Sigma 10-20mm.
Thanks very much for all the feedback.
I'll be back!!

[AgreaterJoe]

Hi All
So today my new camera arrived!!
Canon EOS 50D
Canon 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon Speedlight 430EX II
Thanks all for your help and feedback!!!

[Angel]

You should have gone with the Canon 10-22.

You can not cheat in Photoshop to get wide angle.  But you can always crops.

[whizkid]

I also think you made the best choice by selecting the 15-85 and 70-300. I am a Canon lens collecting junkie and have both those as well as the 10-22. I also enjoy taking senics but use a 7D.  I rarely use the very wide ability of the 10-22 even though I have no complaints about that lens.  I also have a 5D2 and on it I use Canon's 24-105 for scenic shooting. Since it is a full frame camera it gives me the same wide view as the 15-85 does on the 7D. I had considered getting a Canon 16-35 for the 5DMk2 to give me the same spread as the 10-22 but using the 10-22 so little I dismissed the idea. Even a lens junkie has a moment of sanity.