Wide Angle Zooms for DSLRs
This is a guide to ultra-wide rectilinear zoom lenses for digital SLRs. I have listed all the zooms, both current and discontinued, that cover a wider field of view (FOV) than 100 degrees I am aware of. This will be 18 mm for FX-format (aka. “135-format”), 12 mm for the DX-format, and wider than 9 mm for Four-thirds.
There are three lists. The first lists such lenses made for the the Four-Thirds format (including micro-Four-Thirds). The second lists lenses that is suited for DX-sized (or smaller) sensors, and will vignette on FX-format sensors. The third lists lenses that can be used on all small format SLR cameras, including FX.
Clicking on the name of the lens will in most cases take you to a mini-review of the lens.
Lenses suitable for sensors of size Four-Thirds
- Olympus 7-14 mm f/4 ED (USD 1520)
- Olympus 9-18 mm f/4-5.6 ED (µ-4/3) (USD 700)
- Olympus 9-18 mm f/4-5.6 ED (USD 475)
- Panasonic 7-14 mm f/4 Lumix G Vario (USD 1100)
Lenses suitable for sensors of size DX/APS-C and smaller
- Canon 10-22 mm f/3.5-4.5 EF-S USM (USD 770)
- Nikon 10-24 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-S G IF-ED DX (USD 810)
- Nikon 12-24 mm f/4 AF-S G IF-ED DX (USD 1000)
- Pentax 12-24 mm f/4 DA ED AL IF (USD 700)
- Sigma 8-16 mm f/4.5-5.6 HSM DC (USD 699)
- Sigma 10-20 mm f/3.5 EX HSM DC (USD 650)
- Sigma 10-20 mm f/4-5.6 EX HSM DC (USD 480)
- Sony 11-18 mm f/4.5-5.6 AF DT (USD 650)
- Tamron 10-24 mm f/3.5-4.5 SP AF Di-II LD IF (USD 500)
- Tamron 11-18 mm f/4.5-5.6 AF Di-II LD IF [USD 500]
- Tokina 10-17 mm f/3.5-4.5 AT-X AF DX Fisheye (USD 580)
- Tokina 11-16 mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro IF SD DX [USD 600]
- Tokina 11-16 mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro IF SD DX II (USD 700)
- Tokina 12-24 mm f/4 AT-X Pro DX [USD 400]
- Tokina 12-24 mm f/4 AT-X Pro DX II (USD 500)
Lenses suitable for sensors of size FX/135-format and smaller
- Canon 8-15 mm f/4 EF L USM Fisheye (USD 1399)
- Canon 16-35 mm f/2.8 EF L USM [USD 1370]
- Canon 16-35 mm f/2.8 EF L USM II (USD 1520)
- Canon 17-35 mm f/2.8 EF USM L [USD 1200]
- Canon 17-40 mm f/4 EF USM L (USD 635)
- Nikon 14-24 mm f/2.8 AF-S G IF-ED (USD 1800)
- Nikon 16-35 mm f/4 AF-S G ED VR (USD 1250)
- Nikon 17-35 mm f/2.8 AF-S D IF-ED (USD 1765)
- Nikon 18-35 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-D IF-ED (USD 600)
- Sigma 12-24 mm f/4.5-5.6 EX HSM DG [USD 860]
- Sigma 12-24 mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM II (USD 950)
- Sigma 15-30 mm f/3.5-4.5 EX DG [USD 500]
- Sigma 17-35 mm f/2.8-4 EX HSM DG [USD 479]
- Sony 16-35 mm f/2.8 ZA SSM T* AF (USD 1750)
- Tamron 17-35 mm f/2.8-4 SP AF Di LD IF [USD 300]
- Tokina 16-28 mm f/2.8 AF AT-X Pro (USD 849)
- Tokina 16.5-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 AT-X AF DX [USD 570]
- Tokina 17-35 mm f/4 SD AT-X PRO (USD 669)
The prices listed are taken from the B&H-web between January 2007 and May 2011. As prices seems to vary a lot, should only be used as a very rough guide of what you may expect to pay for a new item. Square brackets around the price indicates that the lens is discontinued by the manufacturer and may be difficult to find in new condition. To see current price and availability, visit the website of a merchant selling the particular lens.
