cheap manual wide lens?

S

-Sandro-

Well-known member
Hello,
do you know any vintage lenses that don't cost like the tokina 11-16 but it's in this range? Like 15mm maybe?
I'd just need it for time-lapses
 
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Not really...

See, there were very few lenses that wide because all vintage lenses were made for full frame, so they didn't need to be as wide as the lenses everybody wants for APS-C. Plus the complexity of making lenses that wide means that they were not able to be designed and produced at a reasonable cost and quality until more recently. There are probably a few fisheye's and even some rectilinear lenses that wide but they are no match for the modern lenses (unlike simpler designs like 50mm primes, which were amazingly good even decades ago).

Your best bet might be to check out the Samyang 14mm f/2.8. The same lens is also sold under different names by Rokinon and Bower.
 
Hi Sandro.
The Samyang is indeed very sharp and fast, but has a particular moustache type distortion. If you can live with it or have it corrected by software for photos it is a very good option.
Then there is the fisheye Zenitar 16mm f2.8 (not so fisheye on a crop body, but you need to stop down to get sharp).
Last, there is the Cosina made 19-35mm f3.5-4.5 zoom lens which can often be purchased for less than 100Eur and is an honest wide angle zoom especially for full frame. Some exist also for EOS mount so you may even get autofocus.
 
-Sandro- said:
I own the 18-55mm, will 16mm make much difference from 18mm on a APS-C sensor?
Click to expand...

The difference is noticeable during actual shooting and very obvious in side by side comparing during post production. But in reality, for the purpose of getting a shot (which is the only thing that really matters after all), no, not much, almost irrelevant.

I don't think a 14, 15 or 16 cheap prime lens will help you much, unless you want a fisheye lens.

if you get the 11-16 lens and don't give up your 18-55, most likely you'll shoot at the 11 end (much less often at 16 end).
 
You can always look for a used AF Nikkor 18-35 D zoom. 3.5 at the wide end, 4.5 zoomed. Very good glass for the dollars, got mine for about $300. About $570 new.
 
Going from 18mm down to 11mm is a huge difference on the wide end. The Tokina is also f2.8, and I would consider it a best buy for the money in a low cost wide angle lens. The Nikon 14-24mm is sharper, but more expensive than the Tokina, and of course it doesn't get as wide.

I have used my 11-16mm many times for time lapse work with excellent results.

All the Best!
 
the samyang won't give you mustache distortion on APS-C (only on full-frame), and it is pretty sharp: much better than you can expect from vintage glass (that is always designed for full-frame, where these focal lengths are extremely wide); for this kind of money, I think only the tokina is better than the samyang
 
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