Wide lens for close distance action photography

[kido]

As some of you may remember, I really fancy photographing cats. I find it both challenging and rewarding. Recently I've been busy trying to dismantle a colony of felines that settled in the blackberry bush at the end of my yard. By dismantle I mean: catch, neuter, domesticate and give into adoption a total number of 12 homeless cats.

In the process of domestication, I discovered the disturbing fact that my humble collection lacks a decent wide lens which would enable me to become more successful at close distance cat action photography. Too many times have I lost an opportunity because the FOV was not broad enough.



Of course, the Primagon I have is a great lens, but 35mm on a crop body (Canon 60D) isn't really wide.


Therefore I ask for advice as to what lens would fit into the following profile:

1. 24mm or wider

2. Costs less (preferably much less) than $200

3. Image quality over speed

4. Ergonomic: easy and fast to focus.

This last requirement is pretty important. For example, I'm profoundly in love with the already mentioned Primagon but focusing this thing is a bit like turning the steering wheel in KrAZ - you'll eventually get there but it takes some effort. Focus the 50mm 1.7 Sears (Chinon) on the other hand, now that I can do by just blowing air at it. I took the following photo holding the camera in my right hand and rotating the focus ring with my pinky, while pulling the improvised string-toy with my left hand:

[Gerald]

Buy a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II.

Cheap ($199), light, wider than a 24mm, extremely easy to focus (as all auto-focus lenses )

[kido]

[bruzzo]

Samyang 24/1.4 seems pretty close to your needs? Wide and fast for indoor action that requires fast shutter speed. But only probably not close focus enough for some situations. But I highly doubt that I can nail focus when I'm at 1.4 or 1.8 the DOF is so thin, but I guess you should be way better at this than I do from what you've mentioned.

But even so, Gerald's suggestion is still valid cause you can always use manual focus ring on your AF lenses. Another choice is the Sigma 18-50 F2.8 Macro which gives you fast shutter speed at F2.8, 18mm wide focal length, and macro / close focusing capability for indoor close action. Assuming you are using APSC of course. The Tokina 12-28 F4 is something even wider but also covers till 28mm, not as fast since only F4, and not sure about minimum focus distance.

[kido]

[Aanything]

I have been searching for a good 24mm for quite some time.
I tried many, and, in the end, I settled with the nikon ais 2.8/24.
It does pretty much everything, and it does it fine: it looks good wide open, it has nice colors, and it is sharp both at mfd and at infinity.
I really Don't think you can buy anything better in its price range.
Also, the focus ring is super light and smooth (even too light for my taste sometimes), which I understand it can be a good feature for you.
If you need wider you can probably find a tokina 17/3.5 that fits your budget, with a bit of patience.
But prices for decent ultrawides are always growing, so if you think 24 is wide enough you can save some money and get a better lens.

Beautiful cat shots, btw, especially the action ones.

[tromboads]

I've been throwing up getting a Nion 24 Ai-s or a Super Tak 24mm

Did you try the Tak when you went through them all?

[ZoneV]

[Aanything]

[std]

Great Cat pictures
I can offer you a Cosina 2.8/24mm in Pentax K mount for 39 Eur.
https://plus.google.com/photos/102695694284849176806/albums/5880118879039290721?banner=pwa
it may not be the perfect 24mm lens (probably Nikon is better) but it's good (certainly better than my copy of 2.8/20mm Flektogon) and it works quite nice on EOS.

I can dig some pictures taken with it if you are interested.

[Lloydy]

For a cheap and perfectly good 24 look for a Ensinor / Tefnon / Clubman / lens, it comes with many names.

http://forum.mflenses.com/mystery-lens-ensinor-24-2-8-macro-t17823.html

I use mine a lot, it might not be the sharpest or fastest lens in the world, but it's not a bad lens either. I'd say it's best bang for the buck.

[iangreenhalgh1]

I suggest getting a Tokina AF 3.5-4.5/20-35 or 19-35 (same lens really, just the 19-35 was a cheaper revision with more plastic. They are really cheap and pretty common, and the AF will be more than fast enough because with such a wide angle lens, you have a ton of dof. I think this lens outperforms all but the very best old manual ultrawides.

[kido]

Thank you guys for all your input. I realized that it's easier to get advised on IQ than on usability. It's too much of a personal thing, especially for such a peculiar task. So I did the next best thing and went on a shopping spree.

I started with the cheapos. I got really intrigued by the Ensinor recommended by Lloydy (already found it sold under 7 or 8 different names) and by the Tokina Ian mentioned. Last weekend I managed to win both on ebay for what I believe to be quite reasonable money. I'll play with these and if I won't like them, they seem pretty easy to sell so I can always move upwards.

I was already considering Nikkor's 24mm Aanything suggested when I asked the original question, but this one seem to be 24mm benchmark, hence it sells at much higher prices. Nevertheless, I'll keep my eyes open and if I spot one at a good price I'll probably get one too, at least to check what's all the fuss about

[asfethan]

Yesterday I lost battle for Tokina RMC 17mm 3.5 on evilbay. It went for 94£ so it's in your budget and what I read it's very nice lens with great performance.

So it is possible to get even better and wider lens than set zoom for reasonable not-so-high price.

[Rick1779]

I've reached the goal with 24mm with the Pentax FA*24/2
But is Af and in KAF mount
And is overbudget

[iangreenhalgh1]

Congrats on the Tokina, I think you will love it.

[asfethan]

[kido]

Thank you again for all your suggestions. As a quick follow-up on the original question, here are my first impressions on both the Tokina 19-35mm and the Ensinor 24mm.


Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5:

+ I love this focal range, exactly what I needed
+ As I wrote before, didn't really care for the AF but I must admit it's quite fast for such a cheap lens

* The IQ by no means is bad but somehow still doesn't convince me. I need to shoot some more before I decide if it offers me any advantage over the kit Canon 18-200mm lens
* The MF ring is crappy but at least it's there

- It's absolutely rubbish in adverse light conditions














Ensinor 24mm f/2.8

* 24mm is enough for what I wanted but the variable focal range and these extra few mm on Tokina obviously gives more flexibility when it comes to close distance cat action

+ At least on the crop body, the IQ is great. Especially when you consider what this lens costs. Must admit I expected much less when acquiring it and would choose Ensinor over the Tokina at 24mm every single time. I know, I know... zoom vs prime isn't really fair, I'm just giving my impressions.
+ The MF ring works great and is very precise

I'm yet to find a negative side of this lens (maybe the purple fringing... but it's manageable).

f/2.8






And finally some action (not wide enough this time)

[JohnBar]

Tamron 01B , fast and wide

[kido]