Best sharp wide-angle lens for travel portraits on a Canon 7D?
Asked 9/6/2013
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2 answers
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I travel for long periods with a Canon 7D and need to keep my kit light. My current lenses are 50mm f/1.4, 17-50mm f/2.8, and either 70-200mm or 70-300mm. I mainly shoot travel portraits, but I want to include more environment in the frame—full-body portraits and scenes with tools, animals, boats, or food—while still working quickly when I only have a few moments.
I’m looking for a wide-angle lens that prioritizes sharpness and fast focusing, preferably a prime. My budget is about $1,500, and smaller/lighter is better for travel. I’d prefer a fast aperture, ideally f/1.4-f/2, though I’m open to f/2.8 if the lens is exceptional.
What lenses are the strongest options for this use on a Canon APS-C body, and are there any tradeoffs I should keep in mind?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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If you want to go with a Canon lens, the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM is within a couple hundred of your price point. The EF 35mm f/1.4L USM is actually within your price point and is very well reviewed, but is getting a little bit closer to standard than wide angle, particularly when on your 7D due to the crop sensor.
On the slower and zoom side, there is the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM which is also just a little bit outside your price range and highly reviewed, but it's only a 2.8 so if you don't mind a prime, one of the other options may be better.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
12y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On a Canon 7D, the strongest suggestions from the discussion are the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II and Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L. Both are highly regarded, sharp, and fast-focusing, but on APS-C the 35mm is no longer especially wide, so the 24mm is the more natural fit for environmental portraits.
A key tradeoff is that truly fast wide-angle primes are uncommon; f/2.8 is more typical at wider focal lengths. If you can accept f/2.8, the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II offers flexibility, and the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 is praised for image quality. However, the Zeiss is manual focus, so it may not suit quick, candid shooting.
One answer also points out that some of the sharpness limitation may come from the 7D body rather than only the lens. Moving to full frame can improve the look of all your lenses and makes focal lengths like 24mm feel genuinely wide.
So: for your current 7D, the 24mm f/1.4L II is the best fit among the suggestions if budget allows; the 16-35mm f/2.8L II is the practical zoom alternative; and full frame is worth considering if overall sharpness and width are your main goals.
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