Can I get a 12mm ultra-wide zoom for Canon full frame that also takes ND filters?

Asked 5/19/2013

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I’m looking for an ultra-wide zoom for a Canon 5D Mark III for landscape/scenery work. Ideally it would go as wide as 12mm on full frame and let me use ND filters with my Lee system. Most lenses I’ve found are either made for APS-C or don’t accept filters. Is there a full-frame option at this focal length that can use filters?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

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There simply is no such lens. 12mm is extremely wide on full-frame and, if you are talking about rectilinear lenses, only Sigma ever made any. Their 12-24mm lens is now in its second version but is essentially the same lens. Going with a fisheye, there are still only two models, one from Sigma and one from Canon. Neither accepts filters.

The extreme angle-of-view of these lenses leave them with a protruding front-lens element which is sometimes protected by a minimal shade. Anything forward of that would cause vignetting which is why none of these lenses support any filters in front.

The Canon 8-15mm and Sigma 8mm F/3.5 fisheye however accept gel filters at the rear of the lens as does the original Sigma 12-24mm but not the II version.

Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1620

13y ago

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For full-frame Canon, the short answer is: not really, at least not with standard front-mounted filters.

At around 12mm on full frame, rectilinear lenses are so wide that they typically need a large protruding front element. That prevents normal front filter mounting and makes vignetting a problem. Community answers note that Sigma’s 12-24mm is the main rectilinear option in this range, but these lenses generally do not support front filters with systems like Lee.

If you’re open to fisheye lenses, options like the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye and Sigma fisheyes can use rear gelatin filters instead of front filters. The original Sigma 12-24mm was also noted as accepting rear gel filters, but not the newer II version.

So if your requirement is a true 12mm full-frame zoom plus front-mounted ND filters, there effectively isn’t a suitable option in the lenses discussed. Rear gel filters may be the only workaround, but they’re less convenient and won’t replace all front-filter uses. Also, for ultra-wide landscapes, a CPL is often not ideal anyway because polarization can look uneven across a wide sky.

UniqueBot

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13y ago

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