Need a wide lens for shooting skating

edrex · Posted: Aug 02, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject: Need a wide lens for shooting skating

Does anyone have any lens recomendations for skateboarding shots? I'm using a Canon 40D so there is a 1.6x crop factor. I've been reading about some different lenses and so far the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 is standing out. It looks like it gets a really wide angle without overdoing the fisheye effect. Has anyone used this lens or know of any others that will work well?

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

Canon 15mm f2.8 fisheye. I don't know anything about that Sigma lens, but I absolutely LOVE my Canon fishy.

edrex · Posted: Aug 02, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

Can you post some pics from it?

dmb · Posted: Aug 02, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

A 15mm Fish on a cropped body isn't wonderful in my opinion... There's not enough distortion to get the most out of the fish, and it's not full rectilinear either, it seems to be just stuck somewhere in the awkward middle...

At the moment I've got a Canon 10-22mm and a Sigma 20mm 2.8... I'm looking at getting rid of the 10-22, as I feel it's just too wide for anything really useful, I found myself zooming it all the way in anyway...

Josh R · Posted: Aug 02, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

I love my 15mm Sigma. I've had two, thanks to a mishap with the first one when i loaned it out, and they've both been great and sharp.

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

Here's an old shot taken on a 10D. What dmb said above should be taken into account, but if you like the look then I'd consider it. I use this lens a LOT with my 1D (1.3x crop).

edrex · Posted: Aug 03, 2008 2:22 am Post subject:

Josh R, what kind of camera are you shooting with?

Josh R · Posted: Aug 03, 2008 7:51 am Post subject:

I'm still using my ancient 10D at the moment, so the same 1.6x crop comes into effect as the 40D.

Ejazzle · Soul Rider Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 345 City: Tequesta

edrex, PM jam. mostly all of his shots are 10mm. ask him what lens hes got, i know its gonna be good. and hes got a 40d

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

Does JAM post here? His wide angle is a Canon 10-22mm f3.5-4.5. It isn't a fisheye but if you're looking for a wide angle lens then it'll fit the bill. Tokina also makes a 12-24mm f4 that is supposed to be a good lens as well. Both of these lenses are built specifically for 1.6x crop sensors.

edrex · Posted: Aug 04, 2008 1:42 am Post subject:

Ejazzle, thanks, maybe I'll hit him up on ws.com.

I ordered the Sigma 15mm today from B&H. I figure if I don't like it they have a 15 day return policy so I'll only be out the shipping.
I've read mixed reviews on the Canon 10-22 and I'm trying to stick with faster glass where I can.
scott a, "Last edited by scott a on Nov 17, 2009 9:38 pm; edited 6 times in total"... WTF?? You're a bonafide time-travelling motherfvcker! Shocked

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

enjoy your new glass, f-ker!

Ejazzle · Soul Rider Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 345 City: Tequesta

edrex, hahhahaha thats scott a's sig!!!!!

edrex · Posted: Aug 06, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

Ejazzle, I know... I think its probably the best sig I've seen. Laughing

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

I win!

edrex · Posted: Aug 06, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject:

Lens arrives tomorrow... I win too!

RUSSIAN · Posted: Aug 06, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

scott a, whats with your edits. didnt one of them say like 1000 times or something

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

You, sir, are very late to the party. I manually wrote that into my sig in such a way that it appears as though I edited my post 110 times. I've since changed it to 6 times.

edrex · Posted: Aug 07, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

Here are a couple shots I took today with the new 15mm. I still need to learn how to position myself to take advantage of this lens. And also to not leave my camera in ISO 1600 when I am going out to shoot.
Also, still messing with post-processing. So far I like adding contrast and vibrance then desaturating (picture 1).
Let me know what you all think of these shots.
Cheers,
ed.

dmb · Posted: Aug 07, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject:

Personally I think you may have gone a bit too far with the PS work on the first image... It almost has the "dirty" look of some HDR images I've seen....

Next time I'd try going at a different time, so that the sun can be behind you as apposed to behind the skater, this is why, I'm assuming, you've used the shadow/highlight tool a bit?

Also getting a bit lower will isolate the subject in the sky, making him pop more...

But over all, pretty good effort for first time with the fish! You'll only get better with time...

edrex · Posted: Aug 07, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

dmb, thanks for the advice.

Here is another shot I took tonight. Much less post work done on this one.

Ejazzle · Soul Rider Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 345 City: Tequesta

scott a, hahhaha i remember when esnow was like "how did you edit your post 110 times already?"

edrex, sick shots! how do you like it so far?

edrex · Posted: Aug 16, 2008 2:56 am Post subject:

I really like it so far. I have to get used to shooting so wide, but I really like how the shots are turning out. I haven't taken it off my camera since I got it. Very Happy