WIDE-ANGLE ZOOMS
NOTHING exaggerates perspective like a really wide-angle lens. Get in close and you’ll be rewarded with sensational creative effects. All of the zoom lenses we’ve selected for this group test go seriously wide, and are designed specifically for crop-sensor cameras.
If you’ve not tried one before, you’ll be amazed at how much more you can shoehorn into the image frame, compared with using a standard zoom lens. Ideal for the great outdoors, these lenses can capture vast, rolling landscapes. They’re arguably even more useful indoors, when you’re trying to shoot architectural interiors.
Not just for the bigger picture, these wide-angle optics tend to produce very little distortion at the long end of their zoom range. They can therefore be a preferable option to using your standard zoom at its shortest focal length. Let’s get stuck in for a closer look.
THE CONTENDERS
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM £200/$280
Small, simple and very affordable
CANON has aimed for a compact, lightweight build in its latest wide zoom, making this lens Part of the weight loss is achieved by using a plastic rather than metal mounting plate, but the lens feels reasonably robust. Autofocus is driven by a stepping motor, delivering near-silent operation and smooth transitions when using continuous AF during movie capture.
