Camera Lenses for kiteboarding

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

I'm kind of new to slr photography, and want a wide angle zoom lens.
I was wondering what everybody uses for their kiteboarding wide angle stuff.
I have a Canon film system and I am planning on getting an EOS 20D (1.6x crop).
What wide angle zoom lenses would work well for both the film and digital bodies?
How wide do I need to go for kiteboarding shots?
Currently my widest lens is the Canon 28-105mm

Some lenses I found that might work:
Sigma 15-30mm
Sigma 12-24mm
Sigma 17-35mm
Tamron 17-35mm

What are your thoughts?

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

Unless you're shooting scenic landscape stuff, you'll need water protection for your camera if you're shooting 28mm and wider. My housing fits a 20mm lens (full frame sensor). Most of the time, riders are too far away, but the pros and media pets know how to get in close! Here's a sample uncropped shot of a rider making a close pass within a few feet of me. I don't have a 1.6x crop sensor to show you... Ethan

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

Hey, agreed if you want wide angle get a housing for your camera..otherwise you will have to crop way too much.

I actually wasn't willing to put up the cash for a housing way way more than the cam was.....so I got a Canon G9 with housing for about $600 I think..although I have not taken it out with the housing yet, it takes SURPRISINGLY good pics. I am actually amazed at the quality it produces. You have all the manual adjustments, I guess the only thing you don't have is the flexibility with the lenses, but with an optical zoomn at about 6x optical zzom and F2.8-4.8. You can even shoot in RAW and it ias IS both of which was the deciding factors for me. Funny thing..when shooting movies you can actually see the IS work.

I do think they have upped the lense quality compared to any other PaS cam I have ever used before.

Anyhow..in general it seems to me that in terms of lenses you get what you pay for. I would consider the the new XSi, instead of the the 20D, as the technology changes rapidly...but of course this is my take..the 20D does have better weather proofing, but the there are some major steps taken in the lower consumer camera bodies.

Also, in terms of lenses, read up on them. Most of the lower end wide angle lenses will have a significant amount of distortion, but a lot seems to perform pretty well even so.

The speed of the lens, the wide aperature matters a lot, unless you always take pics in perfect sunny conditions...so look for something with a wide aperature...of course they cost more...but if you have F2.8 or lower it is fast enough for you to have a high shutter speeds..to freeze even speedy moves in a if not super cloudy then at least not super sunny either...
Smile

I know this is all self evident, but a good lense can really make the difference between a complete failure and a super nice shot. I have not done a lot of kiteboarding pics, but from other things I have shot. I am looking at a few wide angle lenses now, but I am not sure if I can afford them right now (damn it).

Anyhoo..read up on the reviews online...you'll find it.
Smile

(damn it I always write too much).
A.

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

Good advice tautologies, but not what i'm really looking for.
I understand how lenses work, and what to look out for as far as quality goes.
I just really would like to know what are the preferred focal lengths, and if anyone has any suggestions for lenses that would work for digital and film.
So far 20mm seems cool, but 20*1.6=32mm=only medium wide.
Too bad I cant afford a FF dlsr Sad

To get that effect I would need a 12.5mm, which makes the 12-24mm look appealing.
How wide should I go considering lenses of comparable quality?

As far as waterproofing goes, do I need a legit housing, or are there cheaper ways to effectively "splashproof" the camera? (besides buying a k10d)
Seeing as I don't plan on going underwater with it.
Keep in mind that money is an issue, and having already gone down that road, piont and shoot cameras are not an option (already have panasonic fz20).

Thanks

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

I use a sigma 10-20 in my water housing. I know I will want closeup shots so I use this lens. At 10, it gives the image a slight fisheye effect, but not too noticable. Cropping usually resolves this. I found that if I set the lens to 10, riders really need to get close and then they are too close with water spray hitting the lens. Hard to avoid if they are that close. at 14, I can have them get close, but place them where spray is at a mimimum, but still it can be an issue. Spray can be a cool effect for your inital shot of a sequence, but it will ruin the remaining shots of the sequence.
I recently built a water housing and it is not designed to allow adjustment while in the water. Most of my shots with the housing are around the 12-14 range. 20 doesn't seem to be enough. When on land, I would obviously want a telefoto, but for a cool wide shot 10mm makes a nice wide shot.

I have made a inexpensive water housing in the past that seems to work well with a larger lens. If you want to see some pictures of a "cheap" housing just send me a pm.

stringy

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

Will the sigma 10-20 work on a film body too?
That would be ridiculously wide! (and probably vignette ridiculously too)
That one is cool because the front element seems less bulbous than the others, so it may not flare as bad on sunny days.
Also, it takes real filters!

For waterproofing, I've seen people on the web have success with modified ammo cases.
That looks pretty easy, but makes using a flash impossible.

Bokeh · Since 07 Feb 2008 104 Posts Vancouver, WA Stoked

New guy here - first post. Hi everyone!

Unlike Canon EF-S mount Sigma comes as regular EF mount meaning you can use it on full frame digital or film Canon cameras. The ultra wide angle is wicked and the lens is simply outstanding.