Here are the wide-angle lenses, we think, are the best picks for those who have a limited budget to spend on new kit.
| Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 FE in Interchangeable Lenses
If you want to climb a mountain, take a wander around a lake or fancy a woodland walk with your camera kit, a wide-angle lens is a must-have item for your camera bag. However, wide-angle lenses, tend to be on the expensive side and while that's OK for some, not everyone has over £500, or even £1000, to spend on a lens so we've had a look through our review section for excellent scoring lenses that are a bit better priced.
Here, you'll find wide-angle lenses which have all scored 4 or more stars and, at the time of writing, are priced under or around the £300 mark (some are slightly over).
If you have a favourite landscape lens that's reasonably priced but isn't featured it's either because it's slightly out of our price range, we've not reviewed it or it's simply not scored high enough.
You'll also see green buttons throughout the article which, if you wish to, you can click to buy/find out more information on each lens from Amazon. It doesn't cost you anything extra when you press our Amazon buttons but by using our Amazon Affiliate links when ordering anything online, you are supporting the site - thank you.
For those of you who have a slightly bigger lens budget, have a read of our 'top 42 best wide-angle landscape lenses' article where you'll find lenses from a range of brands but at slightly higher prices.
1. Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 FE 
- 'Editor's Choice'
We seem to have gone full circle and classic prime lenses, once the only choice, are seemingly being rediscovered and once again becoming highly sought after. Compact, high quality and reasonably priced, it is not difficult to see why. The optical designs have in some cases benefited from modern technologies and glasses and they can comfortably surpass the performance of their predecessors.
This is where we find the Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 lens – superb performance, compact size, excellent price and a compelling focal length to use. There's nothing to dislike, everything to like and an obvious Editor's Choice.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
2. Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE
Some lenses are a real pleasure to use, and the Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE falls into this category. The technical quality is excellent, the AF is fast and accurate and the results look punchy with superb colour rendition.
In terms of value, it's hard to argue with such a modestly priced lens when it performs so well. Weather resistance would be nice, as would full-time manual focus in AF mode, but apart from that the lens pretty much hits the spot. It is certainly an excellent match for the Sony mirrorless range for which it has been designed.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
3. Samyang AF 18mm f/2.8 FE - 
'Highly Recommended'
There is so much on the plus side for the Samyang AF 18mm f/2.8 FE lens - it's affordable, really sharp, focuses fast and produces crisp, attractive images. Handling is superb.
The only question marks are over the lack of weather resistance and the amount of flare against the light, but if these can be accepted then, especially at the price, the lens is a remarkable and highly desirable, compact and efficient lens. Highly recommended.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
4. Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
The Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is an inexpensive, light, compact and fantastic lens to use. Handling with the Nikon D7500 is just spot on, so the lens is a really attractive proposition. The focal length range is extremely versatile and the images are bright, sharp and punchy. 'Highly Recommended', an ideal travel lens.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
5. Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS
Those looking for wide aperture lenses for the APS-C or smaller format camera need not continue looking at full-frame lenses, that generally cost and weigh more now this lens is available. Although some photographers may find manual focusing off-putting, spending a little time practising and getting used to how the lens behaves will pay dividends in the long run. This is especially true when considering how little this lens costs for what you get.
The Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS lens performs excellently and is a very good value for money.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
6. Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS MFT
Overall, the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS MFT is an excellent optic that produces images with excellent sharpness, low distortion and low CA. Also, what makes this lens especially interesting is the low price. The lack of autofocus may put some people off but, it shouldn't as this is an excellent optic.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
7. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
It is quite amazing that budget lenses like this are able to deliver image quality that's so impressive. This lens delivers excellent sharpness, low CA and reasonable distortion, which is fantastic for a lens costing under £300.
If you don't require a fast maximum aperture for your ultra-wide-angle shots with your APS-C Canon DSLR, then the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM should be more than adequate, while keeping some of your hard-earned pennies in your wallet, pocket or purse.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
8. Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 II
The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II with a redesigned styling and metal parts and this gives a very slight improvement in resistance to flare, as well as a slight improvement in contrast. The redesign has very slightly improved the position of the surrounding plastic closest to the lens, which results in a very slight improvement in shielding light from hitting the lens at oblique angles.
The improved build quality should make the lens last longer, although unfortunately there has not been an improvement in focus speeds with both the old and new lens giving the same focus speeds in our testing. With the same excellent image quality, reasonable value for money, and compact size, this new model should be just as popular as the original and is an excellent choice for Micro Four Thirds users. The new colour options also better match the new cameras from Panasonic and Olympus.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
9. Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM 
- 'Recommended'
Those looking for a compact companion for their EF-S camera body need look no further than the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens. The 38mm equivalent field of view this lens provides is only a little wider than a standard lens, which will make it suited for a wide range of subjects. The compact size and light weight make this ideal for travel or any other time that you may wish to keep things compact. The price is also very reasonable given how this lens performs also.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
10. Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 Lumix G
Overall, the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 Lumix G lens is capable of producing excellent quality images and given its keen price and miniature size, it is sure to find many fans amongst Micro Four Thirds system camera owners. Although it can be quite prone to flare with a strong light source in the frame, this is a small negative when the excellent sharpness, low CA and good build quality are taken into account.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
11. Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC
Although this basic lens may not be for everyone, those looking for an ultra-wide lens, which is capable of delivering excellent quality when used within its limitations can't go far wrong with the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC from Samyang.
Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon USA
Want to see more recommended lenses? Have a read of our wide selection of top lists and buyer's guides, or have a look at our latest lens reviews.
What The Green Buttons Are For...
* Clicking this link takes you to Amazon UK, which helps keep ePHOTOzine free to use.
Buy Now
 |
Samyang 8012 24 mm F2.8 Autofocus FE Lens for Sony E Cameras - Black |
HIGH £317.90 LOW BUY NOW £269.32£198.98 |
Comments
-
Report Error / Abuse
4 Aug 2018 9:52AMI've recently bought a Samyang 24mm lens for my Alpha 7: partly because it's so much smaller than an old Minolta 24mm on an Alpha to E-mount convertor, and at least as much quality.
A much better match for an Alpha than any of the Sigma Art lenses, though it is neither as hsarp or as wide-aperture. But unlike the Art series, it's designed for a mirrorless body, and makes use of the extra optical freedoms that the shorter back focus alllows. For me, a far better solution than a 28mm f/2...
-
Report Error / Abuse
19 Jun 2019 1:16PM-
Report Error / Abuse
21 Jun 2019 2:30PMFor landscapes, the Panasonic 20 1.7 II was free with the purchase of a GX8 at one time 2 or so years back....how is there a better budget deal than "free" if you caught that one...like I did plus the 3 year manufactures warranty on the body? That was then, this is now...same lens though, and I expect they could do it again you never know?
But it's not a wide-angle, it is a 40mm equivalent and 40mm is standard range, not wide-angle..... it creates the effect it is a wide angle but the FOV simply is not there technically. 40mm lenses were created for people with natural wider peripheral's, 58mm and 50mm seems to narrow to them. The lens groups are more symmetrical/Planar like as well, not like a wide-angle...
Also the Samyang 35 you demo is effectively 53mm, and not a wide-angle
If they would just stop the non-sense of comparing everything to 35mm SLR's and confusing people with numbers that people generally and obviously do not understand or comprehend? Yes 20mm is wide-angle, but on M4/3 it's effectively only 40mm ,,,but because it says 20mm it gets tossed in the bunch as a WA...
One last tiny detail....very minor and technical;
The Lumix 20 1.7 II will not perform that well on an Olympus or in RAW, the IQ is highly processed a lot in jpeg and a little in RAW. The lens delivers a distorted and above average CA image, Panasonic compensates with their own proprietary algorithm to "process" the actual image this lens creates into a better looking one, yes it is smoke and mirrors and like many lenses. How they make list is beyond me though...and I say that because it's supposed to be about a lens, not a lens dependent upon a specific camera to make it shine....that is also needlessly confusing people ?
-
Report Error / Abuse
21 Jun 2019 3:11PMPoint is, budget lenses can and will produce garbage ...how is that a deal? What does that save you?
It saves you from having the images you know you want, and you justify doing it because you didn't the spend money you know you should have ....then you run around convincing yourself it's great and having to make list and ratings up to convince others
Get enough people to believe a lie, and it becomes an acceptable truth
As far as I'm concerned, not many care about facts or truth and only information to support their own lie, regardless how misguided or corrupted that info is - if a 1000 people said it was junk, they'd find that one in a million who claims it is great and fling that out there like it's the world's greatest discovery
If you don't want bargain basement results and crappy images, then don't buy bargain lenses ...they are bargains for a reason, if they were truly great? They'd be no bargain and that's simple economics, not overblown hype.
-
Report Error / Abuse
21 Jun 2019 9:47PMI use a Sony Alpha 7R III, 42mp full frame.
I have a Samyang 24mm, and have used a Samyang 35mm.
Both are good performers: not as good as Sigma Art lenses, but on a par with most other stuff, and a lot cheaper. They are also, very significantly, light and compact, which is not a description that anyone could apply to the lovely Sigma glass.
All of life is a trade-off: if you choose to drive a Jeep instead of a Subaru, you will have greater ground clearnace for off-road driving, but sacrifice roadholding and handling on tarmac. If you live in England instead of Greece, you have easier access to high-level medical care, but lose out on climate and relaxation. If you are a banker rather than a social worker, you have money, but maybe a less easy conscience.
Using a Samyang 24mm gives me excellent wideangle images, albeit slightly less sharp than my 85mm Sony FE lens (which is, itself, far lighter and cheaper than the G-Master f/1.4 or the Sigma Art equivalent.
And on my Alpha 7, 35mm is a wideangle...
Sign In
You must be a member to leave a comment.
ePHOTOzine, the web's friendliest photography community.
Join For Free
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more.