Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Review
05/27/2006
For landscape, indoor photography, or situations where you can't
back up enough to capture a scene, a super wide angle lens, such
as Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, may be just what you need.
Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM includes 3 Aspherical lens
elements and a Super-UD element in it's 13 lens elements, 10 groups
construction, which probably explains the high cost of this lens
(relatively speaking of course). It uses a 77mm filter which adds
to the cost. The focal length of 10-22mm is equivalent to 16-35mm
on a full frame sensor and if I had a camera with a full frame
sensor, I would probably get the 16-35mm lens at double
the investment.
Note that the "S" in the EF-S stands for "short back focus" and
will only fit on cameras with APS-C size sensors such as the Digital Rebel XT.
You'll have to excuse my reviews on Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM because
my comments are based on using the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM as a reference.
|
| What's in the box |
|
1 - Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
1 - E-77U Front lens cap
1 - Rear lens cap
1 - Instruction pamphlet (in different languages)
1 - 1 year Warranty/Registration |
| Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Specifications |
| Image size |
 |
APS-C |
| Focal length |
|
10-22mm |
| 35 mm FOV - Digital Rebel XT |
|
16-35mm equivalent |
| Construction |
|
13 elements in 10 groups |
| Diaphragm |
|
6 blades |
| Maximum aperture |
|
f/3.5 - f/4.5 |
| Minimum aperture |
|
f/22 - f/27 |
| Closest focus |
|
9.5" (0.24m) |
| Max magnification |
|
0.17x (at 22mm) |
| Distance information |
|
Yes |
| Image stabilizer |
|
No |
| AF actuator |
|
Ring USM with full-time manual focus |
| Filter diameter |
|
77mm |
| Dimensions (diameter x length) |
|
3.3" (83.5mm) x 3.5" (89.8mm) |
| Weight |
|
13.6 oz (385g) |
| |
|
|
| Other Information |
Angle of view - Digital Rebel XT
(horiz, vert, diag) |
|
122º, 100º, 130º (10mm)
96º, 73º, 106º (22mm) |
| Front element extends (focusing) |
|
No |
| Front element rotates (focusing) |
|
No |
| Front element extends (zooming) |
|
No |
| |
|
|
| Optional (Canon) Accessories |
| Lens hood |
|
EW-83E |
| Soft lens case |
|
LZ1319 |
| A close up view of Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
 |
 |
| At 10mm |
At 22mm |
 |
 |
| At 10mm |
10-22mm (lt)
17-85mm(rt)
|
Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is about the same size as the
EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM but lighter by 3.2 oz. Probably because
the 10-22mm has 4 fewer elements than the 17-85mm and it doesn't
have IS (image stabilization). It is slightly
lighter in weight than a can of soda by about 1/2 oz.
The first thing I noticed was the quality of construction. It is
very good and solid for a plastic body. There is no slop in the
zoom or focus rings and both rings rotate very smooth. What is
amazing about the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is that rotating both
rings does not affect the length of the lens. Why can't all lens
be made this way? |
| Using Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
The lens has a single switch for auto/manual focus and when in
autofocus, the motor is nearly silent, and the focus is almost
instant. The EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM rarely misses focus because,
at wide angle, there is so much detail compressed in the scene.
My concerns
here is the lack of image stabilization and consumption of coffee.
I found out that by hand holding the camera, I can take clear
pictures at shutter speeds down to 1/30 sec with no evidence of
camera shake, but anything longer that, it becomes a hit-or-miss.
I've taken some good pictures at 1/5 sec exposures by bracing my
arms against a wall or chair and I've been successful at 1 sec
exposures using the monopod. Compare to the EF-S 17-85mm with image
stabilization, at 17mm, I can get clear pictures at 1/10 sec exposures.
There is no wobble in the lens elements while zooming and focusing
(manually) and both rings are fairly well damped, meaning that
there is a slight resistance when manually rotating the rings.
At 10mm the angle of view is simply breathtaking. There's a slight
barrel distortion at 10mm which disappears at around 14mm and,
there is suppose to be a very slight pincushion at 22mm. Visually
the pincushion isn't noticeable until you show the Grid in Photoshop
and even then, it is very slight.
I've read reports that, at 10mm, the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
will exhibit some vignetting. But in my case, I found that not
to be entirely true. Even with or without the filter on the lens,
there is a slight evidence of vignetting at f/3.5 which goes away
at f/4.5. |
| Photographs using Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
 |
| Subject: |
|
Hallway |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/30 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/3.5 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
400 |
| Focal Length: |
|
10.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
Surfboard was 30" away. Focus was done manually to
achieve depth of field. Very slight camera shake. |
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Palm Springs Convention Center |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/100 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/8.0 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
400 |
| Focal Length: |
|
22.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
I've tried different focal lengths for this shot and
found that 22mm seem to work the best. |
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Big Bear |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/400 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/11.0 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
400 |
| Focal Length: |
|
10.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
On highway 38 just below the summit on the south side. |
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
WalMart |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/500 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/14.0 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
400 |
| Focal Length: |
|
10.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
Just able to capture the entire building and then
some at 10mm. |
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Ceilings Plus lobby |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/30 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/3.5 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
400 |
| Focal Length: |
|
10.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
Perspective distortion is quite noticeable in this
photograph. It's amazing how everything comes into view at 10mm. |
|
 |
| Subject: |
|
Backyard |
| Model: |
|
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
| Shutter Speed: |
|
1/250 sec |
| F-Stop: |
|
f/10.0 |
| ISO Speed: |
|
100 |
| Focal Length: |
|
10.0 mm |
| Notes: |
|
View from the northern hillside overlooking Moreno
Valley. |
|
| All the photographs above have been taken
in jpeg mode, and reduced 50% in Photoshop with moderate jpeg compression
to conserve disk space and bandwidth. Camera was handheld using autofocus
(unless otherwise noted). No color corrections, level adjustments, sharpening
or croppings were made. |
| Conclusion |
Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is a solid, impressively
built lens. It's wide depth of field allows objects/subjects
to be clearly in focus from a few feet away to infinity.
The pictures are very sharp from corner to corner and, with
minimal distortions, it is perfectly suited
for architectural photography.
I soon learned that this lens is not the type for all
around shooting.
You are limited to super-wide to wide angles, so portrait
shots are definitely out of the question (although I have
done some, with interesting results - it's the amateur in
me). For me, it is not a "must have" lens
but, in certain situations, it does come in handy. If you're
and architectural and/or landscape photographer or, you are
constantly shooting in situations where you need to capture
as much of a scenery as possible in a photograph, then, the
EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM may be the "must have" lens for
you.
My one wish is that this lens had IS (image stabilization).
My second wish is that the rest of my Canon lenses were constructed
with the same solid, quality build as this one.
:-)
Gary Kawamura
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