A bulbous front element decides whether filters are possible at all
A wide-angle lens takes in more than the eye arranges comfortably, which makes it the most technically demanding shelf in the catalog. Focal length and sensor format have to be read together here more than anywhere, because the same engraved figure is a moderate wide angle on one format and an ordinary lens on another. The specification that catches people out is filter provision: the widest lenses have a curved front element that protrudes past the barrel, so there is no thread at all, and using a polarizer or a neutral density filter then requires a bracket-mounted square system bought separately — a cost that can rival the lens. Where a thread does exist, its diameter is usually large. Distortion is described by type rather than corrected away: rectilinear designs keep straight lines straight at the cost of stretching subjects at the corners, while fisheye designs do the opposite deliberately, and the two are different products rather than different grades. Maximum aperture matters for interiors and for night sky work, where coma at the edges is the property that separates two lenses of the same specification. Then minimum focus distance, which on a wide lens is short enough to make foregrounds dramatic, sealing for a lens that lives outdoors, and the published weight. We compare focal length and format, maximum aperture, filter provision, distortion type, minimum focus, sealing and weight.
Canon EF-S, APS-C · 24mm (38mm equivalent, per Canon) · f/2.8 · 7 rounded blades · STM with full-time manual focus · 0.16 m (0.5 ft) close focus · 52mm filter
Canon’s slimmest EF-S lens, a 24 mm f/2.8 pancake for APS-C DSLRs, with 4,451 ratings at 4.7 stars, at about $159 from a third-party seller.
Best for: Canon APS-C DSLR owners, such as the Rebel T7, who want a small, bright everyday lens.
≈ $159
APS-C · 10mm · f/2 · 105° angle of view · manual focus · 8 blades · low distortion claimed · 72mm filter holder included · Sony E and Fujifilm X listed
A manual-focus 10 mm f/2 ultra-wide for APS-C, sold with a 72 mm filter holder, for about $169. It is a budget lens for night skies and architecture.
Best for: Budget astrophotography and architecture on APS-C bodies.
≈ $169
Sony E, APS-C · 16mm · f/1.4 · stepping motor AF · dust- and splash-proof · 16 elements in 13 groups · 9.8 in (25 cm) close focus
A bright f/1.4 wide-angle for Sony APS-C with dust and splash protection, rated 4.8 stars on 5,325 ratings, at about $414.
Best for: Sony APS-C owners who shoot events, night scenes and vlogs in low light.
≈ $414
Sony E, APS-C · 11mm · f/1.8 · two linear motors · internal focus · reduced focus breathing, supports breathing compensation · compact
Sony’s ultra-wide prime for APS-C and Super35, an 11 mm f/1.8 with two linear motors and low focus breathing, at about $498 from a US dealer.
Best for: Vloggers holding a camera at arm’s length, and photographers of interiors and night skies.
≈ $498
Sony E, APS-C · 12mm · f/2.0 · 99.1° angle of view · linear STM autofocus · 19 cm (7.5 in) close focus · weather-sealed · UMC coating
An autofocus 12 mm f/2.0 for Sony APS-C, weather-sealed, aimed at astrophotography and interiors. On Amazon.com it ships from a Japanese seller at about $558.
Best for: Sony APS-C shooters who photograph night skies, interiors and tight landscapes.
≈ $558
f/1.4, sealed, 4.8 stars on 5,325 ratings.
Below about 16 mm frames like a full-frame wide angle; it is a calculation.
Ultra-wides stretch near the frame edges.
On APS-C it frames like 38 mm, a mild wide-normal.
Check the thread; the TTArtisan includes a filter holder.
A bright, wide lens such as f/2 or brighter.
For outdoor use in damp conditions, it helps.
Pick the width you need, then aperture and autofocus.
Only values stated by four references in five open a column. A sparse column sets silences against each other, not products.
| Model | Price | Aperture | Focal length | Mount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM | $159 | f/2.8 | 24 mm; Canon gives 38 mm equivalent | Canon EF-S, APS-C DSLRs |
| TTARTISAN 10mm F2 ASPH (APS-C) | $169 | f/2 | 10 mm | — |
| Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Sony E) | $414 | f/1.4 | 16 mm | Sony E, APS-C |
| Sony E 11mm F1.8 (SEL11F18) | $498 | f/1.8 | 11 mm | Sony E, APS-C and Super35 |
| Samyang AF 12mm F2.0 E | $558 | f/2.0 | 12 mm | Sony E, APS-C |
Specifications: manufacturer sheets for photo equipment and the matching Amazon product pages. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure in this table names its source.
Most recent revision in this category: November 2, 2026.
Each amount in a write-up is what the listing showed when that page was written. The figure next to the product is pulled in as you read, and it is the one that counts.
