Wide angle lenses can be used to shoot both interiors and outdoors. But if you get a poor quality wide angle lens, the imperfection would really stand out. Better get something that fits the kinds of photos you usually take. Here is a quick guide to help you identify how wide your Canon wide angle lens should be.

Wide angle lenses have a focal length of less than 40mm. The shots they give are of near-far composition. You can use this type of lens in taking shots of the sky, wide vistas, and scenes with curved shapes. Because of the wide coverage, circular or curved shapes are easily depicted.

If you are into landscape photography, then a Canon wide angle lens is for you. Since there is an extensive angle of viewing, pictures appear dynamic, surprising, but sometimes exaggerating. You can truly bring dynamism into your photographs by exaggerating foreground details and perspective.

You will probably notice that Canon wide angle lenses have the IS and USM abbreviations. IS stands for image stabilization which is very helpful in taking shots with low light. The built-in stabilizer motor is an advantage especially if you do not have a tripod. USM refers to UltraSonic Motor which is a Canon patented technology that makes focusing fast and quiet. Wide angle lenses with the USM technology are perfect for weddings as taking photos won’t get unnecessary attention.

If you are choosing a Canon wide angle lens, consider first your budget. Do not forget to consider as well the type of camera that you are using. And of course, you have to identify the focal range you want to cover. This is simply the key in deciding how wide your wide angle lens should be.

Canon wide angle lenses allows you to take dynamic shots and large-scale images. This is a good type of lens for beginners since they cost less expensive and the 18-40 mm is a safe focal range. You can use this indoors, too, if you want to capture images or scenes with a broader perspective.

Perfect photographs are those that impart a story; those that do not just show a captured image or scene. With Canon wide angle lenses, you’re assured that you will be able to present the former and not just the latter.

Since the human eye cannot simultaneously perceive foreground and background, do not hesitate to use video or photography and a wide angle lens to help you focus on these two elements concurrently.

For serious videographers, Canon’s 3x wide angle lens is a good tool. It allows you to shoot in tight and small spaces such as vehicle interiors and small-spaced rooms. You can also focus on a single subject and get closer shots without the need for your camera to almost touch your subject. This lens includes a neutral density filter and is a vari-focus lens that operates automatically with manual overrides. Its disadvantage, however, is that it lacks image stabilization and has a short zoom range.

If you are on a tight budget, you can also match your Canon EOS photography lenses to your XL2 just by using an EF adapter. But depending on the aspect ratio you are using, there is a magnification factor of at least 7.8 applied to the focal length of the Canon EOS lens. This is because of the 35mm still photo camera design of the Canon EOS and the XL2’s smaller image plane. If you plan to adapt this technique, say for example mounting a 200mm EOS lens to your XL2, your focal length should work out to 1560mm.  It is also possible that you mount a wide angle prime lens together with a wide angle adapter and achieve a medium focal length view lens with the Canon EOS.

You can also try the 6x HD lens on your XL2 except for the iris ring which will only work on the XL H1. Other Canon XL2 wide angle lens options include the Canon 20x L IS which is a little more expensive compared to other lenses since it carries the “L” series designation which implies fluorite elements for excellent resolution and first-rate color accuracy. The Canon 16x Manual, 16x IS II, and 16x IS are also available for the Canon XL2 wide angle lens.

Most people generally prefer Canon 3x as their XL2 wide angle lens. But you can still choose other wide angle lenses; the choice will basically depend on your budget and your professional or amateur ability to take photos.