Lightweight wide angle recommendations

Hi. I'm looking for a really lightweight and compact wideangle lens for landscape photography. When out and about these days I often have a 1 year old in a backpack and the load becomes very heavy with the smallest amount of equipment.

Lenses that I've seen so far are the canon 24 f/2.8, 20-35mm 3.5/4.5 and the 20mm f/2.8.

Obviously quality would take a hit, though most often the lens would be well stopped down. I'd rather have one lens and get one shot than a heavy load and get none. It would mainly be used on a 5D, but also on a 35mm film photography.

Any thoughts on these lenses or any others that might be suitable would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Tristan

Actually with the prime lenses quality will probably improve over most zooms. Still, I would think something like a 17-40 zoom will give you more flexibility and cover the range of several primes.

Guy

I used to own the 20mm. It was decent, but not all that great.

I am happy with my 17-40 L. I use it on my 1DMK2 which is a 1.3 crop body, but I know many who use it on a 5D and like it as well.

I used a borrowed 20-35 for a week and then bought the 17-40. Some of the pictures I made with the 20-35 exhibited some quite noticeable CA. The 17-40 is about five and a half ounces heavier than the 20-35. The extra zoom range is a plus.

I have no experience with Canon WA primes, but if I were to choose one, all other thngs being equal (they aren't), wider is better.

Hope this helps you make your decision.

I used to use a 20-35 a long while ago, and my 17-40 is every bit as sharp. It's a good combination of weight/quality IMO. Both 16-35's are heavy! I also recommend the Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4, lighter and more compact than the Canon, and in my opinion (I used to sell both Canon and Tamron glass and have tested both) every bit as sharp throughout most of the range.