Altura Photo 58MM 0.43x HD Wide Angle Lens Review: A Decent Add-On for Your Canon DSLR

If you're like me and want to squeeze more out of your DSLR, you might be tempted by add-ons like the Altura Photo 58MM 0.43x HD Wide Angle Lens. It's one of those gadgets that promises to widen your lens's view without breaking the bank. I picked it up after feeling a bit limited by my standard Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens.

From the get-go, the lens seemed like a straightforward solution for capturing more of the scene in tight spaces or getting a bit more landscape into the frame when out and about. I imagined it would come in handy for group shots and some creative landscape photography.

Altura markets this as a lens that can expand your photography horizons, literally. But does it deliver on that promise? Over the next couple of weeks, I took it out with my Canon Rebel T7 for a spin in a mix of settings, from wide-open parks to cramped indoor events and even a macro shot or two.

In the following sections, I'll break down my experience with the lens, covering everything from design and usability to how it actually handled in real-world scenarios. Let's dive in.

Let's talk about whether this lens is worth your cash. Currently, it's priced competitively with similar products in its range. You're not going to find top-tier glass at this price point, but it's a decent offering for those looking to expand their photography options without breaking the bank.

Compared to other similar products, the Altura lens holds up well. It's not the cheapest, but it offers the added advantage of a detachable macro lens, which is a feature I found particularly useful. If you were to buy a separate macro lens, you'd be looking at spending much more.

If you're a hobbyist or someone just starting with photography, this lens provides a good value proposition. It's a cost-effective way to explore wide-angle and macro photography without committing to a more significant financial investment. However, if you're a seasoned photographer looking for superior quality and performance, you might find this lens a bit lacking.

In summary, it's a solid choice for beginners or casual photographers. It offers versatility and decent performance for its price, but it won't compete with high-end lenses if that's what you're after.

Now onto the important stuff—how does this lens actually perform? I took it on a weekend trip to test it in various environments. The first thing I noticed was that the wide-angle effect is not as dramatic as I initially hoped. It does increase the field of view, but not by leaps and bounds. Instead, it offers a modest widening that is decent for group photos and tight indoor spaces.

In terms of image quality, there's a bit of a trade-off. Images are generally sharp in the center but suffer from some distortion around the edges, which is common with wide-angle lenses at this price point. It's not a dealbreaker for casual photography, but if you're planning on using these images for professional work, you might want to consider a higher-grade lens.

The macro function is a nice touch and actually quite fun to use. It allows for some high-resolution close-ups that you'd struggle to get otherwise without a dedicated macro lens. I tried it on some flowers and small objects, and the results were crisp and detailed enough to share on social media.

Overall, the performance is competent for what it is. It's not going to replace your main lens, but it's a handy tool to have in your kit for those times when you need a bit more coverage or want to play around with macro shots.

Unboxing the Altura Photo 58MM 0.43x HD Wide Angle Lens, I was struck by how compact it is. It comes in a simple box without much fanfare, which is fine because you're here for the lens, not the packaging. Inside, you find the lens itself, which is surprisingly light at just 10.9 ounces. There's also a small instruction leaflet that gives you the basics of screwing it onto your existing lens.

The first thing I checked was the lens threading, which is 58mm. This is crucial because it won't work with lenses that have a different thread size. I double-checked my own Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens, and it matched perfectly. If you don't have a 58mm lens, this add-on is a non-starter. So, make sure you're not making a blind purchase here.

In terms of build, it feels pretty solid in hand. It's not top-of-the-line glass by any means, but it doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy either. The macro lens detaches easily, offering another layer of versatility. You can tell it's been designed with practicality in mind, making it simple to switch between wide-angle and macro modes.

Overall, the presentation is minimal and functional, which suits the product's purpose. It's not flashy, but it gets the job done without unnecessary complications.