What is the best cityscape lens for a Canon t3i under $500?

Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical Fisheye Manual Focus Lens + Accessory Kit for Canon EOS 7D, 60D, 50D, Rebel T1...

Kit includes:♦ 1) Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical Fisheye Manual Focus Lens (for Canon EOS Cameras)♦ 2) Precision Design 6-Piece Camera & Lens Cleaning Kit♦ 3) Precision Design Memory Card Storage Wallet♦ 4) Digital Camera/Camcorder Universal LCD Mon... read more...

I am not sure what you mean by "city scape" but this is a great fisheye that would allow you to get whole buildings in frame from the street. It 's full manual, so you'll have to focus and set aperture manually, but that is part of the reasion it is so cheap. It is a great lens with great reviews.

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Reply · Send thanks · posted 88 days ago · 1 person agrees

Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6 Ex Dc Hsm Lens For Canon Digital Slr Cameras +

Sigmas 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC ultra-wide zoom lens for digital SLR cameras is ideal for landscape photography, building interiors, group and party pictures and so much more. Great for working with close foreground subjects as this lens features a mi... read more...

The 35mm Melanie recommended is a great lens and would be ok on a full-frame sensor camera like the 5D Mark II, but not on a crop sensor. It works out to about 56mm on the t3i, which isn't very wide. It is, however, the best "normal" prime you can get for the crop sensor Canon DSLRs; it's just not good for wide shots with that body.

If you need wide angle on a crop sensor camera like the t3i, the above Sigma 10-20mm is probably your best bet under $500 (though if you can find a deal on the f/3.5 EX DC HSM version of that lens, it's better. Retail on that one is over $600, though). You end up with a effective range of 16 - 32mm (35mm equivalent) with this lens, which should be plenty wide enough for a good landscape / cityscape shot.

If you're looking for a real bargain on a very wide prime lens and don't mind manual focus only (which, when doing landscapes / cityscapes, should be just fine), check out the Rokinon 14mm Ultra Wide-Angle f/2.8 IF ED UMC or the Vivitar Series 1 13mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Aspherical. Both are under $400, and work with full frame as well as APS-C sensor cameras.

Reply · Send thanks · posted 89 days ago

Canon EF 35mm f/2 Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Fast 35mm wide-angle lens. With a minimum focusing distance of only 0.8 ft. (25cm), you can approach the subject closer and still obtain a more natural wide-angle effect. You can even obtain good background blur for portraits. An affordable lens ... read more...

There are definitely better lenses out there, but not really for under $500.
I would recommend getting a wide angle lens, because it makes the scenery more dramatic, especially with large cityscapes or any landscape type shots. This is a pretty nice lens, although if you are willing to spend a little more you ought to get this:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-17-40mm-Ultra-Angle-Ca...
but that'll run you almost $800.