Advice on wide angle lenses

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Aron Cooperman on June 6, 2011 at 8:27am

I have the tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 with a Nikon D5000 body.... the f/2.8 was the major selling point for me.  I wanted to be able to use the lens indoors or low light also and not always have to use a long shutter speed... which doesn't work when you are shooting a moving object, like if there is a flag blowing in the wind of your landscape shot, or if you are shooting someone in an indoor setting.  Lower Aperture is always better.

 

the only drawbacks I've found is the auto focus can be a bit blurry if you use a UV or Polarization filter...and if you stack filters, when you some all the way out, you will get a bit of vignetting... same thing can happen with the lens hood.  But those are easy fixes in Lightroom... Ken Rockwell has a article online on how to fix that.

 

Hope that helps you with your decision.

 

aron

Permalink Reply by Fred on June 6, 2011 at 9:48am

Yes, the Tokina is a very nice lens and so is the Sigma but as Aron has stated the Tamron is f/2.8 and that is where I spent my money.

Permalink Reply by Aron Cooperman on June 6, 2011 at 2:33pm

Fred, I said the Tokina has a f/2.8.... not the tamron.  For me, I want as low of a aperture as possible for my lenses.  I'll give up a bit of zoom for better aperture... I can always take a step forward/backward to balance would what I lose on zoom

Permalink Reply by Fred on June 6, 2011 at 2:53pm

Sue

Sorry it was a typo, not the Tamron but the Tokina. I have both the Sigma and Tokina but I prefere the Tokina.

Permalink Reply by Aron Cooperman on June 6, 2011 at 3:00pm

The funny think is I post this same question back in march... and got lost of different opinions, but most thought that Tonika 11-16mm f/2.8 was the best lens and bang for the buck versus the Nikkor options at 1.5 times the price.

 

I've been happy with mine, just the auto focus is a little off when you use filters... or at least for me it is.

Permalink Reply by Dominique Boisclair on June 6, 2011 at 2:28pm

Tokina is a very good choice.  Btw i have myself one Tokina 12-24mm f/4 II AT-X124 AF PRO DX used with an international warranty valid until january 2014 to sell.  It's like new without any scratch or time print.  You can reach me at info@ulyssephoto.ca

Thanks !

Permalink Reply by Mike Connelly on June 6, 2011 at 3:52pm

Sue:

 

Please don't take this the wrong way, however I still have a D50 and now have a D90, and the difference between the two is dramatic.

 

If you can, would suggest upgrading the camera first, then seeking out a new lens. I am no expert, and everybody has an opinion, but a good camera makes a good lens shine.

 

Also, go to your camera shop to see if you can rent the leses before you buy to see what results you will actually get. The cost of doing so should not be much, and will help make a better decision. What I have found is seeing what you get from the rental can help you make a better decision based on results and not a desire to buy a new lens.

  

Mike

Permalink Reply by Dominique Boisclair on June 6, 2011 at 9:42pm

Hi Sue...

 

I still have a D50 and a D80 and now have a D300.... sure you already now the cam is the big part of the chain.  :)  But if you don't have the money to upgrade the body right now, you can by the lens.  And remember, a good lens it's a good lens wathever the body you'll have.

Permalink Reply by Sue Berry on June 7, 2011 at 2:52am

Thanks everyone for replying.  Mike, I get what you're saying about changing my camera and if I could, I would! lol  My b/f is having a fit because I want a new lens so adding a new camera to the mix would probably finish him off (hmm, maybe I should get life insurance).  The Tokina 11-16 is at the top of my wishlist because of the better aperture but of course it's more expensive.  The Tamron and Tokina 12-24 are on a level par price wise and the Sigma seems to be the most expensive.  We have camera shop over here (Jessops) that offers 10 months interest free credit so that would be a good option for buyiing both the lens and the camera body. 

 

Wouldn't it be great if they did a 10-24 f/2.8!  I can dream ...

 

Thanks again ... Sue

Permalink Reply by Fritz McCorkle on June 10, 2011 at 9:48am

i've been looking for one of these for my Nikon APS-C censor cameras.  i was really leaning towards the sigma 10-20 f 3.5.  should i reconsider?

 

i have not ruled out one of the Nikon models, but to be honest i don't think it's the best time to purchase Nikon.  Due to the earthquake/tsunami prices have gone up on a lot of the items.  for example the D7000 has a MSRP of 1199, but i got a flyer yesterday from our camera store (who has prices as good as New York) advertising it for $1499.  Ouch!

 

you'll fall in love with an ultra wide zoom.  i have the 14-24 for the full size cameras, but man is that a huge piece of expensive glass (that you can't put a filter on) to carry around.

Permalink Reply by Linda Schendel on July 22, 2011 at 6:19pm

Fritz, my D7000 was 1499 with the kit lens -- the only time I have ever seen it at 1199 was body only.  I had been looking at them for several months before I purchased mine and before the problems in Japan.  I may have missed something but I was watching pretty close for a "deal". 

Permalink Reply by Fritz McCorkle on July 22, 2011 at 8:21pm

i didn't think you could buy that camera without the lens.  if so then that might be the reason for the price difference.  i had assumed it was due to the tsunami.  i don't think you can even get a D700 now. that is unless the situation has changed recently.

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