ultra wide lens advice

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I'm looking to pick up an FX ultra wide zoom. As much as I'd love it, I can't afford the $1500 Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, so I've narrowed it down to these two choices, both Sigma's.

12-24mm f/4.5, $697 from Amazon
15-30mm f/3.5, $299 from eBay

I've read good (and bad) about both. Which would you pick and why? I'm leaning toward the 15-30mm.

 

[Furgus]

What no Sigma 10-20??

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

What no Sigma 10-20??

Nope. I'm looking for an FX lens. I think the 10-20 is DX format.

 

[Furgus]

Nope. I'm looking for an FX lens. I think the 10-20 is DX format.

Yep, my mistake, carry on

 

[Gdad]

I have heard good things about the Tamron 17-35.

http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=184717&page=2

 

[toomanycars]

In the opinion of the Dis photographers which ultra wide Angle zoom should I buy before my WDW trip.

 

[Uncle Greg]

no option for the lusted after Tokina 11-16 f/2.8?

My vote is none of the above...get a fisheye if you want wide.

 

[Frantasmic]

Of the ones you mentioned, the Tokina.

I bought the f4.0 for my cruise in March and have had fun using it.

The wide angle lens cult crew really likes the Tokina f2.8, but it is $200 more. But, if you can swing it, I'd go with the f2.8

Here's a picture I took of my son last weekend at his baseball game.

 

[WDWFigment]

Other: Tokina 11-16.

 

[cpbjgc]

Just picked up the Tokina 11-16 f2.8. Sweet lens indeed!

 

[zackiedawg]

Well someone's gotta rep the Tamron...so I'll rep the Tamron! (Actually, they're all pretty good...including the write-in vote everyone else is mentioning). I've been happy with the Tamron 10-24, and use it extensively. BTW, you might also include the Sigma 10-20 F4-5 - it's cheaper than the Sigma you listed, and has a few of its own fans too.

 

[toomanycars]

Do you have any sample photos you can share from the Tamron? The reviews online make it sound like a soft image lens.

 

[zackiedawg]

A whole gallery actually - about 200 photos of assorted types. Feel free to browse:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/tamron_1024mm_f3545_lens

 

[toomanycars]

I walked into my hometown camera store today and they had the Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 in stock for $579.00. So I got it. Now it is time to test my new toy!

 

[Jax1023]

Hi all-

I appreciate all the advice I have gotten here. I really need to share some picks, but we've had 3 people resign in 3 months at my job and its been eating all my time.

I just booked a trip to Italy for late October. One of the main reasons I bought a dSLR was the lack of wideness on my pns in Germany last year, so I am considering an ultrawide lens and want some time to practice with it before we go.

Does anyone have any opinions on the tokina 11-16 vs the sigma 10-20? I have a canon, but the canon 10-22 is out of my budget.

I'm having a hard time deciding which is better, the larger zoom range vs the f2.8. I'm currently leaning towards faster lens as I know it can be dark in those old european cathedrals I'm looking to photograph.

Thanks for any input you may have!

 

[mom2rtk]

I've been wondering the same thing. I have the Tokina 11-16 f2.8, but find myself wondering what it would be like to have just a touch more range. That 16 still seems SO wide. I'm wondering if I had the 10-20, if I would be less likely to need to switch lenses so much.

I can't afford to keep the Tokina AND buy the 10-20, so I'd have to sell it if I went the other direction. I too am wondering though if I'd miss the 2.8.

Why oh why can't they just make one f2.8 that goes from 10 to about.... say ..... 200????

 

[zackiedawg]

That's exactly why I got the Tamron 10-24! Goes down to the 10mm I wanted, with a crop camera it goes up to a nice, standard 36mm equivalent, and it starts at F3.5. The Sigma 10-20 was fine too - but the Tamron just edged it out for my own needs and wants.

 

[bentos]

without a doubt go for the bigger opening of the f/2.8. you can always use your feet to zoom a few more meters but the amazing benefits you will get from the f/2.8 especially during low-light scenes make it the winner.

 

[WDWFigment]

That's exactly why I got the Tamron 10-24! Goes down to the 10mm I wanted, with a crop camera it goes up to a nice, standard 36mm equivalent, and it starts at F3.5. The Sigma 10-20 was fine too - but the Tamron just edged it out for my own needs and wants.

Maybe you're different than me, but I never use the longer focal length on my ultra-wide.

What about option #3, the brand new 8-16mm Sigma? I have considered getting rid of my Tokina 11-16 for that.

For what it's worth, I have the Tokina 11-16 and the Tokina 10-17 (fisheye), and the extra half stop (I think that's what it is...2.8 v. 3.5...I'm not a math/science person, someone correct me if I'm wrong) has been huge to me. I plan on selling the Tokina fisheye as soon as I find a Sigma 2.8 fisheye for a good price. As for the 10mm v. 11mm debate...yeah, that is a big difference. Good luck in making the decision.

In any case, don't worry about the longer end of the spectrum!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Great thread, I was going to be posting this question soon too. Last night my step-mom borrowed me her Sigma 10-20 to play with. The Tall Ships are coming in today so I'm on my way down to the lake to try it out.

Just from the few pictures I took last night, and from what I've seen people do on here, I know my next lens will be a wide angle lens... just need to figure out which one!