Wide angle for crop body for night shooting

[jec6613]

So, here's the dilemma that my usual photo lookup resources were unable to solve for me. When I go to WDW in December, I want to take photos of the decorations (obviously!). I have the D7200, so high ISO isn't a problem, but what is, is that even the best zooms without a nano coat tend to have awful flare on point sources of light used in decorations, (as well as some coma that I'm not fond of), even the 17-55 and 12-24 which are both quite long in the tooth. Because of this, I much prefer primes or a nano coated lens for night shooting.

Well, of course, the widest modern Nikon prime at a reasonable price for the F mount is the 35 f/1.8. Beyond that, I'm into the FX lenses such as the 14-24 and 24-70 zooms, or the 20/28 mm f/1.8 primes or the 24 mm f/1.4. Of course, none of those are particularly wide (except the 14-24), and they all cost a considerable amount of money.

I do have plenty at the telephoto end of the spectrum - (50, 60, 85, 105, 300) that all do wonders with night shots of lights, and I know the, "Ideal," solution would be a D750 and a 16-35 f/4 or similar, but I was hoping for something in the price range to purchase, as it's a lens I'll use frequently, as opposed to rent.

Anybody have any ideas? And before you say the 18-35 Sigma, it's not an option because as of right now there are still some outstanding issues on the D7200 body, and it isn't great in the flare department, either.

 

[mom2rtk]

My go-to wide angle on a crop body was the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. I didn't have flare issues, but don't know if others did. It really is an outstanding lens.

I use it as a 16mm prime on my full frame these days.

 

[PythonFan888]

My go-to wide angle on a crop body was the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. I didn't have flare issues, but don't know if others did. It really is an outstanding lens.

Agree 100%. No flare issues on my Nikon version when I used it on my old D7000. It's been considered the best UWA zoom for crop bodies and I don't know if anyone has come out with something that surpasses its performance.

 

[jec6613]

In sharpness the 11-16 is great, flare resistance, not so much (a common Tokina problem, check out Thom Hogan's review of the 50-135 f/2.8). And I'm getting them on the 16-85, 17-55, 70-300 VR and 12-24 Nikkors, which all rate as lower flare. I did not experience it on the 24-70 mm I rented even though I used it in these sort of situations. I don't have access to the 11-16 mm Tokina to try out.

Here's the best I got with my 16-85 (top) and the worst I got with my 50 f/1.8 (bottom) to show what I'm talking about.

Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G VR DX, at 16 mm, f/3.5, 1/8, ISO 3200

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G, at f/1.8, 1/13, ISO 3200

 

[photo_chick]

Just a curiosity, were you using any filters on your lenses with those shots?

 

[SkaGoat]

Agree 100%. No flare issues on my Nikon version when I used it on my old D7000. It's been considered the best UWA zoom for crop bodies and I don't know if anyone has come out with something that surpasses its performance.

It's the best UWA zoom for Nikon crops, the Canon 10-18mm is better.

 

[jec6613]

Just a curiosity, were you using any filters on your lenses with those shots?

No, although it certainly looks like I used a cruddy filter, doesn't it? I don't even own a NC filter in 67 mm, as they only go on when I'm using the lens in a wet/abrasive/sandy/etc area, and I certainly don't use any extending zooms in those conditions.

It's the best UWA zoom for Nikon crops, the Canon 10-18mm is better.

It's not even the best wide zoom for Nikon crop sensors, both of the Nikkors are better in flare, coma, astigmatism and anything contra-jour (look up reviews, if you point it at the sun you get horrific veiling flare), although at twice the price you'd expect them to be better. Both the 10-18 Canon (at half the price) and the 10-22 Canon (same price) are also much better behaved than the Tokina. What it is, is great indoors, doesn't have any bad distortion and gives you f/2.8, so perfect for indoors of houses and such, and in those situations it's sharp and contrasty. (if you don't believe me, check out lenstip or other similar places). That's really not at all what I shoot, so the Tokina isn't of interest to me and doesn't solve this problem

 

[elmoandzoey]

Not that it's probably going to help you since you use Nikon but I own the Canon 10-18 and I've been using it the last couple of nights for night shots out here in Wales. I don't have any kind of flare problems with it but then it also doesn't go down to f2.8.

Just out of curiosity, since you seem to have that problem with a lot of lenses - have you ever tried using the lenses on another body to make sure it's not your camera?

 

[jec6613]

Yep, both my D5100, D7100 and D7200 exhibit it, with multiple copies of the lens. It's caused by internal reflections, which is why primes and N zooms don't show it (the 14-24, 16-35 and 24-70 all don't have this issue).

It's also a very specific set of shooting circumstances. 99% of the time, I have no issues at all.