Wide angle lens recommendations ?

[kgreen]

I use a Nikon D7000, & enjoy playing around with night photography/The night sky. Right now I pretty much use my kit lens 18-105 mm. But I am constantly wanting to have a wider view of the star field & be able to include some foreground. I am thinking about purchasing a Tokina 11-16 F/2.8 Pro Dx II. Does anyone here own this lens & recommend it.

 

[xlxo]

I have the slower Nikon 10-24mm. Love it when 18mm is not wide enough.

Something to consider.... do you want a "rectilinear" lens that can straighten some of the curves?

 

[My2Girls66]

I have the Tamron 10-24 for my D7000. I have no complaints.

 

[mom2rtk]

I shoot Canon, so no experience with the Nikon lineup of lenses. I will add my input on the Tokina though. I had the Canon mount and loved it. But I decided it might be nice to have the very well regarded Canon 10-22 instead since it has a little more range. My hope was that perhaps I might leave it on my camera more. So I sold the Tokina and bought the Canon. It was a great lens, but I really missed the 2.8 on the Tokina. So I sold the Canon and bought back a Tokina. It was worth the hassle.

 

[kgreen]

Thanks for the comments. I've been reading up on this lens, & I think it's going to fit me well. I most likely won't have it for our trip, but hopefully by winter. I also enjoy firework photography. I bet this lens will be great for fireworks, especially over the castle. Nice wide view. Too bad my ND filter is 67MM. Tokina 11-16 has a 77MM filter thread. I haven't tried pictures of fireworks without my ND filter. So I'll probably purchase a new ND filter to fit this lens. But that's a minor issue. Thanks for your help!

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the comments. I've been reading up on this lens, & I think it's going to fit me well. I most likely won't have it for our trip, but hopefully by winter. I also enjoy firework photography. I bet this lens will be great for fireworks, especially over the castle. Nice wide view. Too bad my ND filter is 67MM. Tokina 11-16 has a 77MM filter thread. I haven't tried pictures of fireworks without my ND filter. So I'll probably purchase a new ND filter to fit this lens. But that's a minor issue. Thanks for your help!

All you need is a step down ring for the ND filter you have. Check on Ebay. They're cheap.

 

[xlxo]

hopefully by winter. I also enjoy firework photography. I bet this lens will be great for fireworks, especially over the castle. Nice wide view. Too bad my ND filter is 67MM. Tokina 11-16 has a 77MM filter thread. I haven't tried pictures of fireworks without my ND filter. So I'll probably purchase a new ND filter to fit this lens. But that's a minor issue. Thanks for your help!

Some thoughts...

• Don't be afraid of the 77mm filter... as you move away from consumer lenses, the 77mm is the norm. My Nikon 10-24mm takes a 77mm.
• I typically do NOT use a lens wider than 18mm for fireworks unless I'm shooting under the blast zone. Can others confirm Disney fireworks is best with a lens wider than 18mm?
• Hope you have some money set aside for a quality tripod.
• Consider a cable, wired, or wireless release. You get more steady keepers from not touching your camera. D7000? I would get one of these...
  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/750015-REG/Vello_RW_N2_FreeWave_Wireless_Remote_Shutter.html

 

[kgreen]

All you need is a step down ring for the ND filter you have. Check on Ebay. They're cheap.

Thanks for the tip! I'm still learning a little more each day.

 

[kgreen]

Some thoughts...

• Don't be afraid of the 77mm filter... as you move away from consumer lenses, the 77mm is the norm. My Nikon 10-24mm takes a 77mm.
• I typically do NOT use a lens wider than 18mm for fireworks unless I'm shooting under the blast zone. Can others confirm Disney fireworks is best with a lens wider than 18mm?
• Hope you have some money set aside for a quality tripod.
• Consider a cable, wired, or wireless release. You get more steady keepers from not touching your camera. D7000? I would get one of these...
  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/750015-REG/Vello_RW_N2_FreeWave_Wireless_Remote_Shutter.html

Thanks for the insight! Also I really could benefit with a good quality tripod. Mine I've had for a long time & I know it's not one of the more expensive ones. My only gripe with it is that sometime I will adjust for a level view, have it right on & then it has some give. That can get annoying. And I know if I were to get one of better quality, I would probably then see a huge difference. I do use the wired cable release. Which I love! Especially for star trails. Once I'm all set up, I choose 30 second continuous exposures, lock up the remote button. And then I can sit back & watch the sky with my own eyes. And super great for fireworks, so I don't have to touch my camera & cause the slightest movement.

 

[kgreen]

Here's one of my favorites from my first time ever photographing fireworks at Disney, from our trip 2 years ago. I am so excited to get to make another attempt on our upcoming trip. Although I'm a bit nervous after reading today, that they imposed a no large tripod rule. What exactly does that cover?? Mines 66 inches

 

[firemanchip]

Here's one of my favorites from my first time ever photographing fireworks at Disney, from our trip 2 years ago. I am so excited to get to make another attempt on our upcoming trip. Although I'm a bit nervous after reading today, that they imposed a no large tripod rule. What exactly does that cover?? Mines 66 inches

That`s an awesome pic. Do you remember where you were set-up and tech specifics of the picture?

 

[havoc315]

That`s an awesome pic. Do you remember where you were set-up and tech specifics of the picture?

If you click the pic, you can see the specs.... F9, 16.5 seconds as ISO 100 and 40mm.

Though I wonder if a ND filter was used?

 

[SarahJN]

I have the same camera and the same lens. I don't shoot night sky photography so I can't comment on its use for that but I can tell you that I really do like this lens.

Photos below were taken with it


jan7a by 4forSarah, on Flickr


sept16k by 4forSarah, on Flickr


sept16j by 4forSarah, on Flickr

 

[kgreen]

If you click the pic, you can see the specs.... F9, 16.5 seconds as ISO 100 and 40mm.

Though I wonder if a ND filter was used?

Yes, I did use a 0.9 ND filter.

 

[kgreen]

That`s an awesome pic. Do you remember where you were set-up and tech specifics of the picture?

Thank you! I had taken pictures of Fireworks for a couple of years at our local displays. But this was a first at Disney. I was actually really nervous! I set up on the balcony of the train station. I liked this spot, but beware the flag pole may obscure your view. I kept in in for the shot, but ended up cropping in quite a bit to remove it from the shot later. F9, 16.5 seconds and ISO 100 and 40mm. & 0.9 ND filter

 

[kgreen]

I have the same camera and the same lens. I don't shoot night sky photography so I can't comment on its use for that but I can tell you that I really do like this lens.

Photos below were taken with it


jan7a by 4forSarah, on Flickr


sept16k by 4forSarah, on Flickr


sept16j by 4forSarah, on Flickr

Oh Wow! Great shots! Now that's what I'm looking for. The ability to be close but capture a wonderfully wide view.