Nikon d5100 new lens

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Newmikey

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Mike
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Im looking for a new wide lens but unsure about what one to buy? Anyone got any recommendation? All I have is a 18-270 pzd lens but I need to capture the whole night sky.. Any help welcome. I'm a newbie
 
Hi Mike

I've a Sigma UWA lens - 10-20mm and it's one thats worth a look at - whether it will allow you to capture the whole night sky or not I'm not sure, you may need to go wider still, maybe a fisheye.

I was very surprised when I 1st got the 10-20mm as how wide it is at 10mm - you can very easily add your feet to the shot if your not careful.

It maybe worth seeing if any local camera shops have one in you could try and buy it if it does what your after ?
 
Take a look at the Sigma 8-16 as well. You'll not get a non-fisheye wider. It's meant to be a decent lens too although you'll not be able to use any filters on it.
 
had a quick look at these lenses and look hood, but they dont have vr on them. is that a big issue or not?
 
Newmikey said:
had a quick look at these lenses and look hood, but they dont have vr on them. is that a big issue or not?
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In a word, no. I actually can't think of any ultra wide angle that does have VR and I don't really think it's particularly necessary. If you really want VR and are not so bothered about the width, maybe look the Nikon 16-85 VR.
 
I have a sigma 10-20mm which is great but tamrons 10-24mm is just as good maybe better and cheaper. If you want to spend more money the tokina is regarded as the best of the lot not sure it will focus on the d5100 though.
 
vr is not important, just a good lens that is nice and wide, wider then my 18-270
 
you could manual focus on landscape lol. If you planning to upgrade body in the future then is worth invest in one.
 
I'm new to photography so I like my d5100 and won't be upgrading it in a hurry. New lens will only be used for landscape and af doesn't really get used as doesn't work at night well. I'm a bit of a star photo geek.
 
No AF isn't essential for wide angle landscapes but its nice to have it there.
 
If you are shooting the night sky or landscapes are you using a tripod? I would presume you are as you will have to use long exposures for some shots. If that is the case then VR or any form or image stabilisation would not be required.
 
ok thank you. im going to go for the sigma 10-20mm its now between the old 4.5 or the new 3.5...... does any of you know a good cheap reliable website?
 
Is pixamania a trusted place to buy? Has anyone brought from them?
 
Newmikey said:
Is pixamania a trusted place to buy? Has anyone brought from them?
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Yes there trusted but they are not uk based the warehouse is in France it think so if anything goes wrong its going to be a hassle. I've never found them to be much cheaper than anywhere else so i've never bothered, but looking at the f3.5 that's a great price, might be a grey import.

Might sound silly but do you shop in tesco and have clubcard vouchers? At the money you can can convert £5 vouchers to £10 and use them on camera gear. The f3.5 is £550 on there site so you could get it with £275 of vouchers!:)
 
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rjbell said:
Yes they are Hong Kong based. I would buy the tamron from a uk store with 5yrs warranty for £350.
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Is this the 10-24? Maybe he had a bad copy but my cousin had one of those and it was pretty poor. I had a Sigma 10-20 at the time which I wasn't a huge fan of either but it was miles better than the Tamron.
 
get the Sigma 10-20mm f4.5-5.6. it is a wide angle lens, aim is to get everything in focus. you'll be shooting at f8 anyway, no point paying for a larger aperture.

i got Sigma 12-24mm myself, designed for FX, ultra sharp on a DX camera. i would say it's as sharp as highly regarded 35mm prime lens. worth considering.
 
gad-westy said:
Is this the 10-24? Maybe he had a bad copy but my cousin had one of those and it was pretty poor. I had a Sigma 10-20 at the time which I wasn't a huge fan of either but it was miles better than the Tamron.
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I have the sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 too which i love but a lot of reviews prefer the tamron to it, with the sigma f3.5 being the better of the 3. It's also £50 cheaper.
 
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The sigma 10-20 f4.5 is uk spec and only £324.99 and there based in the uk with 1 year warranty
 
Just a thought would a 10mm prime lens be better? It main use will be night landscapes?
 
Newmikey said:
Just a thought would a 10mm prime lens be better? It main use will be night landscapes?
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Does such a thing exist?
 
Newmikey said:
The sigma 10-20 f4.5 is uk spec and only £324.99 and there based in the uk with 1 year warranty
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What does UK spec mean? Does it mean the spec is the same as a uk model or it is a uk model? Why have they not said this is a uk/European model where you get a 3yr sigma warranty not a one year warranty. They are based in Hong Kong believe me on this one. Don't let the co.uk and £ fool you.
 
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Ok..... So the ones around £300 are imports yes? And the ones around 400 are uk? But what's the difference in lens?
 
You will not have a warranty from Sigma just a shop one. If anything goes wrong you will have to ship it back to Hong Kong for at your expense. This warranty is 1yr not the 3yrs you get from Sigma. Then you got to look at how the lenses were shipped to the UK, they are a delicate precision instrument. Manufactures would take great care bulk packaging crates of lenses for export with microchips that tell them if they have been tipped or knocked etc.. A grey import could have just been put in a jiffy bag and thrown around every sorting office from HK to the UK.
 
I've had the Tamron 10-24 and it was possibly the worst lens I have owned. It was soft all over especially the edges. I sold it pretty soon after getting it and got the Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 and while it is a big step up in quality (build and image) to the Tamron, it is still not the greatest. The Sigma is known to have a soft left side for some reason (mine is OK I think).
Personally I would get the Tokina or maybe the Nikon 10-24 but definately stay away from the Tamron.

The grey imports are exactly the same lenses - just you may have problems with warranty should anything go wrong
 
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Ok thank you, so where is a good place to buy from, nowhere seems to say if there uk or imports, jessops cost a bomb!!!!
 
Wow Julian your star trail photos are amazing!!! Is that broadway tower? That's the kinda thing I wanna do so need the wide view
 
Ok going to go for sigma 10-20 f4.5 *** sounds ok and money is a issue, so thanks for all your help. Just need to find a deal now
 
Newmikey said:
Wow Julian your star trail photos are amazing!!! Is that broadway tower? That's the kinda thing I wanna do so need the wide view
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Thanks. Yes that is Broadway Tower but that was shot with my old 35 f1.8 lens (which is a cracking little lens for the money) - I have since sold that lens - regretably:'(
A lot of my startrail shots are with the Sigma 10-20 though. If you can get the aperture right, you should get the foreground sharp as well as the stars themselves.

Have a look at Camerapricebuster.com for the 10-20 here http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod2714.html
Generally the best place to research latest prices:)
 
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