Which Ultra Wide Angle lens?

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-Rob-

Say Cheese!...Oh, and call me Susan
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I've finally got the money to spend on a wide angle lens to use with my Nikon D300. I've heard good things about the Sigma 10-20mm lens so at the moment that is top of my wanted list (see my signature). However, I'd like opinions on what else I should be considering?

Sigma 10-20mm f3.5
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6
Nikon 10-24mm f3.5-4.5G
Nikon 12-24mm f4
Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5
Tokina 12-24mm f4

Any reviews / recommendations / reasons to avoid etc etc?
 
Got the Siggy 10-20 for my Canon. Slower version. It's a very good bit of glass. You won't be dissapointed. Don't use it much to be honest, but it always delivers.
 
trevorbray said:
Got the Siggy 10-20 for my Canon. Slower version. It's a very good bit of glass. You won't be dissapointed. Don't use it much to be honest, but it always delivers.
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Ditto:thumbs: Much sharpnessssssssssssssss
 
I have the Nikon 12-24 f4, I too don't use it that often, but when i do it produces great results, pin sharp, no noticeable distortion, a great lens.
 
Any reason for not including the Tokina ƒ/2.8 11-16mm in your list?
 
-Rob- said:
Apart from the wider aperture through the zoom range, are there any other differences between the f3.5 and f4-5.6 versions of the Sigma?
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The f/3.5 gets worse reviews and costs significantly more :gag:
 
I would say either Tokina 12-24/Sigma 10-20 F4-5.6
If you have more money to spend then Tokina 11-16/Nikon 12-24
 
If there's any chance of you going FF in the future, I would go for the Sigma 12-24 since (apart from the rather pricy Nikon 14-24@ £1235!) it's pretty much the only FF UWA available. Hugely wide on FF - even wider in angle of view than the 10-20 is on a crop sensor.
 
Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 is the sharpest, then follow Nikon 12-24mm f/4 and Tokina 12-24mm f/4 depending on your budget and needs. I manage with 3rd one just fine; tried sigma and it was a big fat no-no.
 
I've just read a review of that Tokina lens and it sounds pretty impressive. Having a max aperture of f2.8 would certainly be of use when trying to take any indoor shots and come up with something a bit different.

Anyone else had any experience of this lens, particularly on a Nikon?
 
Hi Rob, i use a sigma 10-20 f/4 and it is really fantastic for the money and pretty darn sharp . If you want to borrow mine for a couple of days you are more than welcome .
 
I might take you up on that offer Dave. Will you be using it much over the next couple of months? Steve is starting our loft conversion in the next 2 weeks and I'd like to get up there every day to photograph the progress. I have a 17mm lens which will do OK but a 10mm would show a lot more. I was going to buy a UWA in the next couple of weeks but if I could borrow yours it would stop me rushing in to getting the wrong lens.
 
I know its a canon mag but current issue of photo plus has a review of UWA lenses..

the Tokina 11-16 was the winner, but they said the 12-24 was good too, I think their main issue with it was it wasn't f2.8 like the 11-16. Most lenses in the review are 3rd party ones, so might be worth having a flick through the magazine in Smiths etc.
 
I can deffo do a few days (4-5) as i tend to use it maybe once a week maybe . It's one of those lenses that spends most its time in your bag but you want it at hand for those special pics if you know what i mean.You're welcome to test it out and see if it's the one for you though.;)
 
Was going to suggest you stitch a couple of pics via photoshop if you need to log the work on a daily basis.
 
Rob, I'd deffo suggest the Nikon 12-24 or the Tokina 12-24 - both are pin-sharp and very, very well made. Plus you have that little extra speed from the f/4 constant aperture.

I'd have a butchers at the Tokina 11-16 though; that's a fantastic lens and probably the most underrated out there with the best IQ

Here's one I shot on the Nikon 12-24...

4033988697_fcfde7d788.jpg


It does have a big front diameter though so if you intend to use filters then you may have have to watch just how many you stack p because of vignetting. That's applicable to all of the ones you've highlighted.

Another to consider, although not as wide, is the Sigma 15-30mm; it's an absolute peach and probably trumps most crop-format wide lenses on IQ.
 
Cheers Dave, I'm watching a couple of the Tokina's on Ebay at the moment that end in 5 and 8 days so if I end up winning one of those then I'll be fine. You know me though, I'll only ever buy a bargain so I'll probably not win them. I'll get up in the loft tonight with my 17-50mm and see if it's wide enough to take decent pics and I'll speak to you tomorrow night if you're there.
 
I am a Canon user and absolutley love my Tokina 11-16. It is as sharp as a scalpel and great at f/2.8.

One I grabbed last night at 11mm at f/9 on a 25 second exposure. Click for it bigger.

 
specialman said:
Bertroot, that is f***ing awesome, especially from a Canon lens..... ;) :D
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Haha cheeky, it was a tokina lens but a Canon body and look no noise. :D Thanks for the vote of confidence.
 
Not sure but will have a look when I get back later if you like. Think tightest I have had it is f/13.
 
Here's the Tok this afternoon at 11mm and minimum aperture of ƒ/22

f22-11mm.JPG
 
ƒ/2.8 at minimum focus distance

f2_8-11mm.jpg
 
Currently trying to choose between these lenses myself.

Tokina 11-16mm is well regarded by everyone i speak to but not sure if theres too much distortion for landscape shots?

Tokina 12-24mm again well regarded and probably in front for me because of the extra 24mm reach.
 
**Update**

I opted for the Tokina 11-16mm (thanks to Photon for bring it to my attention). I got one off Ebay for £360 and it seems to be a totally mint and sharp copy so I'm well pleased with it. It seems to give excellent image quality even at 11mm and f2.8. It's the first time I've ever used a lens wider than 17mm and boy is it wide. I had to pick the lens up from the post office so as soon as I got back in the car I had to open it up and fix it to the camera and sat in the drivers seat I could easily get the whole of the dashboard in frame plus a bit either wide. Impressed? Oh yes I was.

I've not had a chance to take any photos worth posting yet but I'll get round to it soon and I'll get them on here for critique. I'm having a loft conversion started on Thursday so I'll be logging (or should I say togging) the progress of the work with this lens so I'll create a thread for that.
 
Excellent choice squire. Sure you will have some fun with it.
 
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