Wide angle lens for D3?

Dangleman

Dangleman

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Thinking of investing in a wide angle (non fisheye) lens for the D3, but I'm struggling a bit.
I'd obvioulsy love to get the Nikon 14-24 2.8, but I don't want one that much (ie not spending 1K).

Choices that I can see are the Sigma 12-24 to have the really wide capacity, or go for a 17-35 of some sort.

I see the sigma 10-20 gets rave reviews, but that's for a cropped sensor. Does the Sigma 12-24 compare favourably - anyone used both?

Or, should I just get the 10-20 and use it on my D200, as that's the camera I tend to 'travel' with and it will mostly be used for landscape type shots. Decisions decisions.

I basically don't want to fork out too much cash. I want the aceness/cheapness of the sigma 10-20 but for the full frame D3.
 
Just get the 14-24. The 17-35 is not that great (only used it once). The 12-24 is ok, but having seen images from the 14-24 mounted on a 21mpx full frame body, I see no reason to look at anythings else if you are a Nikon shooter.
 
:thinking: I thought the 10-20mm worked even better on full frame?
 
"Just get the 14-24" :)
Really can't justify the money at the mo I'm afraid, as I said.

The Sigma 10-20 is a 'DC' lens, ie Sigma's equivalent to Nikon DX is it not? Therefore it will have to run in 'crop' mode on the D3, which is a waste really.
 
The way I figure it, sooner or later (probably sooner) you are not going to be happy with the image quality of the Sig 12-24 if you get it, so you save yourself money in the long run by just getting the 14-24 now (but then I am in the buy once school).
 
cherryrig said:
Just get the 14-24 f/2.8. All the new Nikon lenses were designed to get the best image with the D3. No point getting some rubbish glass for a super camera!
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You going to give me the money then? very good of you :)

Also, I think a lot of Sigma 10-20 users would argue strongly against it being 'rubbish glass'...
 
Why not try the 14-24 to see whether it's everything it's cracked up to be?
 
I've just bought a cracking little Nikon 28mm f/2.8 from another member on here for £60 which will be used on the D3, why not go for something like that until you can afford one of the new zooms like the 14-24mm.
 
Forgive me for speaking out of turn (maybe) but doesn't the D3 change to a crop sensor if it has a DX or equiv lens put in front of it?

Which means you can use the 10-20 without vignetting, but you do have to use it as a crop sensor, which may defeat the point of buying a D3 in the first place :)

EDIT.. it does, but you only get 5MP if you do... seems kinda pointless :p
 
Damn if only I'd known you had one of those Stewart, I'd have hired it for this week.

I've actually just ordered today a Tamron 17-35mm as it got good reviews and I found it at a decent price. I can't justify a 14-24mm yet as much as I would like one so I'm going for the Tamron to get me going wider. On the D3 I'm finding the 24-70 is almost wide enough for me so the 17mm wide end should do the job for now.

Pete
 
mattyh said:
Forgive me for speaking out of turn (maybe) but doesn't the D3 change to a crop sensor if it has a DX or equiv lens put in front of it?

Which means you can use the 10-20 without vignetting, but you do have to use it as a crop sensor, which may defeat the point of buying a D3 in the first place :)
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Indeed the 10-20mm will work fine, but you'll only be using 5MP of the sensor.

The other option if you want to go wide is the 16mm prime. They can be had reasonably cheap now.

Pete
 
See what I mean, no easy answer is there it seems. I've got a Nikon 28-70 2.8 (currently out for repair - see my 'repair nightmare' thread if interested) so that covers a reasonable wide angle. Need to decide if I go 'extreme' or not. I too was considering the tamron 17-35 2.8, would v much like to hear what you think of that when you get it icecavern...
 
FranchiseJuan said:
From what I have seen and user feedback, you are better off with the Sig 15-30 then the 17-35, if you don't want to spend the money on a Nikon 14-24.
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I didn't know that lens existed, cheers! Is it not very popular? Goes off to do some investigating of the sigma 15-30...
 
Eventually, as it has been pointed out, you will begin to wish you had gone for the 14-28, so why not 'take-the-hit' now and enjoy it.

Melt the plastic :D
 
Chillimonster said:
Eventually, as it has been pointed out, you will begin to wish you had gone for the 14-28, so why not 'take-the-hit' now and enjoy it.

Melt the plastic :D
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Maybe so, but the plastic is already loaded enough right now. Besides the next big purchase is gonna have to be at the super-telephoto end for me :)

Pete
 
Hey Icecavern!

You picked up the tamron 17-35 yet? Very keen to see how you think this performs on the D3.

Where did you order it from by the way? I see one stop digital are doing it for £200 delivered, which seems a great price.
 
I've got it but not had the chance to try it out. I ordered it from digital-cameras.com, UK stock for just over £200.

Pete
 
icecavern said:
I've got it but not had the chance to try it out. I ordered it from digital-cameras.com, UK stock for just over £200.

Pete
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Great stuff. Any chance you could post some images and your findings on this thread when you get the chance to try it out? :)

(I'm also looking at the sigma 12-24 now. Really not sure on all this now)
 
Sure, I'll try and use it tomorrow, not sure where I'm gong yet, but I'll be out shooting somewhere...
 
Hi Icecavern - just seen you lurking in another thread. Had a chance to test it properly yet?
 
Hi,

No not really had much chance to try it out tbh. I've been busy getting various things sorted out since the weather is awful. The only thing I can say is it has some vignetting from around 19mm and it looks quite pronounced at 17mm, but I've only looked on the LCD so nothing much to report yet.

Pete
 
icecavern said:
Hi,

No not really had much chance to try it out tbh. I've been busy getting various things sorted out since the weather is awful. The only thing I can say is it has some vignetting from around 19mm and it looks quite pronounced at 17mm, but I've only looked on the LCD so nothing much to report yet.

Pete
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Sounds a bit dissappointing? How is it for sharpness across the whole image?

Post some pics up if you can :)
 
No idea, not looked at the pics yet, but I used it a fair bit today. Just need to process the shots and see what I got.

Pete
 
Cheers icecavern

I see from the exif that the second and last shots are taken at the widest 17mm end. They don't look as 'super' wide as I thought they might though :shrug:

I know you haven't used it a lot yet, but what's your initial verdict. Do you think it's a good buy for £200 to whack on the D3?
 
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