Wide lens for Nikon D40

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PaulP01

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What is the best for landscapes etc?
Is it the Sigma 10-20, (Tokina 11mm-16mm & Tokina 12-24mm (these aren't AF-S though :( )
So what other options are their?
I will be getting it after christmas, but want to have an idea beforehand.
I want a good lens for landscapes, scenery for around £350.
Any ideas?
 
People always rave about the Sigma, prob is I dont know if I could splash out on something with such known about quality issues. :(
 
I've no experience of other wide angle lenses, but my 10-20mm Sigma is great. Not read anything bad about this lens (I tend to read half the web when researching something to buy) in terms of quality, at least not that I remember.
 
The 11-16 Tokina gets good reviews, that's probably what will replace my now-sold Sigma 10-20.....
 
L0rdMike said:
People always rave about the Sigma, prob is I dont know if I could splash out on something with such known about quality issues. :(
Click to expand...

If you're buying new you shouldn't have a problem - if the lens is faulty you can swap it for another. Once a lens is calibrated right it should last like that for a very long time (as long as you look after it).
 
Make it a ritual, download a test sheet, whenever you buy a lens (new or used) spend the first day testing it indoor with the test sheet. If need be, have it exchanged, replaced, or sent for a service and calibration. Once this is done, if taken care of the lens would then give you a few many years of happy shots with no worried.

That said, you may be able to get a 2nd hand Nikon 12-24 DX f2.8 for near that price.
 
Thanks all for your input.
Another question, should I not restrict myself to a AFS lens to broaden the choice and for compatibility when I upgrade my camera body? On this note, is manual focussing a lot of hassle or part of the fun, I welcome further input :)
 
AF-S (Nikon naming) or HSM (Sigma naming) is what you'd need to get autofocus on the D40 (or D40x, D60). Otherwise any of the AF lenses will autofocus on the rest of the Nikon bodies.

For manual focus, it is fun ... but it is also cumbersome and may well be slower than what you the camera can do for you. There are times when you have no option but to use manual focus (when shooting macro) as the ultra shalow depth of field means that the camera will most likely not be able to get it right. But, yes, manual focus is very much fun .. if you have the time and are willing to put in the effort to learn it (not a big hassle).
 
If you are asking if your AFS/HSM lens will work with Nikon cameras that have an autofocus in the body (on AFS ie. not the D40/D40x/D60) leaving it perfecty useable when you upgrade body, then the Sigma will. If not then I'm with Wail.

I use by Sigma 10-20mm with a D40 and D70 (D70 has autofocus in body).
 
I am really impressed with the Sigma 10-20mm, but my only concern is that the majority of posts regarding it always mention QC and getting duff lenses that need replacing. In addition because I am new to photography, would the QC problems be easily noticeable to a newbie?
 
If you're into wide angle, then you may be considering a move up to FF in the future, in which case I would throw the Sigma 12-24 into the ring as a contender. If you're certain that you won't be making the move, the 10-20 is probably the best bet.
 
I'm going to take a different view here.

The OP said he wants a wide angle lens for landscapes. I don't think you should be looking at the Sigma 10-20, Tokina 11-16 etc. for landscapes. They're just too wide.

I have a Canon 10-22 and I love it for photographing architecture, both interiors and cramped exteriors (eg narrow village streets). And I like playing with the perspective and the near-infinite depth of field. But not for landscapes. The trouble is, those impressive mountains look like just a row of little knobbles at 10mm. And you have so much foreground that you have to fill - it's so easy to find yourself doing really contrived compositions just to fill the space.

I find I shoot most of my best landscapes at 20-60mm.
 
Thanks StewartR, you were right that I said for landscapes, but what I forgot to mention was that I like taking close up wide photo's too, which is what I find appealing in wide lenses. I love walking through woods/forests and have come across a few unrooted/toppled trees and a wide lens would be really great for getting close and wide with the roots & tree.
 
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