Wide angle options

[StuartReeves]

I currently have a Nikon 18-70mm kit lens that I use with my D300 for scenery-type shots. but am starting to think about replacing it. Any suggestions for lenses which would give a reasonable improvement in performance at the wide end and/or the option for going a little wider than 18mm?

Stuart

[Gentoo]

I have the Nikon 12-24. I hear that the Tokina version is better and now there's a 10-24 Nikon and I believe a 10-24 Tokina as well. Both I hear are better than the Nikon 12-24 but I've not used those.

The new Nikon 10-24 is a variable aperture though and I personally prefer constant aperture. There's an 11-16 from Tokina as well and this one is supposed to be really good.

[RJM]

I use the Tokina 11-16 F2.8 and am very pleased.

Rick

[bkrownd]

...and/or the option for going a little wider than 18mm?

A little? Once you go 'a little', you'll want to go ALL the way! ;)

I like using my Sigma 10-20, but just wish I had a wide angle monitor that could do it justice...

[StuartReeves]

A little? Once you go 'a little', you'll want to go ALL the way! ;)

An interesting point... I had been thinking more along the lines of the Nikon 16-85, but all of the suggestions so far have been much wider than that! It strikes me that using a really wide lens must take some getting used to, given the potential for shots with an extensive featureless foreground if they are not composed properly. Any comments on this?

[Duke Leto]

love my Tokina 12-24, a robust, well made lens which is probably close enough to the Nikon for my usage, not forgetting that on the D300 its really only a 18-36, that said you can get great shots with it and I probably don't do it justice.

[bkrownd]

It strikes me that using a really wide lens must take some getting used to, given the potential for shots with an extensive featureless foreground if they are not composed properly. Any comments on this?

If you go to PBASE you can search for images by lens type (like this link (http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/10-20_4-56_ex_dc_hsm)), which will give you some idea of potential uses and results. Sometimes I use it to take photos of large plants at close range, and sometimes of habitats or big views. I hope your foregrounds are not all featureless! (though the sky often is) I like the ability to capture a view that is the same as the one I'm seeing with my own eyes, but it does take careful consideration of what will work and what won't. Your eyes and brain selectively filter what you see, but the camera doesn't. Your pupil and retina adjust for different light levels across the field of view, but the camera can't. For instance, a small foreground tree or bush in the middle of the field of view is ignored by your brain, but sticks out like a sore thumb in a landscape photo. At 10mm my lens can take photos that are somewhat wider angle than my eye's view. As I said, the result is much more impressive when viewed on a LARGE monitor.

[StuartReeves]

If you go to PBASE you can search for images by lens type (like this link (http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/10-20_4-56_ex_dc_hsm)), which will give you some idea of potential uses and results.

Thanks, that's an interesting selection of photos. The Sigma 10-20 seems to get universally rave reviews and isn't too bad a price so that's looking like a possibility...

Stuart

[foto-harald]

Just like Duke Leto i am very satisfied with my Tokina 12-24.

By the way: it's no problem to work with it in bad weather. Last year i walked with it mounted on the D300 and tripod for 2 hours of heavy rain without any problems.