Jump to content

Welcome to NikonForums.com
Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!
Photo

wide angle lens purchase


  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic

#1
travlermb

travlermb

    New Member

  • Forum Member
  • Pip
  • 2 posts
  • Country Flag

Looking for opinions on purchasing a wide angle lens.

 

I'm a mid-level beginner (if I may say) shooting mostly landscape and travel/vacation photos.  My go-to lens is AF-S DX 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6.

 

I'm looking for opinions as to AF-P DX 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 or AF-P DX 35-55mm f/3.5-5.6.  These are both within my budget.  I'm not sure if I'm getting anything more with the 18-55mm but is the 10-20mm too wide an angle (also not as fast at 4.5-5.6).

 

Any thoughts?  Thanks in advance!

 

 



#2
fallout666

fallout666

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,098 posts
  • Country Flag
  • Locationcfl area of space coast

do you want ultra wide angle lens or wide angle lens what will it be used for. 



#3
dcbear78

dcbear78

    Forum Veteran

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 701 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationGladstone, Queensland

Back when I was a DX shooter I had a 10-20mm and quite enjoyed it. Don't discount the Sigma and Tamron offerings either. I have no idea on price but I would be fairly confident they would both have better lenses, but possibly at a higher cost. But worth looking into. I think Tokina make an 11-16mm that is highly regarded too?



#4
Merco_61

Merco_61

    Nikonian

  • Premium Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 10,589 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationUppsala, Sweden

Site Supporter

First, the 18-55 won't offer anything new for you as the 18-140 is about equal at the same focal lengths.

 

Have you noticed that the AF-P lenses aren't fully compatible to your D7100? As you won't be able to turn VR off, the 10-20 would be of limited use as a landscape lens as it will not work well on a tripod. The Sigma 10-20/3.5 is in the same price range and is a better match for your body. The Nikon 10-24 costs more but it does have lower distortion and handles shooting against the light better. The Tokina 11-16/2.8 is another good option.



#5
Jerry_

Jerry_

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,524 posts
  • Country Flag
As Peter said, the AF-P lenses aren’t fully compatible with your D7100 - and looking for a focal length within the range of what you already have would mostly make sense if you look for a lens which is much better (and which would serve you as upgarde path for the future). Also on DX I would start the wide angle with focal lenghts shorter than 35mm.

I have the Sigma 10-20/3.5 that Peter mentions for a couple of years and alsways loved the possibilities it offered.

I just checked through my library as I remembered having used it recently and found these two captures, which I am posting so you can see how it performs, the distortions, as well as the difference from 10 to 14mm

Both captures taken with the D500 (and Sigma 10-20/3.5)
(From the same spot, for the 14mm I lowered the camera for a different perspective)

14mm
c1afe868a7d6a1a10101b719ae06a6cf.jpg

10mm
81cdb1aefa74b17cf3ba654fe1271fd0.jpg

As you will realize the difference of 4mm in ultra wide makes a considerable difference.

#6
Malice

Malice

    Loyal Member

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 212 posts
  • Country Flag

Site Supporter

Any thoughts?

 

Since I consider myself a beginner, too (I never put enough effort/time/enthusiasm into the hobby to leave this level), there's one thing I'd like to remark one. I was really surprised how difficult it is to handle the ultra wide focal lengths.

 

Composition can be very hard and the distortions a major pain. Correcting them in post, potential for a major headache.

 

It's quite a different ball game compared to shooting "normal" focal lengths, in my opinion.



#7
ScottinPollock

ScottinPollock

    Forum Veteran

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 648 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationWest Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

I did my homework last year and tried the following:

 

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm F3.5-4.5G ED
Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD
Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX
 
The Tamron was the clear winner. Unfortunately I bought it shortly before I decided to move to M43. So if you're looking for a deal on literally a like new in box copy, check my listing in the classifieds.


#8
Merco_61

Merco_61

    Nikonian

  • Premium Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 10,589 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationUppsala, Sweden

Site Supporter

Using an UWA is challenging, but it will definitely make you think about foreground, leading lines, framing and other compositional elements... It is possible to do so much more than just sweeping vistas when you get to know how it works, and not (mostly not...)

 

I use my Nikon 14-24/2.8 quite a bit, both on DX and FX. Here are some links to One week... threads

One week, one camera, one lens week ending April 30 2017 - Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games - NikonForums.com

One week, one camera, one lens week ending July 30 2017 - Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games - NikonForums.com

One week, one camera, one lens week ending November 5 2017 - Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games - NikonForums.com

One week, one camera, one lens week ending November 12 2017 - Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games - NikonForums.com

One week, one camera, one lens week ending March 4 2018 - Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games - NikonForums.com