Nikon wide primes

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Steveo_Hants

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Now that I have my D700 I am not too sure on what wide angle lens to purchase to replace my Sigma 10-20mm.

I was looking another zoom either the Nikon 17-35 (almost ruled out due to $$$$) or the Tamron 17-35.

However I already have a Sigma 24-60mm which performs pretty well on the D700 and is pretty wide so I have been thinking about maybe just getting a wide prime for when I need that little bit extra. So any suggestions on wide Nikon primes?
 
35mm f2 is good and cheap-ish...
The 20mm, 24mm and 28mm f/2.8 lenses are also good for the money...

To be honest I'd still try and find a good 2nd hand 17-35 f/2.8 as it's having a bit of a resurgance due to the new FX bodies being used by pros...
It was always a brilliant lens but got put to the back of the cupboard when FX cameras were in use (not by me - I used it all the time...lol).
 
I was in the same boat and ended up getting a sigma 17-35 ƒ2.8 to go with the 28-70 ƒ28

Cracking lens for the money.

Nigel
 
Arkady said:
35mm f2 is good and cheap-ish...
The 20mm, 24mm and 28mm f/2.8 lenses are also good for the money...

To be honest I'd still try and find a good 2nd hand 17-35 f/2.8 as it's having a bit of a resurgance due to the new FX bodies being used by pros...
It was always a brilliant lens but got put to the back of the cupboard when FX cameras were in use (not by me - I used it all the time...lol).
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No point in getting a 35mm f2 as I have that covered by my 24-60mm.

I was looking for used Nikon 17-35's but they are rarer then rocking horse poo it seems!
 
Cracking lens but rather pricey as well.... you might find one but it will be 4 or 5 times the price of a sigma.

Regards

Nigel
 
Like Arkady, I was one who didn't make the jump from the 17-35 for the new 14-24, I tried it, but it was FAR too heavy, felt unbalanced on the body and is bulky and cannot take filters.

For a prime wide, do not dismiss the AIS manual lenses - when did anyone need AF on a wide angle? Even set to f2.8 you will have DOF from 10 feet to funny squiggle. Some of the old pros I knew taped their 20mms to a fixed focus, it was then f8 and be there.

There are some nice fast prime wides from the older stock which will produce cracking pictures. The newer ones will have better coatings and newer glass though. That is one of the major differences between the Nikkors and the Tamron/Sigma types - the focal length may be the same, that is about as much similarity as there is. Nikkors always return the investment.
 
Picked up a 20mm Nikkor for £200 (boxed and immaculate) and as it's so small and light is with me all the time.

Sharp enough for me - came from the Tamron 17-35 and certainly don't miss 17 on the D700.

Size and weight in the end was the deciding factor.
 
Sigma 20mm f/1.8 twas what I bought with a luverly heliopan CPL :)
 
Not a prime or a Nikon own brand lens but the Sigma 12-24 could be an answer. VERY wide on FF DSLRs and 35mm film although some people report having had problems with decentred elements in the lens. Less than 1/2 the price of the closest Nikon equivalent and even bigger savings can be made if you find one 2nd hand (Mifsuds latest ad in AP shows one in Nikon fit).
 
I had the Tamron 17-35 f2.8-f4 on my D700 and loved it's width, not as sharp as Nikon lenses but a good trade off with price and a little work in lightroom.
77MM filters came in handy, Tried the Sigma 12-24 which was too wide, high curved distortion and no filters.
You should be able to pick a used Tamron for around £175 if you dont like it sell it on as you will not loose anything on price.
 
I want a 14-24 f2.8 now! ........... Maybe the 30mm f1.8 should go to make way for it :)
 
I had a 10-20 on my D70, but when I bought a D700, I bought a 2nd hand Sigma 14mm. I did consider the 12-24 Sigma, but it was slightly out of my price range, plus I found that when I had the 10-20, I rarely zoomed it beyond 10mm anyway. The 14mm is a tad soft at the edges, but for the money, it's excellent value, especially compared with the Nikon 14mm.
 
I am thinking that a 20mm prime, be it AF or MF would be the answer to my question. Anyone used the Voigtlander 20mm f/3.5 on the D700?
 
raider2727 said:
77MM filters came in handy, Tried the Sigma 12-24 which was too wide, high curved distortion and no filters.
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Curved distortion? I'm surprised you get that in any noticeable amount, especially on an APS-C sensor. There are plenty of converging verticals if you're shooting up at all but the correction of barrel distortion in a lens this wide is pretty good.
As for filters, they CAN be used. Not screw in ones (although for crop sensors, the inner cap can be removed to leave a screw thread in the bucket) but gels, cut to fit using the template supplied.

cowasaki said:
I want a 14-24 f2.8 now!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say no to one but at £1235 (Mifsuds new price), I'll live without it. Besides, I'm very happy with the Sigma!
 
I have the Tamron 17-35mm, wide open the corners are soft but for the price it's pretty good.

Deliberated between the Nikon 20mm and 24mm and ended up going for the 24mm, sharp and light weight lens, perfect for travelling. There's a little bit of softness wide open but stop it down and it's gone.
 
Steveo_Hants said:
I am thinking that a 20mm prime, be it AF or MF would be the answer to my question. Anyone used the Voigtlander 20mm f/3.5 on the D700?
Click to expand...

I was looking that those, but I ended up with a 20mm f/3.5 AI-S - super lens and its tiny.

The Voightlander should be very nice, but you don't really need a "CPU" to meter on the D700, as you can meter with an AI-S lenses just fine.

Nikon's best wide prime by miles is the 28mm f/2.8 AI-S (avoid the AI or the AF-N or AF-D).
 
Arkady said:
35mm f2 is good and cheap-ish...
The 20mm, 24mm and 28mm f/2.8 lenses are also good for the money...

To be honest I'd still try and find a good 2nd hand 17-35 f/2.8 as it's having a bit of a resurgance due to the new FX bodies being used by pros...
It was always a brilliant lens but got put to the back of the cupboard when FX cameras were in use (not by me - I used it all the time...lol).
Click to expand...

agreed i have the 35 for its bit of extra speed at gigs
and a 24mm my next lens will be a 20mm
 
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