UWA Lens Choice for D300

neilos100

neilos100

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Neil
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Hi All,

As the title suggests, I'm in the market for an ultra-wide for my D300 and I have narrowed it down to three possible choices.....but this is where the going round in circles begins! :bang:
The lenses in question are:
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
Nikon 10-24 f/3.5-4.5
Nikon 12-24 f/4

There is actually a fourth, the Tokina 12-24 but I reckon the Nikon equivalent may be the better choice?

I can afford the Tokina 11-16 new, but the Nikons would have to be used...

I've read the usual review By Thom, Ken etc etc and each seems to be pretty good....does anyone have any real world experience they could share please?
Any suggestions as to what would be the best bet?
My other lenses are the Nikon 18-70 and 70-300VR.

Indecisions, indecisions.....:shrug:

Many thanks,


Neil
 
I've tried the Nikon 12-24 and owned the Tokina 11-16 until I went full frame (had a D300 as it happens).

If buying again it would be the Tokina. It is possibly the most impressive lens I've ever owned. I was expecting excellent IQ when I bought mine but what is really surprising is the sheer quality of the construction. It feels like it's built to last a long, long time. On the image front, fairly sharp wide open and superb by 5.6, in fact not a great deal of point venturing much narrower. I really liked the colours/contrast and distortion was very well controlled compared to other ultra wide lenses I've used since. I probably sound like a Tokina PR guy here but it was probably the one lens that I really regret having to part with.

The 12-24, a friend owns so I used it a few times before I bought my Tokina. In a world where the Tokina didn't exist, I'd highly recommend it but I think the Tokina does everything at least as well (except range), some things better and for less money.
 
A good selection but like you say tough one to make a decision on. Have you also considered the Sigma 10-20 or ruled it out yet?

I had a Sigma for a while it was a great lens allowed you to get up close and still get some cracking images at 10mm.

What are you going to be using the lens for will it be landscapes or interior shots?

Just thinking if interiors 10mm might be better than 12mm specially if space is tight.

Unfortuantely I have no experience of the three listed but if it was me I would probably go for the Nikon 10-24 due to the reviews I have seen say it's a good lens plus the range it gives but then if you have 18-70 covered the Tokina 11-16 would avoid an overlap.
 
If there's any chance of you going FF in the next year or 2, I would strongly suggest the Sigma 12-24 - usual Sigma warnings apply, although I've never had a problem with any of mine. Other than that, the choice is yours from whatever the market offers these days!

Managed to get my GAS under control so less familiar with current options than I used to be!
 
neilos100 said:
Hi All,

As the title suggests, I'm in the market for an ultra-wide for my D300 and I have narrowed it down to three possible choices.....but this is where the going round in circles begins! :bang:
The lenses in question are:
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
Nikon 10-24 f/3.5-4.5
Nikon 12-24 f/4

There is actually a fourth, the Tokina 12-24 but I reckon the Nikon equivalent may be the better choice?

I can afford the Tokina 11-16 new, but the Nikons would have to be used...

I've read the usual review By Thom, Ken etc etc and each seems to be pretty good....does anyone have any real world experience they could share please?
Any suggestions as to what would be the best bet?
My other lenses are the Nikon 18-70 and 70-300VR.

Indecisions, indecisions.....:shrug:

Many thanks,


Neil
Click to expand...

Sigma 8-16mm.
 
I was given the sigma 10-20 unseen as a present but never got on with it - the reason being the zoom and focus controls are swapped round compared to my other nikon lenses. ie the zoom control on the nikons is furthest from the camera whereas on the sigma the zoom is nearest the camera with the focus where I was expecting the zoom to be.

Was fortunate as was able to sell this for what we paid via ebay and I got a second-hand Nikon 12-24/4 for the same sort of money. This has virtually lived on my D7000 since I got it and been ever so pleased with it.

I don't know what the tokina lens is like controls wise but this may be something to consider if it is different to your nikons.
 
Well, thank you for all your help chaps.
I decided on a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 and just purchased a nearly new one off ebay with three Hoya Pro-1 filters included.
Very happy indeed and now cant wait to get the thing....off to Paris for a few days in a couple of weeks so I'll have a good chance to experiment with it there.

Many thanks for all the suggestions...

Cheers,

Neil
 
neilos100 said:
Well, thank you for all your help chaps.
I decided on a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 and just purchased a nearly new one off ebay with three Hoya Pro-1 filters included.
Very happy indeed and now cant wait to get the thing....off to Paris for a few days in a couple of weeks so I'll have a good chance to experiment with it there.

Many thanks for all the suggestions...

Cheers,

Neil
Click to expand...

Excellent choice...you will love it :thumbs:

And enjoy all that Paris has to offer....not just the photography opportunities..
 
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