Wide angle lens - Nikkor brand worth it?

[coombzy]

I've been pouring over reviews on wide angle lenses and am getting yanked back and forth between the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 and Nikkor's more expensive 10-24mm. It seems like if you get a good one, the Tokina is perfectly respectable not to mention the faster capabilities. However, I like the versatility in Nikkor's. I haven't had the opportunity to test them both, merely compare photos and am impressed. Does anyone know how common it is to get a bad apple of a Tokina? It seems awfully common but if you think about it, the happy customers wouldn't be complaining/posting which could easily be the majority. I'm wondering if the extra money might be worth it for ensured quality. Some people say they don't use third party lenses but I never see an explanation.

[Celt64]

I read your post and thought I would share my experience with my Tokina 11-16. I too went through the process of which lens to buy. There were few reviews on Amazon when I bought mine. The couple examples of photos looked okay but who's to say what you're really going to get yourself.

Well, I went with the Tokina purely on economic considerations and can tell you that I'm very happy with the out come. I'm on the road and don't have access to all the photos I've taken with this lens but I did have one in my portable hard drive I took of the Annex Building at the Virgina Museum of Fine Art.

Link: DPS assigmnets - PDMurphy's Photos- powered by SmugMug

I wish I had something I could add about the Nikkor but, I've never shot with one.

Regards,

P

I just noticed, the other photo in the set attached to that link (view from on the motorcycle) was shot with the Tokina also. The one thing to remember is the Tokina might not auto focus with your D40. It won't with my D3000.

[kirbinster]

Does the Tokina have a motor in the body - if not it will only autofocus on your D90 not your D40. What do you plan to use this lens for? I ask because if it is mainly for landscape work you probably don't need a fast lens and the Sigma 10-20mm HSM might work nicely for you and it has a motor in the lens.

[coombzy]

Thanks so much for the feedback! The Tokina does seem to perform well provided you get a good one! I really do love those shots, thank you P!

The lack of internal motor would be just fine as the D40 is only around as a backup camera now. Poor thing. Landscape was my original intent, yes, but I keep reading that the wide angle tends to be requested for a shot or two in weddings. I was just offered a job in the States to shoot one and now I wonder if perhaps I need the wider aperture.