Wide angle lens- please help

[hinklej]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to DPS, so I'm sorry if this question has already been asked and I just missed it.

I bought a Nikon D90 this past summer and fell in love. I've been into photography for a couple of years now, and I am finally getting serious with the purchase of my D90. I really want to get into landscape/ outdoor photography (I'm a rock climber), and I want to buy a wide angle lens. However, the more I research, the more I realize I really have no clue what I want.
Does anyone have a suggestion of what type of/ which wide angle lens I should get for my D90? Wide angle zoom vs. fixed focal length? Nikon lens for my Nikon camera? I have maximum $1000 to spend on this lens (but I'd be happier if it was no more than $800).
Any suggestions or places to start would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much for any advice
Jenn

[corvus2606]

I'd suggest you look at prime lenses, a nice 16 or 32mm wide aperture lens would serve well for what you would want.

[OsmosisStudios]

Depends on how wide. If you're talking ultra-wide, Nikon have 2 options for you: 12-24 and 10-24, both zooms, both fairly small. Both are excellent as well. Both are in your budget (the 12-24 more so, but not as wide)

If you go off brand your best bets are the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 (fast aperture, short range) and the Sigma 10-20 (Slower aperture, good range).

[zona5101]

Nikon 10-24, its a little slow but for outdoors s/b good to go. Also check Sigma 10-20. In most cases I'd lean towards a zoom because you can't frame with your feet when you're hanging on to a rock face

[sk66]

What kind of climbing are you doing? If it's sports climbing then you'll want as wide as you can get to emphasize height/distance. I use a Sigma 12-24 on a D3..that would be an 8-16 on your camera. For that I would recommend the Sigma 10-20. It's 1/2 the cost of the nikon and reviews just as well, I liked mine on a D300.

Here's an example shot taken at 12mm on a 200ft wall (the rope on the rt is the one I'm on, self belay)


If you are doing big wall stuff like Seneca Rocks etc then you will probably need wide + reach....Two lenses would be best, but an 18-200 might be a good compromise. But with a DX sensor I'd still miss the wide end...(probably even with FX).

I don't think aperture speed is a big concern...at least *I* don't climb when it's raining/crappy....

If your intent is just to take scenics when you get there...then pretty much anything (a longer lens can be used to stitch pano's). Another option to consider for this would be a "tough" P&S. I carry an older olympus 1030 SW if the point is more "climbing" and less "photography".

On a side note,
How are you going to carry the gear? I was using a Tamrac Velocity sling bag (2 lenses and body) but it was quite cumbersome, especially when hauling a sling w/ cams or a rope along. Or I would just sling my D3 on a R-strap (one lens; banged the camera a bit and I was being careful).
I'm hoping I have a better "on the wall" system figured out (one lens bag and camera w/ lens attached on a spider clip)

I took a good swing onto my camera once, that HURT!....I now have gear insurance.

[hinklej]

That's a really beautiful shot!
And I guess this is about the climbing, but capturing it with good photography...?
As for climbing with my camera- I always have it in a small, soft case (or just wrapped in a sweater) and then put it in my day pack, only taking it out at ancors usually. Being on lead, I can usually get my friend to carry the extra rope or gear if necessary. I guess my system isn't perfect, but I try to keep it light because I'm usually on big wall trad. that's why I like the idea of a prime lens, keeping it even lighter (but that might just be the climber in me looking for any place to shave off even a few ozs- I'd rather carry the extra weight and have better pictures than be frusterated with the prime lens- if I would be frustrated).
I'm also planning on doing a lot of traveling over seas soon and I want to have a nice wide lens for the senics/ hiking. Basically, I guess I want this lens for a lot of purposes, but mainly outdoor, really wide shots. I'd be happy with having two different lenses for this purpose, I might not be able to get them both right now ... but I'm ok with waiting/ saving if it'll be better for what I want. Maybe get two primes? or one prime and zoom?

thanks so much to everyone for the advice! It's been really helpful! and I'm getting really excited for my new lens

[IABoomer]

Originally Posted by sk66

What kind of climbing are you doing? If it's sports climbing then you'll want as wide as you can get to emphasize height/distance. I use a Sigma 12-24 on a D3..that would be an 8-16 on your camera. For that I would recommend the Sigma 10-20. It's 1/2 the cost of the nikon and reviews just as well, I liked mine on a D300.

Correct me if I'm wrong re: the bolded statement above, but wouldn't a 12-24 full frame lens give you a field of view more like an 18-36 on a crop sensor camera?

[hinklej]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Correct me if I'm wrong re: the bolded statement above, but wouldn't a 12-24 full frame lens give you a field of view more like an 18-36 on a crop sensor camera?

Being new to this, would you mind explaining what that means? In either case... what is a crop senor camera?

[IABoomer]

Originally Posted by hinklej

Being new to this, would you mind explaining what that means? In either case... what is a crop senor camera?

Good writeup on the main DPS site: http://www.digital-photography-schoo...ctor-explained

[sk66]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Correct me if I'm wrong re: the bolded statement above, but wouldn't a 12-24 full frame lens give you a field of view more like an 18-36 on a crop sensor camera?

Nope, the full frame would be "wider" w/ the same lens...to get the same view you need wider on a crop sensor.