Can you recommend a wide angle lens?

[Ensleygirl]

Hi! I have a Nikon D200, a 50 f1.8, and a 55-200. I do portrait photography so those do well. I am thinking about purchasing a wide angle lens for fun stuff, so it doesn't have to be the best on the market. Just something to play around with. Would love your recommendations! Thanks!!

[kirbinster]

The original Sigma 10-20mm is a great lens. It is sharper than the newer fixed f/stop one and great for outdoor shooting. It was my favorite lens until I replaced it with a Sigma 12-24 when I went full frame.

[ravncat]

The Tokina 11-16 is also a very nice lens, it was comparable price with the 10-20 when i bought it, but that was in japan. So im not sure of the US retail.

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by ravncat

The Tokina 11-16 is also a very nice lens, it was comparable price with the 10-20 when i bought it, but that was in japan. So im not sure of the US retail.

While the Tokina may be a great lens, why would you suggest it over one that is both wider and longer if image quality is similar?

[TheEagleSpirit]

Originally Posted by Ensleygirl

Hi! I have a Nikon D200, a 50 f1.8, and a 55-200. I do portrait photography so those do well. I am thinking about purchasing a wide angle lens for fun stuff, so it doesn't have to be the best on the market. Just something to play around with. Would love your recommendations! Thanks!!

I use a tamron f-2.8 17-50mm lens for portraits, architecture, and events indoors on my Nikon D90 and D7000. Using Aperature mode or manual I can set my camera from f2.8-f32 for what ever conditions I am in. I also have a nikor F.2.8 70-200mm lens with VR.
Both lenses take care of most situations equally well.

[TheEagleSpirit]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

The original Sigma 10-20mm is a great lens. It is sharper than the newer fixed f/stop one and great for outdoor shooting. It was my favorite lens until I replaced it with a Sigma 12-24 when I went full frame.

can you please leave me a private message about your 85mm f1.4 lens and tell me what you use it for? I have a nikon D90 and D7000 I wish to use it on and want some dependable advice before spending that kind of money.

[kirbinster]

No I can't! When I try to I get the following message:

"TheEagleSpirit has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her."

So, here goes - I don't have an 85mm f/1.4 but I do have an 85mm f/1.8. Quite frankly I don't see the added value in going from f/1.8 to f/1.4 for the huge price difference. I don't use the lens that often, but find it very useful for concerts and other venues where I want some discrete reach as the lens is physically very shot. Its a very sharp lens and I do recommend the f/1.8. I picked mine up used for about $300.

[Ensleygirl]

Thank you all for your suggestions! Off to check them out!

[ravncat]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

While the Tokina may be a great lens, why would you suggest it over one that is both wider and longer if image quality is similar?

I was suggesting an alternative

Though if I had to give reasons for selecting it over the 10-20 I would say for it's strengths

Sharper in center
2.8 is nice for lower light situations
No mustache distortion, overall less distortion
Very solid build.
Slightly cooler color renditions, more nikon like than the warmer sigma

I can give reasons for the sigma as well,
Sigma is lighter weight and smaller
More range
Less chromatic aberrations

I don't know about the new version though. I haven't used it. The two have slightly different optimized roles, I think