Wide angle lens for a D80?

[C.Barr]

I'm really wanting to buy a wide angle lens for my D80. Right now the best looking lens and deal to me seems to be the Sigma 10-20mm on Amazon

Right now I've currently got:

• Nikkor 18-135mm
• Nikkor 50mm 1.8
• Nikkor 70-300mm

So if I were to buy this it would be my first non-Nikon lens and also the most I've spent on a lens yet! I'm trying to get more into some for-profit gigs (weddings & other events) and I'd like to have a wide angle to be able to get a wide variety of shots - plus I'm headed out to Las Vegas next month which is a rare opportunity for me and I've love to get some great shots there.

Has anyone used this lens, or can you recommend another good one? Really, I'd like something that will do well in low light, and the f/4-5.6 on this one is the only other thing that worries me.

[Digidave]

Has anyone used this lens, or can you recommend another good one? Really, I'd like something that will do well in low light, and the f/4-5.6 on this one is the only other thing that worries me.

You have good reason to be worried if you plan on using this lens indoors, in low light, & don't want to use a flash. If you plan on using a flash, you will need an external flash, because the lens will cast a shadow if you use the built in flash of your camera. I too own a D80 & bought myself the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. Absolutely love it! I'm just an average photographer & find that this lens has limited uses but for your needs, I think it would good addition to your arsenal. It is a hard lens to find though but well worth the effort.

11-16mm pics on Flickr

[Taallyn]

I had the same lens set as you do when I was looking for an ultra-wide angle lens. I narrowed it down the Sigma 10-20mm and the Tokina 11-16mm as DigiDave mentioned. I ended up getting the Sigma just due to availability at the time. No one local to me carries Tokina lenses, and my normal on-line dealers did not have the in stock.

I don't think that you would go wrong with either lens. If low light performance is an issue, then get the Tokina if you can. However, usually only use the lens for outdoors work where I would be using a tripod anyway. Thus, the constant aperture wasn't as important for me.

[kirbinster]

I've got the Sigma 10-20 HSM and it is a really nice well made lens. That said, my primary use is for landscape work where there is typically plenty of light. Inside for low light you want to use flash anyway. Another WIDE lens I love is my Nikon 10.5mm fisheye. You can get rid of the fisheye effect with software if you don't like it. The fisheye is super wide!

[C.Barr]

I do own an SB-600 flash, so I'm not too worried about low light situations, but there are of course times when you can't use a flash and I need a good low light lens that goes back farther than 50mm. This makes the Tonika 11-16mm more tempting to me, but it's about $200 more than the Sigma.

Decisions decisions.....

For those that already own either of these, would you mind posting links to some sample shots? The tiny pictures on Amazon don't really help me out!

Thanks for the input guys, that will really help my decision.

[kirbinster]

Just go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigma10-20/ which is the Flickr group for the sigma 10-20 HSM lens. There are over 5,000 members and over 72,000 pictures taken with the lens there.

[RussHeath]

Absolutely love my Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. I considered the Sigma lens too, and decided that I could give up a few mm of zoom for another stop of aperture. I'm very happy with my decision. A word of warning: it's tough to use wide angle lenses well. Most people don't get close enough to their subjects to really get the most out of these things. Make sure to read and practice with the lens or you won't get your money's worth on either . . .







My Sample Shot Gallery

[OsmosisStudios]

The sigma is fairly soft.

Ideally, swing for the Nikon 12-24 for sharpness. It's pricy though, and if that's a hurdle, then the Tokina is a close second. The sigma only beat out the tamron, and only just.

[RussHeath]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The sigma is fairly soft.

Ideally, swing for the Nikon 12-24 for sharpness. It's pricy though, and if that's a hurdle, then the Tokina is a close second. The sigma only beat out the tamron, and only just.

Actually, it depends on who you read and what reviewers you believe, but most independent sources consider the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 to be substantially sharper than Nikon's 12-24. That is definitely the case at f/4, which makes sense as that is wide open for the Nikon and slightly stopped down for the Tokina. Are you thinking of the older Tokina 12-24? That one is also a good lens, but a very different beast.

[C.Barr]

I was very tempted to order the Tonika 11-16mm the other night and now I wish I had! It's now out of stock both at Amazon and B&H.

From what you guys have said about it, thats probably going to be my choice....once I can order it again anyway...

Thanks again.