Need a wide angle for D300
Discussion
Chaps, starting a new business and I'm going to be needing to take some shots of interiors to showcase our work. Think along the lines of real estate / Estate Agent type photography that isn't horrible. I'll save the questions on lighting for now 
I've a few others, but the Nikon 18-200mm is my go-to everyday lens. None of the others are much wider save for the fisheye, so I'll be needing a new wide angle.
Currently interested in the 10-24mm Nikon lens, but I've been told to look at Tokina - never used any of their lenses so I'm interested in how they compare to Nikons, as they seem to court a lot of positive words from Ken Rockwell and a few others.
Has anyone used the Tokina wide angles?
I've a few others, but the Nikon 18-200mm is my go-to everyday lens. None of the others are much wider save for the fisheye, so I'll be needing a new wide angle.
Currently interested in the 10-24mm Nikon lens, but I've been told to look at Tokina - never used any of their lenses so I'm interested in how they compare to Nikons, as they seem to court a lot of positive words from Ken Rockwell and a few others.
Has anyone used the Tokina wide angles?
I have the Tokina 11-16 2.8, which I bought 2 years ago after reading many glowing reviews stating that it was better than Nikon's own equivalent.
It does not disappoint at all.
The build quality and feeling is immense, an absolute tank of a lens.
I find it very very sharp and the colours/contrast are excellent. Cannot fault the image quality from it whatsoever!
I'm very happy with it overall, just a shame I rarely use it much at the moment, must try harder!
It does not disappoint at all.
The build quality and feeling is immense, an absolute tank of a lens.
I find it very very sharp and the colours/contrast are excellent. Cannot fault the image quality from it whatsoever!
I'm very happy with it overall, just a shame I rarely use it much at the moment, must try harder!
Thanks guys. I'm not sure why I've not looked at Sigma yet, I'll take a peek at the their offerings later today.
In terms of PP, I'm not planning on doing any serious tweaking if I can avoid it as [assuming business goes as planned] I'll have quite a few to process most days. Worth noting that it's not a photography business, merely a property business that will benefit from some nice photography.
I'm still firmly in the 'newbie' category of DSLR snapper, so at this point I'm trying to focus on improving the shots I capture and being less reliant on Photoshop and Lightroom to get the results I'm after.
With regards to distortion, do the simple lens correction tools in Lightroom work well at correcting it with wide angle lenses? I've found them brilliant for the lenses I currently use and TBH I was hoping I could just do a quick lens correction, some minor touch ups and tweaks, spot healing and call it done.
With my fisheye I seem to recall the Nikon software did a passable attempt at sorting it all out [obvious fisheye flaws and vignetting notwithstanding].
Thanks again for the feedback, much appreciated.
Oh and Rob, I had a play with the EOS M after reading your thoughts on Facebook, seriously impressive bit of kit, that.
In terms of PP, I'm not planning on doing any serious tweaking if I can avoid it as [assuming business goes as planned] I'll have quite a few to process most days. Worth noting that it's not a photography business, merely a property business that will benefit from some nice photography.
I'm still firmly in the 'newbie' category of DSLR snapper, so at this point I'm trying to focus on improving the shots I capture and being less reliant on Photoshop and Lightroom to get the results I'm after.
With regards to distortion, do the simple lens correction tools in Lightroom work well at correcting it with wide angle lenses? I've found them brilliant for the lenses I currently use and TBH I was hoping I could just do a quick lens correction, some minor touch ups and tweaks, spot healing and call it done.
With my fisheye I seem to recall the Nikon software did a passable attempt at sorting it all out [obvious fisheye flaws and vignetting notwithstanding].
Thanks again for the feedback, much appreciated.
Oh and Rob, I had a play with the EOS M after reading your thoughts on Facebook, seriously impressive bit of kit, that.
Here is the distortion on the 11-16 at 11mm:
Now all lenses have some distortion, zooms more than primes typically. Zooms tend to barrel at the wide end and pincushion at the narrow end.
This is correctable in software , automatically mostly thesedays, but you will take a hit on resolution and some 'width' so you have to shoot wider beforehand if you are going to correct (to keep the framing).
Convergence happens when you have to point the lens up or down to get it all in, all the vertical lines start to lean in.
This again is correctable in post to some extent but is tricky and typically you will get a huge hit on resolution
Now all lenses have some distortion, zooms more than primes typically. Zooms tend to barrel at the wide end and pincushion at the narrow end.
This is correctable in software , automatically mostly thesedays, but you will take a hit on resolution and some 'width' so you have to shoot wider beforehand if you are going to correct (to keep the framing).
Convergence happens when you have to point the lens up or down to get it all in, all the vertical lines start to lean in.
This again is correctable in post to some extent but is tricky and typically you will get a huge hit on resolution
I've got the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 for Canon and completely agree with NinjaPowers comments. I considered the Sigma 10-20mm but was put off by mixed reviews - it sounded like if you got a good lens it was excellent, if you got a bad one it was rubbish - so I shelled out the extra on the Tokina.
It's a rock solid lens with excellent IQ, and is far and away my favourite bit of glass.
It's a rock solid lens with excellent IQ, and is far and away my favourite bit of glass.
I've heard some mixed reviews for the Sigma, the Tamron is apparently dreadful.
I have the Nikkor 10-24 and it's great. If my body focused properly with the first version (yours does) I'd have been very tempted by the Tokina 11-16mm. It's worth noting there are two versions of the 11-16, the first version doesn't contain a focus motor and the second does (and deals with flare better). If I were you I'd probably go for the first version as it is a fair whack cheaper and you don't need the focus motor. My decision was influenced my the extra range of the 10-24 and the fact that the Tokina MkII wasn't significantly cheaper than the Nikkor.
As for PP. It takes out all noticeable distortion from my 10-24 with one click. As for converging verticals, it might be worth upgrading to Lightroom 5 (as I just have), the upright tool works really well for sorting this out (most of the time), there are some good videos demonstrating it on YouTube.
I have the Nikkor 10-24 and it's great. If my body focused properly with the first version (yours does) I'd have been very tempted by the Tokina 11-16mm. It's worth noting there are two versions of the 11-16, the first version doesn't contain a focus motor and the second does (and deals with flare better). If I were you I'd probably go for the first version as it is a fair whack cheaper and you don't need the focus motor. My decision was influenced my the extra range of the 10-24 and the fact that the Tokina MkII wasn't significantly cheaper than the Nikkor.
As for PP. It takes out all noticeable distortion from my 10-24 with one click. As for converging verticals, it might be worth upgrading to Lightroom 5 (as I just have), the upright tool works really well for sorting this out (most of the time), there are some good videos demonstrating it on YouTube.
Cheers guys, huge help - particularly the distortion pic.
Had a quick play with some shots I borrowed from a mate and after some PP they're great - perfect for what I'm after. Perhaps my eyes aren't quite tuned in for the more minor details but I'm more than happy with it.
I'm leaning towards the Tokina, though I'll take tonight to deliberate and get something ordered tomorrow.
Had a quick play with some shots I borrowed from a mate and after some PP they're great - perfect for what I'm after. Perhaps my eyes aren't quite tuned in for the more minor details but I'm more than happy with it.
I'm leaning towards the Tokina, though I'll take tonight to deliberate and get something ordered tomorrow.
Edited by Stu R on Monday 15th July 19:49
Stu R said:
Just for closures sake, I ended up with the tokina, not had a chance to use it yet, maybe next week!
Would love to see some WA shots - fill yer boots re: sharing
Good man. I'm jealous. I sold mine a while ago and badly want another but a house renovation is putting all toy spending on hold right now.Would love to see some WA shots - fill yer boots re: sharing
Anyway a few from some time ago. Think they're all D300.
_GAD1340 - Version 2 by G.A.D, on Flickr
Chess by G.A.D, on Flickr
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Gad-Westy said:
Good man. I'm jealous. I sold mine a while ago and badly want another but a house renovation is putting all toy spending on hold right now.
Anyway a few from some time ago. Think they're all D300.
_GAD0736 by G.A.D, on Flickr
There was a very nice sailboat tied up there a fortnight or so ago!Anyway a few from some time ago. Think they're all D300.
_GAD0736 by G.A.D, on Flickr
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