Birthday gift ideas (for me)

[AndyKH]

Hi everyone, i'm rapidly approaching my 3oth birthday, i've been asked what 'special' gift I would like from my mother/sister/father. I've been racking my brain trying to think of something special but keep getting stumped. My sister suggested something for the camera, this got me thinking, I really fancy a UWA but can't decide which one. The reviews of this seem to be consistantly good:-
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sigma-10-20mm-...

as do the reviews on this
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tamron-10-24mm...

I like the fact the sigma has a Largeish aperture throughout the zoom range too but is it worth the extra £70 ?

And on the subject of extra cost, is it worth the extra £100 (over the sigma) for the Tokina?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tokina-11-16mm...

[Speed addicted]

I've got the Sigma and can't really fault it. Mine is the F4. It produces good images for a reasonable outlay, and feels well made.





These are from december.

[daveake]

I have the earlier version of the Sigma, and love it. Sharp, focusses quickly, and feels well built.

I use it a lot at the wide end; if I was in the market now I'd definitely want something that goes as wide as 10mm.

[Speed addicted]

I got mine as I was getting frustrated with the 18-55 kit lens while trying to get landscaps and sunsets in.
This does fix that problem nicely and I use it a fair bit (to the point where I quite often just take this and the 100mm macro when going for a walk). I would also want something with a similarly wide angle if I was buyig again.

[tinman0]

AndyKH said:

And on the subject of extra cost, is it worth the extra £100 (over the sigma) for the Tokina?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tokina-11-16mm...

Yes. No. Maybe. When I bought a UWA a year ago I went through all the reviews, and in the end went for the Tokina 11-16 ATX.

The two in person (not salesman) recommendations that I liked was that it was "stupidly sharp" (which it is), and that the build quality was absolutely brilliant (which it is). The build quality is better than my Sigma pro something or other lens. Way above it. Another PHer round here tried the lens and can confirm that I'm not just saying it. The Tokina build quality really is very very good.

Is it worth the extra for build quality - yes. The zoom and focus rings are just silky smooth.

However, all the online reviews I came across put all the UWAs on similar high levels. I think the Tokina 11-16 came out best, but not by much.

At the end of the day, all the UWAs on the market are extremely good.

[Zebrano]

tinman0 said:

AndyKH said:

And on the subject of extra cost, is it worth the extra £100 (over the sigma) for the Tokina?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tokina-11-16mm...

Yes. No. Maybe. When I bought a UWA a year ago I went through all the reviews, and in the end went for the Tokina 11-16 ATX.

The two in person (not salesman) recommendations that I liked was that it was "stupidly sharp" (which it is), and that the build quality was absolutely brilliant (which it is). The build quality is better than my Sigma pro something or other lens. Way above it. Another PHer round here tried the lens and can confirm that I'm not just saying it. The Tokina build quality really is very very good.

Is it worth the extra for build quality - yes. The zoom and focus rings are just silky smooth.

However, all the online reviews I came across put all the UWAs on similar high levels. I think the Tokina 11-16 came out best, but not by much.

At the end of the day, all the UWAs on the market are extremely good.

I agree.

[Gad-Westy]

I noticed the other day that Sigma do an 8mm-16mm UWA. It's seems to be in the Tokina price bracket. No idea if it's actually any good but maybe one to research...

[AndyKH]

Thanks for the response guys. I think the Tokina may be pushing the limit a touch, cost wise. I've got until April to decide, just thought i'd start the research now. Any chance of a few example shots? I'm particularly interested in fun distortion on portraits and nice landscapes.

[GetCarter]

IMHO The best gift you could ever get for your 30th is the advice to make the most from the next 10 years, cos they'll go in the blink of an eye.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 19th January 17:24

[AndyKH]

You should feel proud that you just gave a complete stranger,what you consider to be, the best gift getcarter. Thankyou for that.