'Starter' Wide Angle Lens

[yellowdog]

Newbie question here.

Which wide angle lens should I start with? The Nikon Singapore website has a few below

AF 14mm f/2.8D ED LIST PRICE : SIN$3250
AF 18mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$2360
AF 20mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$1020
AF 24mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$680

AF 28mm f/1.4D LIST PRICE : SIN$3215
AF 28mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$450
AF 35mm f/2D LIST PRICE : SIN$585

Should I base my purchase solely on price alone? What's the difference between the AF 28mm f/2.8D and the 35mm f/2D?

Are there other alternatives I should consider ? I plan to use this mainly for portraits (eg. in enclosed spaces, group photos etc. & landscapes).

[icarus]

U film user or digital user?
If digital, then only the 14mm and 18mm will be useful... the rest are not so wide after the 1.5crop factor. U need at least 17mm on digital to get 28mm...
For film, the cheapest and good wide angle will be the AF 24/2.8

Originally Posted by yellowdog Newbie question here. Which wide angle lens should I start with? The Nikon Singapore website has a few below AF 14mm f/2.8D ED LIST PRICE : SIN$3250 AF 18mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$2360 AF 20mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$1020 AF 24mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$680 AF 28mm f/1.4D LIST PRICE : SIN$3215 AF 28mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$450 AF 35mm f/2D LIST PRICE : SIN$585 Should I base my purchase solely on price alone? What's the difference between the AF 28mm f/2.8D and the 35mm f/2D? Are there other alternatives I should consider ? I plan to use this mainly for portraits (eg. in enclosed spaces, group photos etc. & landscapes).

[yellowdog]

I'm a digital user. Do you mean there's really no point for the rest as it won't make any difference?

Jia lat, how in the world am I going to afford a lens like that . Must look for secondhand liao.

Originally Posted by icarus U film user or digital user? If digital, then only the 14mm and 18mm will be useful... the rest are not so wide after the 1.5crop factor. U need at least 17mm on digital to get 28mm... For film, the cheapest and good wide angle will be the AF 24/2.8

[agape01]

Do consider the AFS 12-24.

[yellowdog]

Originally Posted by agape01 Do consider the AFS 12-24.

How is the AF range different from the AFS range?

[icarus]

Originally Posted by yellowdog How is the AF range different from the AFS range?

Not sure if this is the answer you are looking for but AFS range of lenses have silent wave motors so its almost silent when focusing, AF lenses are slightly noisier.

Back to the wideangle topic, it comes down to how wide u want?
If 28mm is ok for u, then a low-priced AF-S 18-70DX will be more than enough for u
I echo apage01's suggestion,u just go for the best - get the Nikon 12-24DX and forget the rest.

[initialE24]

how abt Sigma 10-20mm?

[vkashi]

do you already have lenses that you got with the kit (assuming you bought a digital kit). i am asking because the wide angle you chose will depend a lot on your shooting style. and hence it makes sense to first find out what range you tend to use, and for this purpose the 18-70 or even the 18-55 is perfectly fine. once you get to know your preferences, you can invest in a prime or the wide zooms.

people use anywhere from an 18mm to even 85mm for indoor people shots. of course the difference is whether you want indoor group shots, single person body shots, only heads etc. etc.

the 20mm and above primes would not be very useful for landscape shots as they are not wide angles on digital bodies.

kashi

[mohgui]

you can also consider the Tokina ATX-Pro 12-24 f/4 which cost around $950. if you are a hardcore Nikon guy, then sad to say you must spend quite a sum to get those wonderful babies.

i want to be a hardcore Nikonian... but sometimes, my pocket don't allow me to do so leh

[rebbot]

Originally Posted by yellowdog Newbie question here. Which wide angle lens should I start with? The Nikon Singapore website has a few below AF 14mm f/2.8D ED LIST PRICE : SIN$3250 AF 18mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$2360 AF 20mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$1020 AF 24mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$680 AF 28mm f/1.4D LIST PRICE : SIN$3215 AF 28mm f/2.8D LIST PRICE : SIN$450 AF 35mm f/2D LIST PRICE : SIN$585 Should I base my purchase solely on price alone? What's the difference between the AF 28mm f/2.8D and the 35mm f/2D? Are there other alternatives I should consider ? I plan to use this mainly for portraits (eg. in enclosed spaces, group photos etc. & landscapes).

I'm going to say something silly here. have you considered the 10.5mm and defishing pictures later on if you do not use it very much. I have used the 16mm and it works really well on a digital back as well with a wide fov if you want a prime. The 12-24mm is a good lens and the person that you want to talk to is watcher.

[TMC]

want to be die hard nikonian only make you die faster

[tjtan]

if shooting landscape, defishing spoils the quality of the pic.

Originally Posted by rebbot I'm going to say something silly here. have you considered the 10.5mm and defishing pictures later on if you do not use it very much. I have used the 16mm and it works really well on a digital back as well with a wide fov if you want a prime. The 12-24mm is a good lens and the person that you want to talk to is watcher.

[yellowdog]

Thanks. That sounds like pretty good advice.

Originally Posted by vkashi do you already have lenses that you got with the kit (assuming you bought a digital kit). i am asking because the wide angle you chose will depend a lot on your shooting style. and hence it makes sense to first find out what range you tend to use, and for this purpose the 18-70 or even the 18-55 is perfectly fine. once you get to know your preferences, you can invest in a prime or the wide zooms. people use anywhere from an 18mm to even 85mm for indoor people shots. of course the difference is whether you want indoor group shots, single person body shots, only heads etc. etc. the 20mm and above primes would not be very useful for landscape shots as they are not wide angles on digital bodies. kashi

[yellowdog]

Thanks for the advice all.

When people told me to prepare to spend a lot after my this foray into photography, they were not kidding .

[cheersjy]

Give Tokina 12-24 a try, chances are you will love it!!

[Ng L.T.]

Yes, Tokina 12-24 is definitely above average!
unless you want to consider more professional and costly products.
It is solidly constructed and produces sharp and vivid images!

[rebbot]

Originally Posted by tjtan if shooting landscape, defishing spoils the quality of the pic.

personal preference I guess depends on how you use it creatively as well. framing us crutical here. its defintely useful in crampy places though.

[tommon]

Please also consider the Tamron 10-17, I have tested the lens, it very good, better that all the other 3rd party lens and priced quite similar.

Tamron produces very fine optics and also good solid build.

[sfhuang]

please here please there. you guys talk like you are selling the lenses!

Anyway a starter wide angle lens that I would highly recommend is the Tokina 12-24mm. But if you want higher resale value, get the Nikon 12-24mm.

* The 10.5mm is super cool but I don't think you're looking for a fisheye - yet.

[rebbot]

Originally Posted by sfhuang please here please there. you guys talk like you are selling the lenses! Anyway a starter wide angle lens that I would highly recommend is the Tokina 12-24mm. But if you want higher resale value, get the Nikon 12-24mm. * The 10.5mm is super cool but I don't think you're looking for a fisheye - yet.

opps