opinions on the following WA lenses pls!!

[Murcielago]

tokina 12-24mm F4

Nikon 28mm F2.8

voigtlander 40mm F2

other choices.

I am thinking of getting a fast wide lens after some disappointing results from the kit lens at night. I've shortlisted the above few and would like the opinions and recommmendations of fellow users here.

thanks.

do add in other recommendations under $650 if u know of any.

thanks again

[calebk]

You're shooting on digital yes?

Actually, what so disappointing about your kit lens at night? Care to share the photos?

[zac08]

28 isn't very wide on a digital... on a Nikon, it'll be about 42mm already...

So you'd need to look for wider alternatives...

[posez]

Originally Posted by zac08 28 isn't very wide on a digital... on a Nikon, it'll be about 42mm already... So you'd need to look for wider alternatives...

Agree - 28mm will certainly be inadequate. 40mm even worse - that's not wide at all!

You may want to consider the Tokina 12-24 or the Sigma 10-20. Both very capable lenses. Not quite $650, but not far away. Reviews can be found all over the net.

[Murcielago]

oh yes, i am shooting on digital correct. using D70s now.
disappointing as in focusing speed and accuracy(accuracy sometimes off). the lens easily goes up to f4.5 when shooting above 20mm iirc. so that makes shooting at night difficult, esp street shooting. flash is out of the question for streets itself. hence iso goes up to 1600 and i end up with grainy shots.

software can remove noise, but how much noise can it remove ? and it takes time.

i realised frm my shots i seldom exceed 35mm and never exceeded 40mm. so i am looking for <40mm with big aperture.

28mm on a DX lens is really 28mm or 28mm * 1.5x crop factor ? all my focal lengths are based on the cam's readings.

so u guys are saying a AF 28mm lens is like 42mm on a DX lens?

[Loupisk]

I have the sigma 10-20mm and I am very happy!

There is a Tokina 12-24mm for sale at 650$ at the second hand shop of the adeplphi at basement one. Grab it !

[posez]

Originally Posted by Murcielago oh yes, i am shooting on digital correct. using D70s now. disappointing as in focusing speed and accuracy(accuracy sometimes off). the lens easily goes up to f4.5 when shooting above 20mm iirc. so that makes shooting at night difficult, esp street shooting. flash is out of the question for streets itself. hence iso goes up to 1600 and i end up with grainy shots. software can remove noise, but how much noise can it remove ? and it takes time. i realised frm my shots i seldom exceed 35mm and never exceeded 40mm. so i am looking for <40mm with big aperture. 28mm on a DX lens is really 28mm or 28mm * 1.5x crop factor ? all my focal lengths are based on the cam's readings. so u guys are saying a AF 28mm lens is like 42mm on a DX lens?

On the Nikon APS sensor? Everything is * 1.5. So 10-20mm will become 15-30mm and 12-24mm will become 18-36mm (approximately lah, not exactly 1.5)

[lovells19]

get a 50 f1.4

[Yatlapball]

Handheld, street, night... what a challenging combination. I don't think even an aperture of 2.8 will help. You need to go wider than that.

A few lenses comes to mind based on your usual range used. Sigma 30/1.4, Nikkor 35/2, 50/1.4 or 50/1.8

Admittedly they are not very wide. But if you're thinking about taking night landscapes using a wide angle, you really should be using a tripod anyway. Not handholding.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by Murcielago oh yes, i am shooting on digital correct. using D70s now. disappointing as in focusing speed and accuracy(accuracy sometimes off). the lens easily goes up to f4.5 when shooting above 20mm iirc. so that makes shooting at night difficult, esp street shooting. flash is out of the question for streets itself. hence iso goes up to 1600 and i end up with grainy shots. software can remove noise, but how much noise can it remove ? and it takes time. i realised frm my shots i seldom exceed 35mm and never exceeded 40mm. so i am looking for <40mm with big aperture. 28mm on a DX lens is really 28mm or 28mm * 1.5x crop factor ? all my focal lengths are based on the cam's readings. so u guys are saying a AF 28mm lens is like 42mm on a DX lens?

Sounds like user understanding equipment more than equipment limitations.

User knowledge will tell you to place your camera on a tripod or some stable surface when shooting a long exposure, and not boosing your ISO levels to get a handholdable shutter speed.

Also, any lens' focal length is cropped on a DX sensor. So your last statement is actually inaccurate.

Any 28mm lens, DX or fullframe, is cropped to give you an equivalent angle of view as a 42mm lens.

[jnet6]

Originally Posted by Murcielago oh yes, i am shooting on digital correct. using D70s now. disappointing as in focusing speed and accuracy(accuracy sometimes off). the lens easily goes up to f4.5 when shooting above 20mm iirc. so that makes shooting at night difficult, esp street shooting. flash is out of the question for streets itself. hence iso goes up to 1600 and i end up with grainy shots. software can remove noise, but how much noise can it remove ? and it takes time. i realised frm my shots i seldom exceed 35mm and never exceeded 40mm. so i am looking for <40mm with big aperture. 28mm on a DX lens is really 28mm or 28mm * 1.5x crop factor ? all my focal lengths are based on the cam's readings. so u guys are saying a AF 28mm lens is like 42mm on a DX lens?

What does your 40mm mean? actual lens or after crop factor ?
when you know yr stuff well, you can choose yr lenses better.
2lenses that i've in mind.
(DX)12-24 F4 or 17-35 F2.8

[shark]

Originally Posted by Loupisk I have the sigma 10-20mm and I am very happy! There is a Tokina 12-24mm for sale at 650$ at the second hand shop of the adeplphi at basement one. Grab it !

Hi Loupisk,

Can you share some of your picture taken from the sigma 10-20mm. Something taken at 10mm will be good. Thanks!

[jeff3tan]

Originally Posted by jnet6 What does your 40mm mean? actual lens or after crop factor ? when you know yr stuff well, you can choose yr lenses better. 2lenses that i've in mind. (DX)12-24 F4 or 17-35 F2.8

I think u are refering to Tokina 12-24 and a Sigma 17-35 right?

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by jeff3tan I think u are refering to Tokina 12-24 and a Sigma 17-35 right?

nikkor 12-24 f4 and 17-35 f2.8.

[intregra2509]

Originally Posted by posez On the Nikon APS sensor? Everything is * 1.5. So 10-20mm will become 15-30mm and 12-24mm will become 18-36mm (approximately lah, not exactly 1.5)

does u mean that for my 18-135mm has already covered the 12-24 range already ?

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by intregra2509 does u mean that for my 18-135mm has already covered the 12-24 range already ?

o gosh, its x 1.5... not divide 1.5... 18-135 will give you a 27-200 view on ur d70s

[Murcielago]

Originally Posted by calebk Sounds like user understanding equipment more than equipment limitations. User knowledge will tell you to place your camera on a tripod or some stable surface when shooting a long exposure, and not boosing your ISO levels to get a handholdable shutter speed. Also, any lens' focal length is cropped on a DX sensor. So your last statement is actually inaccurate. Any 28mm lens, DX or fullframe, is cropped to give you an equivalent angle of view as a 42mm lens.

hmm i think i wasnt clear in my posts i mean equivalent view or 42mm. sorry..engrossed with catching with prison break.

thanks for the tripod and stable surface advice but in places like ximending and shilin, it's too cumbersome and bulky for tripods and crowds and having to travel with a grp makes it hard for me to use a stable surface.

Originally Posted by jnet6 What does your 40mm mean? actual lens or after crop factor ? when you know yr stuff well, you can choose yr lenses better. 2lenses that i've in mind. (DX)12-24 F4 or 17-35 F2.8

EDIT: after.


17-35 is too expensive for now. i am only drawing nsf pay here.

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by Murcielago hmm i think i wasnt clear in my posts i mean equivalent view or 42mm. sorry..engrossed with catching with prison break. thanks for the tripod and stable surface advice but in places like ximending and shilin, it's too cumbersome and bulky for tripods and crowds and having to travel with a grp makes it hard for me to use a stable surface. EDIT: after. 17-35 is too expensive for now. i am only drawing nsf pay here.

tamron 28-75? great lens to use.

[MÝ Ðë©ËMBëR®]

i'll stick to my tokina 12-24mm f/4 period...

[zac08]

Originally Posted by Murcielago hmm i think i wasnt clear in my posts i mean equivalent view or 42mm. sorry..engrossed with catching with prison break. thanks for the tripod and stable surface advice but in places like ximending and shilin, it's too cumbersome and bulky for tripods and crowds and having to travel with a grp makes it hard for me to use a stable surface. EDIT: after. 17-35 is too expensive for now. i am only drawing nsf pay here.

Consider the 12-24 then... Nikon or Tokina