[bigshot]

I used to have a manual focus Nikon 50mm 1.2 and the contrast went all milky wide open. Lots of flare problems too. The Nikon 1.4 was much better at 1.4, and the Sigma is even a little better than that. If you really need the extra speed, I suppose the 1.2 is OK, but personally, I don't see the point in a fast lens that has to be stopped down to look good. I sold mine.

 

[dj_mocok]

Should've sold it to me, haha...

No really I saw some pretty interesting shots posted by the owners, but yeah for portrait maybe it is not an effect that you want to do for all your portraits, but it's a great still objects lens.

 

[wanderman]

have you tried the nikkor 58mm 1.2. I love that lens. It is super easy to blur stuff out with that for portraits.

 

[vagarach]

It also costs an arm and a leg! I read on Ken Rockwell that it also has some specialised scientific applications, which is pretty cool.

 

[lan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderman /img/forum/go_quote.gif have you tried the nikkor 58mm 1.2. I love that lens. It is super easy to blur stuff out with that for portraits.

It would help to be on full frame also

 

[Hayduke]

I'm in the market for a wide zoom. Of course, I'll be using it for plenty of landscape shots as that's most of my photography, but I also want to take interiors of buildings/rooms. So I'm kind of the mind of, "as wide as possible". That being said, I'd like your opinions of the various wide zooms. Keep in mind this will be on a APS-C sensored D80, and I don't intend to go to full frame anytime soon, if ever.

I was pretty decided on the Nikon 10-24. The few reviews out there so far are pretty favorable, but I want to at least consider some of the 3rd party lenses. The others that I'm considering are the Sigma 10-20 or the Tamron 10-24. I've ruled out the Tokina because it only goes to 11mm and it has a very small range.

I made $100 shooting pictures of a hotel. They liked the pictures I was able take using my 18mm lens. I suspect I could produce some better images with a wider angle lens. The company that owns this hotel has 10 properties around the Southwest. I think I can swing a deal to visit each property and take photos for them. So if I can get them to pay me ~$100 + travel for each hotel, the lens can pay for itself (even the Nikon).

So should I get the Nikon lens or should I get the Sigma or Tamron and put the $$ saved towards a macro lens (the 105 VR is what I have my eye on)?

 

[M0T0XGUY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayduke /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm in the market for a wide zoom. Of course, I'll be using it for plenty of landscape shots as that's most of my photography, but I also want to take interiors of buildings/rooms. So I'm kind of the mind of, "as wide as possible". That being said, I'd like your opinions of the various wide zooms. Keep in mind this will be on a APS-C sensored D80, and I don't intend to go to full frame anytime soon, if ever. I was pretty decided on the Nikon 10-24. The few reviews out there so far are pretty favorable, but I want to at least consider some of the 3rd party lenses. The others that I'm considering are the Sigma 10-20 or the Tamron 10-24. I've ruled out the Tokina because it only goes to 11mm and it has a very small range. I made $100 shooting pictures of a hotel. They liked the pictures I was able take using my 18mm lens. I suspect I could produce some better images with a wider angle lens. The company that owns this hotel has 10 properties around the Southwest. I think I can swing a deal to visit each property and take photos for them. So if I can get them to pay me ~$100 + travel for each hotel, the lens can pay for itself (even the Nikon). So should I get the Nikon lens or should I get the Sigma or Tamron and put the $$ saved towards a macro lens (the 105 VR is what I have my eye on)?

I would rule out the Tamron 10-24, as it is reportedly soft at most apertures. I'm also not particularly fond of the build quality of Tamron lenses in general, but perhaps I'm just a bit too anal.

I've found Nikon's DX wide angle zooms overpriced considering their maximum apertures, build quality and the competition. Personally, I would question the value of buying Nikon's ultrawide over Sigma's 10-20, even if you get paid to take shots with the lens.

 

[wanderman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vagarach /img/forum/go_quote.gif It also costs an arm and a leg! I read on Ken Rockwell that it also has some specialised scientific applications, which is pretty cool.

sorry I meant rokkor. IIRC it was 350 bucks. This lens is the reason I am OBSESSED with wide apertures. You can find this lens on ebay with a nikon or canon mount. It has a super solid feel and it is all manual. This lens was impossible for me to focus because I don't have the precision screen, but liveview saved me.



I apologize for the canon graffiti :[

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Grrr.....D700 lust plagues me these days....I never should have played with one.

Selling my DX gear would basically cover it, though.

I'd be left with these lenses:
Nikkor 28-105D f/3.5-4.5
Nikkor 60D micro f/2.8
Nikkor 70-300 VR f/4.5-5.6
Sigma 24-60 f/2.8 EX

I've been using the 70-300vr most of the time these days, and the Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 has only been coming out for indoor events, i.e. rarely. Other than that loss of speed in the tele section, I'd just need to pick up something wider than 24mm for landscapes (thinking Sigma 12-24).

I guess more than anything, I am held back by the insane depreciation of DSLR bodies. I really don't want to spend $2k on a body, to have it be worth $800 in a year or so. Then again, looking at the way resale values on the original 5D have held up, maybe I don't have so much to worry about.

 

[wanderman]

what what your widest lens on your dx body. 24mm on a full frame is really wide.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Currently, I use the Sigma 10-20, and I do find times where the diffence between having 10mm vs. 12mm can make or break the shot. I realize how wide 24mm is on full-frame, I use it on my N80. However, I do find places where I need wider.

 

[dj_mocok]

I want a D700.
I really shouldn't have tried that cursed thing.
Too many hobbies. If I get a camera, then I can't get a watch anymore. But if I get the watch that I like, I can't possibly get a camera anymore.
But I still like my S5Pro very very much though. I am just thrilled with the idea that most of my lenses will be normal again with full frame D700. I'm so glad that my headphones hobby is already finalised and very happy with what I have or else I will have to consider another thing.

 

[Braver]

Just sit it out for a year and take advantage of that depreciation. Buying new pro bodies without being a pro just doesn't make financial sense.

 

[lan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer /img/forum/go_quote.gif I guess more than anything, I am held back by the insane depreciation of DSLR bodies. I really don't want to spend $2k on a body, to have it be worth $800 in a year or so. Then again, looking at the way resale values on the original 5D have held up, maybe I don't have so much to worry about.

Yeah these full frame bodys don't depreciate much. Nikon doesn't have many so there's no competition there unlike Canon 1DS, 1DS II, 1DS III and 5D.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_mocok /img/forum/go_quote.gif I want a D700. I'm so glad that my headphones hobby is already finalised and very happy with what I have or else I will have to consider another thing.

LOL. That's true. I've been done here for quite a while also. Going outside and taking photos is the opposite of staying indoors and listening to music. I like using my speakers now also. It's too hot in the summer to wear headphones.

Unfortunately for my wallet, I like using a bunch things for different purposes. So 1 camera is not enough. :/ I must be the only person here who's sold his D700. LOL. If I had one camera, that would be it but I don't so it became of limited use. I much prefer the added resolution of the 5D II.

I'm more of a telephoto person anyhow.

 

[bigshot]

For a DX ultrawide, I have the Tokina 11-16. It's great for interior low light shooting because the distortion is very correctable in post, and the fast 2.8 aperture makes it possible to hand hold, even at night. It's a great lens, but it is often sold out. The best way to get one is to put in an order at one of the big camera dealers and be put on the list. They usually are shipped the first week of the month.

I have no problem with the gap between 16mm and the 17mm of my Tamron 17-50 2.8. The faster f stop of the Tokina more than makes up for the narrower range of focal lengths.