New toy for the Nikon: DX 12-24 f4 superwide zoom

[pyro]

I needed something for sunsets and landscape scenes that backs out farther than my 18-135 kit lens. This will definitely do the trick. I have 99 degree field of view with this lens at 12mm. Now, I just need to invest in some real software so I can clean up the perspective distortion around the edges. This is fun. I'll play around with it and take a few more pictures at the sandbar tonight.

[Scream And Fly]

Chad, the Nikon 12-24 is a great lens. I used my 12-24 exclusively at the Miami boat show in February and it performed great. I also used it at the Sarasota Poker Run.

[pyro]

Got to use it a bit on the first day. The sky was calling for me to shoot this.

[Scream And Fly]

I think you'll find a lot of great uses for that lens. Next year at Miami I'm using the 17-55 2.8 instead though, which is pretty wide itself. I'll bring the 12-24 with me though. There are some things that lens is just perfect for.

[Stitch King]

Chad,

Wife wants to know which model camera you used to shoot the Burst photos on your other post.

Thanks,

Kenneth Wolkens

[pyro]

Nikon D80 with the 18-135 "kit" lens.

[Scream And Fly]

I tried that 18-135 once and thought it was a really cool lens. It's extremely sharp and sooo light too. That's a perfect lens for so many situations.

[pyro]

It's poorly sealed, inhales dust and hairs when you zoom, it fringes terribly at wide open aperture at all focal lengths, and vignettes at 135, but it's a great lens otherwise...

[Scream And Fly]

It's poorly sealed, inhales dust and hairs when you zoom, it fringes terribly at wide open aperture at all focal lengths, and vignettes at 135, but it's a great lens otherwise...

All consumer lenses and many pro lenses inhale dust to some degree. Any superzoom like that one will surely do it. As for sealing, you can't really seal a telescoping lens like that. Chromatic aberration is the penalty for its awesome sharpness, but easily dealt with. It's a $400 lens - for those 400 beans, it performs amazingly. Remember that no lens is perfect - and I've used a lot of lenses in Nikon's consumer and pro zoom lineup ranging from $400-$6000. :)

In good light, I would easily feel comfortable using the 18-135. You did good with it.

Chad, if you want to increase the D80's framerate, turn off noise reduction.

[Casey]

I've thought about getting a wide angle for a while now but just keep putting it off. maybe I will ask for one from Santa.

Greg I know your thoughts on the Nikon 12-24 and how great of a lens it is. I also know how you feel about third party lens, but I keep reading great reviews on the Sigma 10-20 and the Tokina 12-24. they're about half the price and for as much as I will actually use it I just can't help but think it may be a wiser move for me.

any thoughts?

[Scream And Fly]

Casey, if I had to choose, I would get the Tokina. Sigma lenses worry me, and their quality control seems very inconsistent. The Tokina is always getting fantastic reviews and its build quality is much better. But as you know, the Tokina does not have a focus motor, so if you ever get a D40 or D40x, you won't be able to autofocus with it. :)

Greg

[Casey]

Greg here's a nice review of four Super-Wide Angle Lenses. as expected the Nikon is the best of the bunch, but the others are not that bad.

A "Super-Wide Angle" Lenses Shootout (http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/nikon_articles/nikkor/af/wide_angles_shootout/index.html)

[pyro]

If you don't like fringing or flaring/ghosting, and you like metal more than plastic, and you also intend to screw on a filter, then the Nikon 12-24 is worth every penny. ;)

Here's the diaphragm on my 18-135. Nice and round :rolleyes: One blade isn't quite sync'd perfectly with the others. I just noticed this last weekend. I'll send it in soon...

[Scream And Fly]

If you don't like fringing or flaring/ghosting, and you like metal more than plastic, and you also intend to screw on a filter, then the Nikon 12-24 is worth every penny. ;)

The Nikkor 12-24 is a mostly plastic lens. While I prefer the Nikkor, the Tokina is actually built better. The Nikkor has the edge in image quality though. You can also screw on filters on the Tokina as well. I'm pretty sure the same can be said of the Sigma.

[pyro]

the Sigma supposedly vignettes terribly at 10-12 mm with a filter on it. My Nikkor works fine with regular front-thread filters all the way out to 12mm, but If I try to stack two 3mm filters, it vignettes up to 15 mm or so, not a big surprise.

I meant metal vs plastic more in a general build-quality sense. My 12-24 doesn't have the lag in the focus ring like the 18-135 has, for example.

[Spd-Kilz]

Resident Canon man coming in now:D

I got the Canon 10-22mm wide angle and I love it.:)

p.s. nice pic Pyro:)