Nikon 18-55mm Vr II or tokina 11-16mm/Samyang 14mm

[DBLaur]

hy guys.Just wanted a quick opinion from you.I now own a nikon d5100 and 35mm, 90mm macro from tamron and nikon 55-200mm vr and I need a wide angle lens .i must say that i don't use wide angle that much most of my shooting being with the fixed primes.

My questions is should I buy the simple nikon kit lens as it is wide enough and I can get for 80 bucks and invest in some good filters like ND and polarizers as they are quite affordable and will suit my 35 and my my 55-200 52mm filter thread or spend hundreds more on tokina or samyang ?

Tokina takes 77mm which are expeensive and samyang doesn't even take filters.

My main shooting I'm thinking landscapes and long time exposures on a tripod mostly so betwwen f8 and f16?

( I choose tokina 11-16 and samyang 14 mm because they appear to have the best IQ and will be better if I choose to upgrade later to a nikon d7100 let's say)

Much appreciated.

 

[9ck]

hy guys.Just wanted a quick opinion from you.I now own a nikon d5100 and 35mm, 90mm macro from tamron and nikon 55-200mm vr and I need a wide angle lens .i must say that i don't use wide angle that much most of my shooting being with the fixed primes.

My questions is should I buy the simple nikon kit lens as it is wide enough and I can get for 80 bucks and invest in some good filters like ND and polarizers as they are quite affordable and will suit my 35 and my my 55-200 52mm filter thread or spend hundreds more on tokina or samyang ?

Tokina takes 77mm which are expeensive and samyang doesn't even take filters.

My main shooting I'm thinking landscapes and long time exposures on a tripod mostly so betwwen f8 and f16?

( I choose tokina 11-16 and samyang 14 mm because they appear to have the best IQ and will be better if I choose to upgrade later to a nikon d7100 let's say)

Much appreciated.

18mm is not that wide on DX IMO (equiv. of 24 on FX). The Samyang has a bulb front element making it expensive to fit with filters (and you mention long exposures). IMO the Nikon 10-24 or 12-24 or Tokina 11-16 would be your choice. The two Nikons apperantly more versitile. due to FL.

If you invest in filters you should consider how you build your system - I manage with two filter sizes for my system (67mm and 77mm) - alternatively you can get a more expensive system like Lee ot use step up rings.

 

[nebulouso]

I also have a 5100 and I just bought the Tokina. It is awesomely wide. I also bought a 77mm 6 stop ND filter for $100 so I spent less than $600 to get shots like this:



Wide angle is quite a bit different than other focal lengths and it takes some practice to get framing right sometimes. If if its something you want to do, the Tokina is one of the best-bang-for-your-buck ways to do it.

Alternatively, you could get the new Tokina 11-20 for a wider range, but keep in mind that it takes 82mm filters, which are not as common as 77 and possibly more expensive.

 

[rb0321]

If you don't use wide angle much the 18-55 might be a good choice to fill the gap. The one I got with my D5000 way back when is actually a nice, sharp and very light lens that I ended up using a lot for the first couple years until I got the 16-85. Although I rarely use it these days, the 18-55 still works (and looks) like new. If you can get that $80 one in good shape it seems worth a try before spending much more on something of questionable value to you, but only you can decide what you want/need.

 

[DBLaur]

Nebouloso great shot...the filter helped a lot ...600 its quite a lot for me as i'm making 400 a month and i have to pay rent and stuff and that's why i'm asking the question...apparently you guys push me to buy a uwa..I know it's the best choice as 27mm equiv it's not that wide but still some money needs to be spent...keep the advices comming

 

[GlennW]

For $80 you could get the 18-55VR2 to fit under your 55-200 & you don't have another option.

If you want a WA the 16-85VR comes into play to have more reach than the 18-55.

Another option is the 10-24 to have a true DX WA zoom.

If funds permit consider the Sigma 18-35 1.8.

 

[razormac]

With your budget constraints the 18-55 is prob your best option. Not an UWA, but a lot wider than you have now and will be plenty sharp at f8

 

[JeffryZ]

I think the 18- 55mm will be the most useful to you. One thing you can do in situations where it is not quite wide enough is to shoot some over-lapping shots and create a panorama using software (doesn't work for moving subjects but is great on landscapes). It will also be useful for "normal" shooting when you don't want to go so wide as well as offering you more flexibility than your 35mm lens. With it and your 55- 200mm you have most of your range covered in just two lenses.

 

[DBLaur]

stiching panorams seems like a good idea and more resolution to boost...can get a decent one from just 2shots at 18mm..a tokina uwa with fikters would cost me around 600 and this is just about 120with filters..seems a good idea

 

[DBLaur]

im just worried about iq and sharpness cimpared with the uwa lenses

 

[PSCL1]

You need UWA zoom. 11-16 f2.8 Tokina is a great choice but the WA range is narrow. I have owned and used the 10-20 f4-5.6 Sigma for several years. It gives you a wider range and more on the long end, which might be handy for you since you don't own a midrange zoom. If you don't need the 2.8 of the Tokina, I'm really happy with the 10-20.

 

[joebat]

I have the Samyang on a d3200 and like it. You can find filter for this lens.

A few examples :

 

[DBLaur]

the Samyang looks good and definetely on my list...the sigma i don't really like that much because on the d7100 it seems to get worst numbers

 

[JeffryZ]

You need UWA zoom. 11-16 f2.8 Tokina is a great choice but the WA range is narrow. I have owned and used the 10-20 f4-5.6 Sigma for several years. It gives you a wider range and more on the long end, which might be handy for you since you don't own a midrange zoom. If you don't need the 2.8 of the Tokina, I'm really happy with the 10-20.

I had both the Tokina and the Sigma at the same time. I kept the Tokina and sold my Sigma (earlier version on the Sigma) because I felt the Tokina had better image quality- both in terms of CA and sharpness- and build. Yes, the zoom range is narrower- that means it is closer to being a prime which makes it easier to engineer sharpness.

I did not make it my main suggestion in this case because I find I don't use it a whole lot. It does have its uses but something in the 18- 55 range (which the OP does not have) is generally a more useful lens though others may have different priorities for what they need in lenses. I would fill a more basic need (and a lower cost lens) before moving to a more "exotic" lens. See if you really need to go a lot wider or not. Just my thoughts.

 

[Bernard Delley]

hy guys.Just wanted a quick opinion from you.I now own a nikon d5100 and 35mm, 90mm macro from tamron and nikon 55-200mm vr and I need a wide angle lens .i must say that i don't use wide angle that much most of my shooting being with the fixed primes.

My questions is should I buy the simple nikon kit lens as it is wide enough and I can get for 80 bucks and invest in some good filters like ND and polarizers as they are quite affordable and will suit my 35 and my my 55-200 52mm filter thread or spend hundreds more on tokina or samyang ?

Tokina takes 77mm which are expeensive and samyang doesn't even take filters.

My main shooting I'm thinking landscapes and long time exposures on a tripod mostly so betwwen f8 and f16?

( I choose tokina 11-16 and samyang 14 mm because they appear to have the best IQ and will be better if I choose to upgrade later to a nikon d7100 let's say)

Much appreciated.

14mm is not such a special focal length on DX to warrant a somewhat inconvenient prime.

If you go for a light weight, low cost 'normal zoom' consider the 18-55mm

Personally, I like the 16-85mm, as a walk around all in one lens as an 'extended normal zoom'. Especially the wide end is appreciated 16mm (24mm FX equivalent) is important to me. This is significantly wider than 18.

If ultra wide is of interest, then the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is a hot choice. For the D5100 you better have version 2 with built in AF motor. Version 1 is screw drive AF requiring camera body D90, D7x up.

Personally I have and like the Nikkor 10-24mm as versatile lens covering serious ultrawide angle (15mm equivalent) to the street photography moderate wide angle (35mm equivalent). I often use it as a city walk around DX lens.

 

[rb0321]

hy guys.Just wanted a quick opinion from you.I now own a nikon d5100 and 35mm, 90mm macro from tamron and nikon 55-200mm vr and I need a wide angle lens .i must say that i don't use wide angle that much most of my shooting being with the fixed primes.

My questions is should I buy the simple nikon kit lens as it is wide enough and I can get for 80 bucks and invest in some good filters like ND and polarizers as they are quite affordable and will suit my 35 and my my 55-200 52mm filter thread or spend hundreds more on tokina or samyang ?

Tokina takes 77mm which are expeensive and samyang doesn't even take filters.

My main shooting I'm thinking landscapes and long time exposures on a tripod mostly so betwwen f8 and f16?

( I choose tokina 11-16 and samyang 14 mm because they appear to have the best IQ and will be better if I choose to upgrade later to a nikon d7100 let's say)

Much appreciated.

14mm is not such a special focal length on DX to warrant a somewhat inconvenient prime.

If you go for a light weight, low cost 'normal zoom' consider the 18-55mm

Personally, I like the 16-85mm, as a walk around all in one lens as an 'extended normal zoom'. Especially the wide end is appreciated 16mm (24mm FX equivalent) is important to me. This is significantly wider than 18.

If ultra wide is of interest, then the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is a hot choice. For the D5100 you better have version 2 with built in AF motor. Version 1 is screw drive AF requiring camera body D90, D7x up.

Personally I have and like the Nikkor 10-24mm as versatile lens covering serious ultrawide angle (15mm equivalent) to the street photography moderate wide angle (35mm equivalent). I often use it as a city walk around DX lens.

Have to agree about the 16-85, it's my favorite "extended normal zoom' on DX, which is similar to my 24-120 on my FX, also a favorite.

And as you say, if money is tight the OP can't go wrong with the 18-55. If he can pick up a good deal on the 18-105 it would give him an extended zoom range with good IQ, plus cut down on lens changes too.

 

[DBLaur]

thx for the reponses guys..indeed i had an uwa the tokina and i sold it because it was heavy and i used not very often as it is speciality 12-28mm .mqybe a couple of hundred shots per year..so the 18-55 would do great from f8 and on a tripod..very cheap.light and good quality..and maybe get a nice uwa when i upgrade to a d7100 for better iq