wide angle lens

[dansmith11]

looking to pick up a wide angle lens

looking at either:

Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm F4.0 G

or

Sigma EX10-20mm For Nikon Digital


the nikon is like 980 bucks, while the sigma is 600.

how do they compare quality wise? am i better off saving up for the nikon? or is the sigma decent enough?

anyone have any other suggestions for a good wide angle lens, perferably something in the 5-700 dollar range.

[dmtx]

I also asked the same question here on beyond. With the help of the beyonders and further research, I got the Tokina 12-24mm from BHPhoto for like $500. I'm very happy with it....

here's more info...

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/191957/nikon-wide-lens/

[3g4u]

Tamron makes a nice one too.

[seer_claw]

Ken Rockwell's Review

Take this review with a grain of salt or the shaker. Ken is very opinionated but does bring up some good points.

There is also a good review over at Nikonians but I can't find it right now. My computer is having problems.

IMHO I would get the Sigma, 2mm wider plus the cost is significantly less. And for the most part the pictures that I am taking will be equal from either lens.

[riced]

I just recently picked up the sigma 10-20 for my canon,
It's a very good lens, I really think it's personal opinion. I did about a months looking into before buying, you get a handful of guys that say the build quality is crap, feels cheap and they seem to be the guys that are used to the good glass. Then theres many people that think quality is good, I happen to be one of them.. I don't see any major flaws about it, and the USM is quiet compared to the kit 18-55.

So far, the quality of shots is very good. It's especially sharp only at f4.5 to about f8 IMO.

I think the extra 2mm makes a really big difference like seer_clar said... If you're getting the wide angle for the distortion at 10mm, then I'd say Sigma, anything after 10mm seems to get rid of the cool effect.

[freakin]

I was pretty unhappy with my Sigma 10-20mm on my Canon. I had to shoot it at F8 to get a sharp image out of it. At that point, it's an outdoor only lens, so I sold it.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

The Sigma as great as long as you get a good copy, I would buy it locally and exchange it if necessary. The Tokina is the best-built of the bunch, but isn't as wide as the Sigma and has some CA issues. The Tamron is optically disappointing, from what I've seen. The Nikon is going have less sample variation, but I don't think it's worth the extra money.

Personally, my thoughts go as follows, as far as overall value:

Sigma>Tokina>Nikon>Tamron

[riced]

berserker.. how do you tell if you get a defective copy?
I might be noob and not be able to spot this out

[DJ Lazy]

Originally posted by dmtx
I got the Tokina 12-24mm from BHPhoto for like $500. I'm very happy with it....

I used this same lens (for Canon) today for my photo shoot.... Worked a charm...

[C4S]

No doubt .. Tokina 12-24 is the best!!

almost same qulity as the Nikon one .. but .. way less $$$

Sigma one .. I have tried one for few weeks .. basically .. u can't use it as the widest end .. and wide open anyway ...