Have the money...just don't know which lens

[pictureframed]

sorry. I'm sure tons of people have asked this but I'm pretty specific with my options.
I have a Nikon D3000 slr, been taking pics forever, but this camera for a year. I'm not pro, just want to get good photos a I love the art of it. Question, I have 2 lenses, 15-55 and 55-200. Both zoom etc.

My goal is to determine which wide angle lens is best. I want to capture big scenery background with people in front but all in focus..is that what a wide angle will accoplish? I've seen example pics and know thats the look I'm going for.

SO, here are my options

Nikor AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 G ED
Tokina 12-24/4.0 AT-X 124 AF Pro DX Zoom lens f/Nikon Digital lens
Nikkor AF-S DX Zoom 12-14 f/G IF-ED

I want quality. I don't want to regret buying a cheap lens. I tried a tamron in the store..they are not for me.
Any help is great. I'm shopping this weekend.

 

[Patrice]

My suggestion is for you to look them up in reputable review sites and make up your own mind.

Personally I don't like variable aperture zooms and I prefer Nikkor. Not saying the third party lenses are bad.

My preferred zoom in that range is the 14-24 f2.8 nikkor.

 

[mwcfarms]

The tokina 11 to 16mm is supposed to be ridiculously good as well but I don't see it in your line up. Perhaps its too wide for your needs.

 

[480sparky]

I can't vouch for the quality of any of 'em but the Nikkor 10-24.

Do some research online. Read reviews. Google the lens title + "review".

If you can go to the camera store with your camera and put a few on it to take some sample shots, then you can compare them at your leisure back home. Take identical frames with each lens at different focal lengths and apertures. That's what I did, and I tapped the 10-24.

Also, check the specs for the FOV of each lens. 12mm on a Nikkor may not be the same FOV on a Tokina.

 

[RockstarPhotography]

I have the tokina and its a great lens. Never used the others so don't know.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

I have a friend with the 12-24 f/4 Nikkor and it has never impressed me on his D300.

 

[pictureframed]

Thanks! I got to try out the tamron which I didn't love in the first place but will also get to do a test run on the nikkor and Tokina. I just can't tell without using them. I'm not finding alot of places that cary Tokina so we'll be driving down the coast this weekend and I found a place you can try out and rent equip. I can do a side by side test... leaning towards the Nikon.

 

[RockstarPhotography]

I did a side by side test of some of the non-nikon lenses and the tokina was defiantly the best of them. Not sure how it holds up against a nikon lens though.

 

[JustAnEngineer]

Is the Sigma 8-16mm an option?

 

[molested_cow]

Search the lens as key words on flikr and you should be able to find photos taken with those lens, then you can do a quick comparison.

 

[Cfitz]

Have you looked at the sigma 10-20mm? There is a fixed aperture f/3.5 one for about 80 dollars more than the 4-5.6 version.

 

[Slaphead]

Having owned the Nikkor 10-24, and used the Nikkor 12-24 I would say that they are pretty similar in terms of image quality, however the 12-24 has a better build quality. Both appear to suffer from CA, but it's controllable in PP. I'm not overly impressed with them, but for the amount that I actually use wide angle I'm more than happy with the results I get from the Nikkor 10-24. I'm afraid I can't comment on the Sigma and Tokina lenses.

 

[ghache]

I have the tokina 12-24 and i love it! At half the price, performance is similar and it is a really nice heavy solid lens. zoom and focus rings are smooth and accurate. after reading many reviews, i went for the tokina.

It has normal distortion at 12mm wich is easy to correct and 0 at 24mm.

Exposure0.002 sec (1/500)Aperturef/13.0Focal Length24 mmISO Speed100Exposure Bias0 EV

Exposure0.001 sec (1/1000)Aperturef/9.0Focal Length24 mmISO Speed100


This is was at 12mm. You can see distortion but noting major that cannot be corrected easily

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Exposure0.005 sec (1/200)Aperturef/9.0Focal Length12 mmISO Speed100

This was shot at 12mm in low light, almost wide open. There shouldnt that much difference between F4 anf F4.5
no correction was done
1 pass of noise ninja.

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Exposure0.1 sec (1/10)Aperturef/4.5Focal Length12 mmISO Speed2500Exposure Bias+8/3 EV

 

[lukedarma]

You've made a good decision in not buying the Tamron. I'd say you should consider the Tokina 11-16mm lens if you have the money to spend.