Nikon wide angle large-aperture lens?

[FaithKlutz]

I have a Nikon D90 and I'm looking for a wide angle lens with a large aperture. I have spent some time looking it up but can't seem to find the info I'm looking for.

I do a lot of concert photography (both invited, and as a casual fan where permitted) and recently I was at a run of shows in really small, poorly lit places places with low to the ground stages. Normally at show my Sigma 50mm 2.8 is what I use, but the 50 was just to close here. I had to put on my kit lens and only ended up using between 18-30mm. The smaller aperture it made things really difficult, I needed to slow down the shutter and up the ISO as high as it would go sometimes. The pictures where useable but not up to my standards. The few times I switched to my 50mm to take some close ups the pictures where great.

I'm looking something that is starts at 18mm (or less if recommended) with as large of an aperture as I can get. I'd like a little zoom, most places I go casually (without a pass) say my camera with a lens the length of my 50mm is fine but my kit (18-105mm) isn't. So I'm looking for something in that size range if at all possible. The kit lens is just unpractical for me in day to day life as well, I never use it over 50mm and it's bulky for so little use and not that great of a lens. I don't want to lug that around to be able to take a picture of a friend across a table any more. Another thing I like about my 50mm is it's lens hood, it isn't huge, breakable or oddly shaped.

I'd like some of your opinions and recommendations on lenses.
Rephrase: If it costs more and is of higher quality than the camera it's self I don't think it would be practical and I'm open to any brand.
Let's go for around/under $1,000, but suggestions and "reviews" are welcome for higher prices.

 

[kundalini]

The Holy Trinity in Nikon zoom lenses is the Father (70-200mm), the Son (24-70mm) and the Holy Grail (14-24mm). The 14-24mm is the best UWA zoom lens available in the Nikkor lineup and on the market in general.

 

[BlairWright]

This depends on what you want to spend.

The awesome Nikon 14-24 is around 2 grand but there are other options from Tokina and Sigma that will fit the bill too

 

[FaithKlutz]

This depends on what you want to spend.

The awesome Nikon 14-24 is around 2 grand but there are other options from Tokina and Sigma that will fit the bill too

Whoa! That must be an amazing lens. Ok, I'll rephrase first statement. if it's more than the camera was, I don't need it.


I've never owned a Tokina lens, how are they vs. Sigma? Suggestions?

 

[kundalini]

This depends on what you want to spend.

The awesome Nikon 14-24 is around 2 grand but there are other options from Tokina and Sigma that will fit the bill too

Whoa! That must be an amazing lens. Ok, I'll rephrase first statement. if it's more than the camera was, I don't need it.

I guess this is yet another case to be careful of what you ask for. A lot of people don't consider their budget, therefore you get suggestions of what some folks consider is the best.

TBH, you should always consider to spend 2/3 more money on your glass than you do on your camera body.

 

[Markw]

If you don't want to spend an arm and a leg, the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 is the best bet. It's built like a tank, and is by far the best DX UWA zoom on the market in terms of optics+buildrice ratio. You may have to give up one of those limbs stil, however. But the Tokina is built sturdy enough that you won't need the leg. Use the lens like a peg leg. You won't be disappointed.

Mark

 

[FaithKlutz]

If you don't want to spend an arm and a leg, the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 is the best bet. It's built like a tank, and is by far the best DX UWA zoom on the market in terms of optics+buildrice ratio. You may have to give up one of those limbs stil, however. But the Tokina is built sturdy enough that you won't need the leg. Use the lens like a peg leg. You won't be disappointed.

Mark

Thanks for your suggestion.
I really would like something that goes over 18mm though. I doubt I would find much use use at 11-16mm given the situation, maybe I'll give it a shot if the camera store rents those. I just did a quick search for that online for that and the price is completely doable.

Are all Tokina's built tough? I've never owned one and stuck my search to sigma's because I own a few.

This depends on what you want to spend.

The awesome Nikon 14-24 is around 2 grand but there are other options from Tokina and Sigma that will fit the bill too

Whoa! That must be an amazing lens. Ok, I'll rephrase first statement. if it's more than the camera was, I don't need it.

I guess this is yet another case to be careful of what you ask for. A lot of people don't consider their budget, therefore you get suggestions of what some folks consider is the best.

TBH, you should always consider to spend 2/3 more money on your glass than you do on your camera body.

Well, it was what I wanted to know. What is the best, and then I'd work my way back.
In all honesty, would it even be worth it to put that nice of a lens on a D90 though? If it is, heck I'll do it.

I guess I'm clueless/spoiled because I haven't had to buy a lens in years and only one at that. Most of the ones I'm using where...well let's put it this way, they where bought to be used on a Nikon N2020.

 

[FaithKlutz]

It's classified as a "standard" lens but any opinions on this one?
Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
This looks pretty good for what I want because it's also compact.

This is about half the price, and slightly shorter in length. I'm curious.
18-50mm F2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM - Standard Zoom Lenses - SigmaPhoto.com

 

[BlairWright]

Check out the Sigma 24-70 2.8 IF EX blah blah blah, it's on the high side of your budget but it's worth the extra bucks to get a lens with a constant aperture.

I find that the 24-70 length is very useful, it's a great portrait lens and also not a bad landscape lens.

-B

 

[FaithKlutz]

I went to the store to go check out some lenses. When I picked out the Sigma that I linked to above one of the employees suggested that I try the Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 instead. I put them both on my camera and found the Tamron to be clearer at 50mm (auto-focus) than the Sigma. I really like the constant aperture. I'm thinking about getting the Tamron right now, but I'm still torn. I could spend a little more for a better lens, the Tamron almost seems too "low" priced to be as good as it claims but it's in my ideal price range.

 

[TordFuglstad]

Thought you said you were looking for a wide angle? And on a DX body a 17mm is effectively 25,5mm which isn't really wide.
You should go for the Sigma 10-20 F3.5, the aperture is big enough (a wide angle lets in a lot more light than a telezoom for instance).