Traveling lens.

[Bram]

Hey guys and gals, long time no talk. So I will be traveling overseas to The Netherlands in February and I am planning on buying a wide angle for some wicked photos. Now I am just stuck on which wide angle. Do I go with the Nikkor Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8 orrrr do I go for a Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 ? Now I know the sigma is cheaper on local CL by $130.00 i'm in a pickle, which lens would you snag?

 

[ph0enix]

I guess that depends on how fast, how wide and how expensive you want it to be. Also, you need to decide if you want/need zoom. I own the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 and I really like it.

 

[Dillard]

Sigma 10-20 is a nice little lens and is super fun to play with. I would love the Nikon fisheye, although I think you would get more use out of the Sigma for general travel

 

[Bram]

Yeah I was thinking the Sigma 10-20mm as well due to the zooming feature. I have looked at all three the sigma, Nikon, and tokina, I found the Tokina to be most expensive and then the sigma to be the cheapest.

 

[Rhoads238]

With the current range of lenses you could get a fisheye. Although I would be sure to bring your other lenses with you. I would perfer a wide angle zoom to add to your collection of lenses. But that said I don't usually don't like the effect of a fisheye lens in most shots. I'm not saying it can't make a shot but it can often be distracting.

 

[Bram]

Yeah I agree with you there, however I have always wanted a wide angle lens that will give me some arcs on the frame. All considered the sigma is the cheapest but is also slowest. Then the fisheye is a prime and the tokina is most expensive with zoom and fast aperture.

 

[Bram]

Hey guys just going to bump this thread so there's a little background info as well. A friend asked me to shoot a wedding. I know I know "Ermagherd here's another noob asking for advise, what he should get blah blah blah." I was just curious. Has anybody ever shot a wedding with a fisheye? Like say portraits for the bride or the family altogether or anything like that. Doesn't look professional does it? Think I might stick with the 11-16mm decision.

 

[Bram]

Hey guys, Again I am stuck on this damn decision and it's tearing me apart, do I buy the 11-16mm Tokina f/2.8 for $550 or do I get the Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye f/2.8 for $550 both would be used on local CL. Just trying to figure out which one to go with for travelling to Amsterdam and perhaps carry with me to a local wedding.

 

[cgipson1]

I would say the 11-16 would be more useful overall.. it is not such a specialty lens.. But that is up to you!

 

[Awiserbud]

Haven't used the fisheye, I would imagine its uses being very limited once you get over the bmx or skateboard shots, the Tokina however is a fine lens, very practical IMO and very sharp, perfect for landscapes, I often use it for parties and get togethers, it has a huge depth of field meaning its very difficult to be off-focus, barell distortion is noticable towards the 11mm end, but easily corrected in PS. It is quite a heavy lens though.

 

[TCampbell]

Well... one is a versatile rectilinear wide-angle zoom that you'll get a lot of use out of and will probably never tire of using.

The other is a curvilinear (fish-eye) lens -- it's sort of like a special effect that can quickly become tiresome if over-used. The Nikon 10.5 will completely fill the frame on a DX body (it doesn't create a circular image with black edges and corners).

I'm not against fish-eye lenses... but I'd probably buy lenses based on what you think you'll get the most use out of. If you find you have everything covered and want a few lenses for special effect, go for it. You can also rent one if you just want to see how you like it.

Good luck!

 

[ratssass]

...i'm thinking if you're going to amsterdam,and,hypothetically,of course,you sample some of the local "flavor" the 11-16 might very well seem like a fish-eye.

 

[Overread19 7]

For most people Fisheye is something they play with for a month after they buy it and then - it goes and sits in the camera bag forever more. A few people really like the effect and use it well - but most its just a novelty that quickly passes and which is often just used because they can as opposed to when it will actually benefit the photo.

 

[Bram]

Thanks all for the replies I really appreciate the opinions here, I believe I would get quite some use out of the fisheye, I am looking to get some curved edges, (sorry the correct term has escaped me) but yeah I have seen the 11-16 do that too though so. I believe the tokina would be a good pickup but then again so would the fisheye. UGH!

 

[Overread19 7]

Why not get the tokina and a fisheye adaptor? Granted quality won't be good on the adaptor but you can play around with it before spending $100s on the lens itself.