What glass should I get?

[Dao]

I do not own this lens (I have the 1st gen Sigma 10-20mm instead)

But this one is a wider lens

Sigma Lens Zooms - Sigma 8-16mm f 4.5-5.6 DC HSM Tested - SLRgear.com
Sigma AF 8-16mm f 4.5-5.6 DC HSM DX - Review Lab Test Report

From the reviews, it is quite good optically. But the draw back is lens front element. Front screw-on type filter may not work.

For filter friendly one, the Sigma 10-20mm
Sigma Lens Zooms - Sigma 10-20mm f 3.5 EX DC HSM Tested - SLRgear.com

The 18mm focal length in your 18-55mm lens is wide angle. Are you looking for view that is wider than that?

Yes, something sharp, reliable, little distortion, and not like $10000. If it's something I have to save up for that ok.

Also don't know if I should have it in zoom or prime

Looking for a step or two up from what I have.

 

[JohnnyWrench]

Since you have 18 - 200mm covered, I would suggest a fast prime so you can have a little fun with the large aperture/short depth of field/razor sharp qualities those lenses offer. 85 1.8G for shooting portraits or a 35 1.8G for a general walk-around/landscape/groups of people lens. The 50 1.8G is an option too but I find that focal length kinda boring.

Should I go with the nikkor glass for the 35mm or is there a good third party glass for it

The DX version of the Nikkor 35mm is excellent and extremely affordable. I don't own one but my sister-in-law has one and it produces some beautiful images.

Nikon 35mm f 1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens 2183 B H Photo

Is this the one you're talking about?

That's the one.

 

[Sirgitano]

Are any of those ultra wide lenses worth it?

 

[Sirgitano]

Thanks for the help. I'll keep looking around like I said I won't be getting it right now.

I do like that nikkor 35mm tho.

 

[manicmike]

The 18mm focal length in your 18-55mm lens is wide angle. Are you looking for view that is wider than that?

Yes, something sharp, reliable, little distortion, and not like $10000. If it's something I have to save up for that ok.

Also don't know if I should have it in zoom or prime

Looking for a step or two up from what I have.

The Tokina 12-24 or 11-16 are both really good ultra wides. I haven't used the 11-16, but the 12-24 was awesome. Especially for the price.

 

[Sirgitano]

The 18mm focal length in your 18-55mm lens is wide angle. Are you looking for view that is wider than that?

Yes, something sharp, reliable, little distortion, and not like $10000. If it's something I have to save up for that ok.

Also don't know if I should have it in zoom or prime

Looking for a step or two up from what I have.

The Tokina 12-24 or 11-16 are both really good ultra wides. I haven't used the 11-16, but the 12-24 was awesome. Especially for the price.

Thanks I'll look into that one.

 

[Sirgitano]

[/QUOTE]
The Tokina 12-24 or 11-16 are both really good ultra wides. I haven't used the 11-16, but the 12-24 was awesome. Especially for the price.[/QUOTE]

Didn't see the 12-24mm but this one.

Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX-II 11-16mm f 2.8 Lens ATXAF116DXIIN B H

 

[weepete]

Ultrawide tokina 11-16 looks pretty damn sharp and a good buy to me. I'm a canon guy so cant comment on the nikkors but if I was going for a UWA and didn't have the 18-50mm focal length covered I'd go for that one.

I'm a landscape and nature guy myself and I tend to use my canon 10-22mm or my tamron 150-600 more than I use my 17-70mm. The other thing I'd really advise is buying a quality cpl and GND filters if you like your landscapes.

 

[Dave442]

Just a summary:
1) Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX (your fast prime)
2) Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 II (your ultra-wide)

As you are starting out I say use the two lenses you have. They are only two lenses, but you cover from 18mm to 200mm. If you need wider for landscape it is often possible to stitch together a few shots or move farther back.

My kit lens at the wider settings has about 10% of my shots over the past couple years. I have also looked at the ultra-wide, but for the most part would just move that 10% from the kit lens to the ultra-wide.

With Tokina I tried out the 11-16mm and the 12-28mm, the 12-28mm is basically a newer version of their 12-24mm and it was nice to have that slightly larger zoom range.

 

[Sirgitano]

Ultrawide tokina 11-16 looks pretty damn sharp and a good buy to me. I'm a canon guy so cant comment on the nikkors but if I was going for a UWA and didn't have the 18-50mm focal length covered I'd go for that one.

I'm a landscape and nature guy myself and I tend to use my canon 10-22mm or my tamron 150-600 more than I use my 17-70mm. The other thing I'd really advise is buying a quality cpl and GND filters if you like your landscapes.

I have a cpl filter from a kit I bought. ( I'm sure it's not a quality one) I'll have to look up the GND one.

 

[Sirgitano]

Just a summary:
1) Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX (your fast prime)
2) Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 II (your ultra-wide)

As you are starting out I say use the two lenses you have. They are only two lenses, but you cover from 18mm to 200mm. If you need wider for landscape it is often possible to stitch together a few shots or move farther back.

My kit lens at the wider settings has about 10% of my shots over the past couple years. I have also looked at the ultra-wide, but for the most part would just move that 10% from the kit lens to the ultra-wide.

With Tokina I tried out the 11-16mm and the 12-28mm, the 12-28mm is basically a newer version of their 12-24mm and it was nice to have that slightly larger zoom range.

You are right with saying this. I do tend to go "too" big with hobbies that I have picked up. I'm not going to be getting a new lens anytime soon but would like to have some ideas as what to get when I do.

I would like to get one other lens apart from the kit lenses. Either a good all-around like the 35mm or a good telephoto.

 

[Derrel]

I think kenrockwell.com is the best place for the average person to go for reviews/buying advice on the many modern ultra-wide zoom lenses; his reviews are all fairly contemporary, done in rapid succession as each new model comes out, and have good comparisons, good samples, and good buying advice. Like, for example, the new 12-28mm Tokina lens--HE will tell you what many other lens test sites would not delve in to in such clarity...about how well it works on FX as well as on DX! His sample photos are plentiful, and he evaluates the various lenses against competing models.

I see the 11-16 as a narrow-use,limited tool...I see the Tokina 12-28 at the ENTIRE wide-angle spectrum, for DX....AND, for FX over the most-useful lengths on FX.

 

[Sirgitano]

I think kenrockwell.com is the best place for the average person to go for reviews/buying advice on the many modern ultra-wide zoom lenses; his reviews are all fairly contemporary, done in rapid succession as each new model comes out, and have good comparisons, good samples, and good buying advice. Like, for example, the new 12-28mm Tokina lens--HE will tell you what many other lens test sites would not delve in to in such clarity...about how well it works on FX as well as on DX! His sample photos are plentiful, and he evaluates the various lenses against competing models.

I see the 11-16 as a narrow-use,limited tool...I see the Tokina 12-28 at the ENTIRE wide-angle spectrum, for DX....AND, for FX over the most-useful lengths on FX.

Thanks. I'll have to check it out as I am a noob at all this

 

[Solarflare]

I do tend to go "too" big with hobbies that I have picked up.

Fat chance with photography, really.

To cite Derrel :

Photography is not for the weak of wallet.