Wide angle lens...

chuckdee1

I have the 16-36mm 2.8 and I'm looking to go wider. I've heard the sig 10-20mm 3.5 is nice but I'm worried about losing an F-stop. I've also heard some nice/not so nice things about the Tokina 11-16 2.8. It has the extra stop that the Sig doesn't have but I've read some sketchy reviews.

I'm looking for sharpness. I don't care about the auto-focusing. For full frame bodies.

Any input would be greatly appreciate, thanks.

_________________________________________
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris
"A good photograph is knowing where to stand." -Ansel Adams
www.bellissimofoto.com

ziggy53

chuckdee1 wrote: »

I have the 16-36mm 2.8 and I'm looking to go wider. I've heard the sig 10-20mm 3.5 is nice but I'm worried about losing an F-stop. I've also heard some nice/not so nice things about the Tokina 11-16 2.8. It has the extra stop that the Sig doesn't have but I've read some sketchy reviews.

I'm looking for sharpness. I don't care about the auto-focusing. For full frame bodies.

...

Both the Sigma 10-20mm, f3.5 EX DC HSM and the Tokina 11-16mm, f2.8 AT-X Pro DX are for crop bodies (1.5x or 1.6x, depending on the mount.)

Your best bet for absolute sharpness in a super-wide zoom with curvilinear correction is the Nikkor 14-24mm, f2.8G ED AF-S used with a Canon EF to Nikon F mount adapter like the Novoflex. (I recommend purchasign the "chipped" version of the adapter, which allows for manual focus confirmation.)

chuckdee1

ziggy53 wrote: »

Both the Sigma 10-20mm, f3.5 EX DC HSM and the Tokina 11-16mm, f2.8 AT-X Pro DX are for crop bodies (1.5x or 1.6x, depending on the mount.)

Your best bet for absolute sharpness in a super-wide zoom with curvilinear correction is the Nikkor 14-24mm, f2.8G ED AF-S used with a Canon EF to Nikon F mount adapter like the Novoflex. (I recommend purchasign the "chipped" version of the adapter, which allows for manual focus confirmation.)

Thanks for the input, Ziggy. How reliable are the Canon to Nikon adapters?

_________________________________________
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris
"A good photograph is knowing where to stand." -Ansel Adams
www.bellissimofoto.com

ziggy53

chuckdee1 wrote: »

Thanks for the input, Ziggy. How reliable are the Canon to Nikon adapters?

Reliability is supposed to be pretty good because it's mostly a mechanical adapter. If you get the chipped version, the micro circuit board can be damaged, but you can still use the lens and focus by Live View or just use the viewfinder. I suppose that the aperture lever could eventually cause problems but, if you need to use a Nikon "G" series lens, like the Nikkor 14-24mm, f2.8G ED AF-S, I believe that this is still the best way to go.

Of course you could also switch to a Nikon D800/D800E host body and eliminate the adapter, and have a perfectly lovely combination that way too.

Matthew Saville

ziggy53 wrote: »

Reliability is supposed to be pretty good because it's mostly a mechanical adapter. If you get the chipped version, the micro circuit board can be damaged, but you can still use the lens and focus by Live View or just use the viewfinder. I suppose that the aperture lever could eventually cause problems but, if you need to use a Nikon "G" series lens, like the Nikkor 14-24mm, f2.8G ED AF-S, I believe that this is still the best way to go.

Of course you could also switch to a Nikon D800/D800E host body and eliminate the adapter, and have a perfectly lovely combination that way too.

I hear that Canon may have patented a 14-24 design. I'd expect it to be well over $2,000 if it's going to compete with the Nikon 14-24, but if your goal is ultimate wide angle sharpness, you're gonna hafta go for broke.

The Canon 16-35, both mk1 and mk2, are abysmal most of the time. I've never seen a good copy although I hear they exist. The 17-40 isn't much better, but at least it's priced more accordingly to it's performance.

The bottom line is that currently Nikon is king of the hill when it comes to ultra-wide sharpness. A D800 plus a Nikon 14-24 is pretty much a landscape photog's dream system. But Canon will be making a comeback very soon for sure. I wouldn't jump the fence if you're currently invested in Canon gear, and are accustomed to the control layouts. A Canon 17-40 is a great intermediate investment for general shooting.

If manual focusing is fine, check out the Samyang / Rokinon ultra-wides, they have a great 14mm I hear. Or, if money is no object, get into the Zeiss ultra-wides. They have an 18mm and 21mm that are pretty much flawless, and now I hear they have a 15mm (?) that comes close to even the Nikon 14-24...

Good luck!
=Matt=