Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

Outdoor Activities => Photography => Topic started by: NeilB on March 18, 2010

Title: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: NeilB on March 18, 2010
As the above suggests Im looking for a good lens to get some nice landscape pics, looking for few suggestions at a resonable price

neil
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: Kirth on March 18, 2010
I used to have the sigma 10-20mm lens. You can get these for around £300 second hand on eBay.

In saying that a prime lens like a 14mm manual focus will be far sharper and as it is going to be on tripod manual focus won't matter.

I bought a 14-24 2.8 one today for press work and the odd landscape and it was £1300 so the range in price is vast.

What body do you have?
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: NeilB on March 18, 2010
nikon d90
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: twentyclicks on March 18, 2010
I concur with the manual focus.  Wide angle lenses have inherent depth of field anyway so focusing for me is usually more mathematical with them - I pre-focus using the depth of field scale to the hyperfocal distance, then snap away.  My old lenses have this printed on them but it's a standard formula and there are tables online.

On the smaller sensor, the 14mm would equate to a field of view similar to a 21mm (in film speak) which is a great general landscape lens.
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: chris on March 18, 2010
I toyed with the idea of getting a wide angle lens for a while but I decided not to and now when I want a wide angle I just stitch the pictures together in photoshop.

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4443615205_26c8b6f802_b.jpg)
A 360 pano from hen

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4397341273_7c8bd48e29_b.jpg)
A 180 pano from lamagan
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: twentyclicks on March 19, 2010
Nice Chris <<< good point!

Do you use Hugin to stitch the pics?
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: chris on March 19, 2010
Nice Chris <<< good point!

Do you use Hugin to stitch the pics?

No, just photoshop CS3. I've heard that its not very good, but I can't see any problems although having only used photoshop I've nothing to compare it too.
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: RedLeader on March 19, 2010
That Lamagan shot is awesome. Did you use a tripod?
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: chris on March 19, 2010
That Lamagan shot is awesome. Did you use a tripod?

nope, hand held all the way! I used a tripod on the 360 from hen, stitched from 22 images I think.
Title: Re: wide angle - landscape lens
Post by: suspectmonkey on March 19, 2010
The Sigma is a very popular wide angle lens, but I am quite tempted by a Tokina offering such as the 12-24 f4.  I have a Tokina macro lens, and the build quality is sensational.  Tokina seem to like using lots of metal so you get a really solid feeling lens that will be especially happy outdoors.  They also make very smooth zoom/focus rings with good sized grips, and the "clutch" mechanism for switching between MF and AF is a nice idea. 

I must say I'm slightly wary of Sigma lenses.  I bought a 24-70 F2.8 from new and was really dissappointed.  The zoom ring was really stiff towards the wide end right out of the box, and the images were consistently soft.  In all fairness I probably should have returned it to get serviced under warranty as it may have just been a bad 'un, but considering it was from their "EX" range I kinda expected more.  That said I do like my cheap and cheerful Sigma 70-300, but considering I bought it for £120 my expectations were a lot less :)

Take a look here for some lens reviews (http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests).  Personally I'm not a big fan of reviews that spend all their time shooting test charts rather than using them out in the field, but it does give a good overview of the key features and any obvious flaws.