What wide-angle lens options make sense for a Nikon D90 (DX) for landscapes and low light?
Asked 12/15/2011
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I use a Nikon D90 with the 18-105mm kit lens, 35mm f/1.8 DX, and 55-300mm VR. I’m shooting more landscapes now, including darker or low-light scenes, and I’d like to add an ultra-wide lens for DX.
I’ve been considering lenses like the Nikon 10-24mm, Tamron 10-24mm, and Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. My main concern is whether I need a fast aperture such as f/2.8 for landscape work, or whether a lens like f/3.5-4.5 is fine if I use a tripod.
How useful is the short zoom range of something like 11-16mm on DX, and what should I prioritize for landscape photography on a crop-sensor Nikon body?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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I do most landscape photography at at least f/8 or f/11 and with a tripod. I use a Nikon 12-24mm f/4 DX lens and it's a nice sharp lens. I have borrowed the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, and it is also very sharp. The range of that lens (11-16) makes it almost like a prime though, there isn't much range to it, not like a 10-24mm.
It's a personal choice, but I really like the ultra wide 8-12mm focal lengths for landscapes, but you can easily stitch together a few frames if you can't go that wide.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For landscapes, a fast maximum aperture usually matters less than people expect. Most landscape shooters stop down to around f/8 or f/11 for greater depth of field, then use a tripod for longer exposures. So for low-light landscapes, tripod support is generally more important than getting f/2.8.
On DX, the crop factor makes lenses feel less wide than on full frame, so an ultra-wide such as 10-24mm, 12-24mm, or 11-16mm can be very useful.
Based on the answers:
- The Nikon 12-24mm f/4 DX is regarded as sharp.
- The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is also considered very sharp, but its zoom range is quite short, so it behaves almost like a prime.
- The Sigma 12-24mm was also suggested as a strong landscape option.
If you want flexibility, a 10-24mm or 12-24mm style lens is likely more versatile. If you specifically want the Tokina, expect excellent sharpness but a limited range.
Also consider a cable release when using a tripod, and filters like ND or polarizers if you want to expand your landscape options.
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