Ultra Wide Angle Lens

[mikedidi1946]

I am currently in the market for adding a UWA to my collection. My current DSLR is the Canon 60D and I am looking at Tokina, Tamron, Sigma and Canon. I could use some insight, advice and opinions from people who own one of these lenses.

[Jediboy]

The Sigma 10-20 is good. I've always been pleased with the results from mine.

[donoreo]

Lots of people like the Sigma 10-20. I plan to buy one when my wife lets me.

[CR3Snapper]

I have the Canon 10-20. Very please with it. Have read good things about the Sigma one too, which is cheaper and may be a better option. have a look at some of the lens comparison/review sites

[John B.]

I use a Tamron 11 - 18 mm lens, and although it's an AF lens, it won't auto focus with my Nikon D5100, but it will with my Nikon D80. Some cameras have the focusing mechanism inside the camera but the D5100 doesn't. Now I'm wondering if a lens firmware upgrade would make it work, because my other AF lenses all auto focus.

It's not a problem, though, because most shots work well with the lens set to infinity. And my D5100 has range finder capability, making it easy to manual focus. As for the lens capability, I think it does a great job.

[greenwing]

Originally Posted by John B.

Now I'm wondering if a lens firmware upgrade would make it work, because my other AF lenses all auto focus.

No. The D5100 requires a motor in the lens, and firmware can't add that. Nikon were late to the motorised-lens party, which gives the advantage of backwards compatibility with 50+ years of lenses, but the disadvantage of no AF with unmotorised lenses on the low-end bodies. Realistically, the vast majority of expected buyers of those low end bodies will only ever have one or two modern lenses.

Chris

[John B.]

Originally Posted by greenwing

No. The D5100 requires a motor in the lens, and firmware can't add that. Nikon were late to the motorised-lens party, which gives the advantage of backwards compatibility with 50+ years of lenses, but the disadvantage of no AF with unmotorised lenses on the low-end bodies. Realistically, the vast majority of expected buyers of those low end bodies will only ever have one or two modern lenses.

Chris

I was under the impression that a lens designated AF would be autofocus. I read, elsewhere, that all lenses with the AF designation are autofocus. Apparently, only when used with a camera with internal motor.

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by John B.

I was under the impression that a lens designated AF would be autofocus. I read, elsewhere, that all lenses with the AF designation are autofocus. Apparently, only when used with a camera with internal motor.

It only applies to some Nikons. If you have a real camera you are ok

(it is a joke, relax everyone before you flame!)

[greenwing]

Originally Posted by donoreo

It only applies to some Nikons. If you have a real camera you are ok

(it is a joke, relax everyone before you flame!)

At least we don't have to throw lenses away when we change from DX to FX.

[John B.]

Originally Posted by greenwing

At least we don't have to throw lenses away when we change from DX to FX.

I wish I'd said that!