Replacement lens for Nikon D80

[stevef]

Hi
I would like some advice please on a replacement lens for my D80. It will be for mainly landscape photography. At the moment I'm using a kit 18-70 Nikon and have been happy but now am looking for some extra quality. Haven't got a budget limit. Any advice would be welcome.
Cheers

[chris-p]

If it's for landscapes hy not consider something wider, like the Sigma 10-20? It's £400 for the cheaper one and £450 for the fixed f/3.5.

Nikon also do their own 10-24mm which is around £600-£650.

Or if you just want a bit wider but higher quality there are things like Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 which should be in the £1200-£1300 range.

[stevef]

Originally Posted by chris-p

If it's for landscapes hy not consider something wider, like the Sigma 10-20? It's £400 for the cheaper one and £450 for the fixed f/3.5.

Nikon also do their own 10-24mm which is around £600-£650.

Or if you just want a bit wider but higher quality there are things like Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 which should be in the £1200-£1300 range.

Thanks for your prompt reply Chris, I have considered the Sigma 10-20 and the Nikon 10-24
but was not sure how much better these two lenses would be and whether it is worth paying an extra £200 for the Nikon. I would have to think long and hard about the other Nikon before I splashed out over a grand. Many thanks again for your advice

[chris-p]

I've never used the Nikon 10-24mm but I can't imagine it's that different in quality to the Sigma.

I've got the Sigma and am very impressed. It suffers with distortion at 10mm but it's hardly suprising. It's also got a coating on the front element which seems to be slightly polarising which means it really makes the skies pop. A couple of examples (check out the distortion in the second shot!)...

[chris-p]

Just found a couple of back to back tests of the 2 lenses.

Here and here.

The general favour seems to be with the Nikon. The suggestions are less CA and slightly sharper in the corners but looking at the test shots there doesn't seem to be much in it for my money. The Nikon is a fair chunk more expensive.

[stevef]

Thanks again Chris this is very helpfull and is pushing me towards the Sigma. Going by your pictures (which are very nice by the way) it looks like I could save myself a few bob as well. Cheers

[chris-p]

There are quite a few ultra-wide lenses out there now but the Sigma still seems to be the favourite. I bought mine second hand from an old DCM forum member. It doesn't get a huge amount of use but I'm always impressed with it when I do use it.

It still suprises me when I look through the viewfinder at 10mm for the first time in a while though... it's very wide indeed!

The only thing is that it doesn't give you the step up in quality that you mentioned in your original post but ultra-wide top end kit is pretty pricey!

[stevef]

Its the quality that I was really thinking about and I realize that comes at a price. I was hoping the Sigma 10-20 or the Nikon 10-24 would be an improvement on the kit lens. Cheers

[chris-p]

It's hard to say as there is very little overlap in the focal lengths (at least with the Sigma) and they're not directly comparable. Neither are a replacement for the 18-70, they're more of an extension in range.

Perhaps search through Flickr for shots with both lenses and see what you think...

[stevef]

I will try the flickr route Chris, thanks for your help