Prime wide angle for D70 ?

9designs2

9designs2

9designs2

Soldato
Joined
5 Jan 2003
Posts
3,523
Location
Somewhere in the middle
Been having a lens re think, decided I don't need my Sigma 17-35 EX anymore from my F80, as the D70 came with a 18-70. So it's up on auction.

What I was planning to get was a 12-24 type lens, as 18mm on a DSLR is not wide enough, when you have been use to using 18mm on a full frame.

But now thinking about it I don't like the idea of ultra wide zooms, too much possible distortion etc. TBH I don't think it's that much of advantage having ultra wide zooms, move your feet a bit and you have the same effect.

So what Prime lens approx 14mm can people recommend for the D70. No 4 figure suggestions please !!!

There seem several Sigma ones all look the same !.... any others worth looking at. I guess up to £500 new as a guide price should get a good one, will look for a used item though.
 
Nikon obviously make some....

10.5mm F2.8G DX Fisheye - £468
16mm F2.8 Fisheye - £550
20mm F2.8D - £485

but i guess the 20mm is too narrow, and not liking the distortion youll hate the fisheye idea.
 
Sigma Options...

14mm F2.8 EX - £533
15mm F2.8 Fisheye - £299/£389 (non DG/DG)
20mm F1.8 EX DG - £244

Thats just about all the options within your budget :)
 
But in the same respect so is the distortion from a wide zoom...which opens up several more options like the 12-24 Sigma Ex or the 10-20 Sigma EX, i have the 12-24 and its excellent although i dont use it much these days.
 
hmm where I'm coming from is the 17-35 EX I have, or the 18mm prime I have for my Contax gives me great wide shots, no "fisheye" effect. With the senor size 18mm is only the same as around a 28mm in full frame speak. Sort of standard wide angle. So I'm after a True wide angle for the D70 sensor.
Sigma 14mm F2.8 EX - £533 seems the only one to fit the bill ????
 
I really don't think that it's worth getting an ultrawide prime for a crop sensor. You might get some marginally better distortion performance and they tend to be f/2.8 instead of f/4, but you end up carrying glass that are excessively heavy and bulky because those were originally designed for a 35mm frame and cover an unnecessarily large image circle. As you go more and more wide, the lens size and weight seems to increase exponentially so it's best to avoid lenses that are designed for a larger image circle than you need by the time you get to the ultra wide end.

Sigma, Tokina, Tamron and Nikon all make 12-24 (or 10-20) ultrawide lenses designed for the smaller crop sensors. It just seems pointless to carry all that extra weight and bulk on lenses that are giving you a frame much bigger than you need.

With those ultrawides, alongside the 10.5mm fisheye (more of a fun lens, but worth a look) I feel that Nikon gives you enough wideangle options.
 
Not sure I follow, I buy one extra lens to carry, does it mater if it's a 12-24 or a fixed 14mm corrected lens, about the same weight I would think.
I like using my 18mm on Full frame/35mm Just want the same in digital....For landscape and architecture/buildings etc, hence minimum distortion required.
Guess I'll have to stick with shooting film !! ;)
 
I'm sure one of the 4 ultrawide zooms will have a pretty good performance for distortion at the wide end (it was the Tokina, if I remember correctly).

12mm on 1.5 crop = 18mm efl
14mm on 1.5 crop = 21mm efl

and that 3mm is likely to make a very big difference in how wide the field of view is. I'd suggest look for some in-depth reviews of the ultrawide zooms - many people already use the Nikkor 12-24 for example, with no grievous complaints.
 
I have the Nikon 12-24mm f4 and whilst I love it (it's the only lens I had on my camera when I went to Prague), it does suffer from severe distortion at the wider angles (and even some mild distortion at 24mm).

I'm considering trying the Sigma 14mm..
 
Last edited:
I saw the Sigma 14mm (£535 approx) in a high street shop today, quite big innit !!!!.... Anyway 21mm efl sounds a nice comprise.
I had read the Nikon suffers much more than the Sigma zoom.
Will have to return some time for a try out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom