Either a brand-new Tokina 11-16, which I have heard is excellent, if not better that the Nikkors. However, I am afraid that I might get a defective piece (which has happened to a number of people and customer service where I live is not that great). Also, will it work with future cameras the way a 20 year old Nikkor works almost perfectly with today's cameras?
Or a second-hand Nikkor 12-24 f/4. I just got the lense to test out today and so far the pictures have been pretty good. I can get it for about $550. Unfortunately, the outer glass elements are not so clean; the front and rear have dust and minor scratches along with what looks like water droplets, and the grips are pretty used. The person offering it to me is a photographer who must have used the lens alot.
My budget is something under $650. Thanks.
Difficult choice indeed.
The nikon is an interesting lens. However, what you describe that looks like water droplets may be fungus. If it seems to be on one of the inner elements I would be very, very wary of that lens. Fungus can be slowed but stopping it requires a total disassembly which will be costly. Was that lend used in a humid environment?
The tokina... I've used one once and was very, very impressed by it.It will get you a stop more light which may be useful.
With regards to future proofing. I've bought and sold a lot of Nikon mount lenses over the years from various brands. The only lens I ever encountered was a 1980s 19-35 f3.5 which happened to have the tokina badge on it (but that same lens was sold under quite a few different names). With that lens my body was convinced it would open to f1.1. Surprising at first but I quickly learned to deal with that.
Now with Canon I know quite a few examples where 3rd party lenses had to be updated to continue working.
Bad samples can happen with any brand, even nikon. Best solution would be to buy the ens in a shop that will allow you to test it in the shop or to exchange it after a few days.
So.. .think about if you want that extra stop, think about what I said about possible fungus.
Tamrac 614 Super Pro SLR Camera Bag Case BLACK NEW USA, Tamrac 614 Super Pro SLR Camera Case Bag BLACK NEW USA, Rear Lens Dust Cover Cap for Camera Canon EOS DSLR SLR, Lowepro CompuTrekker Plus AW Photo Backpack w/ Notebook Compartment, Wide angle + telephoto + flash + UV CPL FLD lens filter kit for Nikon D60 D40, Slave + dedicated flash + Telephoto lens + UV CPL FLD filter kit for Nikon D5000, Telephoto + macro lens + flash slave UV CPL FLD filter kit for Nikon D80 D70, Remote control + wide angle lens + flash + UV CPL FLD filter for Nikon D60, 0.43X Wide Fisheye + 2X Tele + Close Up Set + Hood for Canon T3i T3 T2i T2 T1i, 0.43X Fisheye + 2X Telephoto + Close Up Set for Canon 1100D 1000D 600D 550D 500D, Telephoto + Wide Angle + Close Up Set + Hood for Canon for Canon XT XTi XS XSi, National Geographic NG Walkabout W5070 Rucksack Camera Case Bag Backpack , Zeiss Ikon 1.4/50mm Planar T* ZE Lens Kit for Canon EOS #ZI5014PTZEK, 58mm Wide 0.45x+Tele 2x+Flash+Filter Set+Macro For Olympus E5 E600 E1 E300 D-slr, Novoflex Adapter for Nikon Lenses to M43 MFT Panasonic Olympus Digital "NEW", Novoflex Adapter Leica R Lenses to Canon EOS Digital Body "NEW", Panasonic Lumix DMW-VF1 External Optical Viewfinder *NEW UK STOCK & UK BASED*, Canon real leather digital camera pouch lens case New, New 0.45x Wide Angle+ Filter Kit UV/CPL/FLD Lens For Nikon/Pentax Fits 52mm Lens, Sony Alpha DSLR System Carrying Case with 5 Padded Dividers, Flash UV CPL FLD filter kit + .45X + 2X telephoto + close up lens f/ Nikon D3000, Flash slave + diffuser + wide angle + telephoto + UV CPL FLD for Nikon D40, 0.45x Wide + 2x telephoto lens + slave and dedicated flash for Nikon D3000 D5000, 0.45X Wide 2X telephoto flash UV CPL FD filter lens close up set for Nikon D100, 2X + 0.45X + UV CPL FLD Filter + close up set + lens hood f/ Nikon D60 D90, Telephoto lens + wide macro + UV CPL FLD filter kit + hood for Nikon D5000 D3000, Kata KT DC-439 DIGITAL CAMERA CASE Carry Bag Video NEW!, 0.45x Wide+Tele 2x+Flash+Macro+Filter Set For AF Nikon D5100 D3100 D7000 D60 D90, Pentax D-BG4 Battery Grip for K7 Digital SLR Camera #39846, 2.0X Telephoto + 0.45X wide lens + UV CPL FLD filter set for Nikon D5000 D3000, Macro lens + HD telephoto UV CPL FLD filter close up set for Nikon D90 D700 D80, Wide telephoto lens slave and dedicated flash close up set for Nikon D3000 D5000, Billingham PhotoVest Extra Large (Chest Size to 51'') Color - Stone, Camtrol Prime 22 Customizable Digital Camera Rig, Billingham PhotoVest Large (Chest Size to 49") Color - Stone, Billingham PhotoVest Medium (Chest Size to 47") Color - Stone, Billingham PhotoVest Small (Chest Size to 44") Color - Stone, UV CPL Filter kit + hood + auto cap lens + adapter tube for Panasonic LX5, x New Underwater Camera Phone Waterproof
Dry bag Case, 500mm Telephoto +Tripod for Canon Digital Rebel +BONUS, 0.45X Wide + 2X telephoto lens + close up kit + filter + microfiber f/ Nikon D60, Vintage LEICA OUBIO Visoflex II & III 16466M M3 M5 M6 II M, No Reserve, In Box, 52mm Filter Kit for Nikon D3100 D5100 D3000 D5000 18-55mm VR Lens + HOOD, Camera Armor Nikon D2x D2xs Digital SLR Rubber Case NEW, Essential Kit for Nikon DSLR D5100 D5000 D7000 Includes Wide Angle + Telephoto, National Geographic NG Walkabout W5070 W2140 Rucksack Camera Case Bag Backpack , New with Tags Off - Think Tank Photo Airport Intl - Blk - Take a Look!, Camera Armor Pentax K10D K20D Digital SLR Rubber Case, Ikelite Underwater Camera Housing for Canon Powershot S95 Digital Camera #624295, THINKTANK RETROSPECTIVE LENS CHANGER 2 - TWO-LENS SHOULDER BAG, PINESTONE - NEW, 2X + 0.45X Lens + UV CPL FLD filter + flash + close up set for camera Nikon D90, *LOOK* Wide-Angle Kit for Canon PowerShot S5-IS *LOOK*, Camera Armor Canon Rebel XTi Digital SLR Rubber Case, .45X wide 2X telephoto + UV CPL FLD filter + close up set lens f/ Nikon D70 D40, Wide lens + telephoto + flash + hood + UV CPL FLD filter kit for Nikon D5000, PRISTINE, 1 1/2" ADJUSTABLE FOR MINOLTA SEMI-WIDE CAMERA STRAP, NICE TAMRAC PHOTO VIDEO 1 WAIST PAK CAMERA BAG DESIGNED FOR USE WITH DSLRS #5201, PHOENIX COMPACT CAMERA BAG GREAT FOR A SMALL DSLR, .45 + 2X Telephoto + UV CPL FLD filter + close up lens set f/ Nikon D90 D300 D60, HDCAM F900,
Comments are closed for this entry.