Which wide-angle zoom (Nikon FX)
Discussion
Been after a Nikon F-mount wide-angle zoom for a while now (I may have posted about this before) and I'm now down to I think two options - Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 and the Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D. Part of the reason for those two is that I use filters fairly often and a lot of wide angle zooms don't support front filters, but happy to hear of other options if I've missed any.
Anyway, both of those are available for similar money. I can get a brand new Tamron for about the same as a used example of that Nikon described as "good" condition. Most of my other kit was purchased used so I don't mind doing that again so long as it's in working order. I guess I'm looking for input on either/both options. The Tamron is obviously much newer (I don't know that this necessarily means better?) and I could get one brand new with warranty. The Nikon is f/2.8 right through the range though and I often hear people talk fondly of older Nikon and Canon lenses as being better made etc.
Both seem to get good reviews, I guess part of me is slightly put off the Tamron because I have their 24-70mm f/2.8 (not the G2) which I've never really been entirely happy with - I seem to miss focus quite a lot with that one despite AF fine tuning and I've never gotten a really clear, sharp image with it, but I realise that may well be down to me or just a slightly bad copy.
Happy to hear any input
Anyway, both of those are available for similar money. I can get a brand new Tamron for about the same as a used example of that Nikon described as "good" condition. Most of my other kit was purchased used so I don't mind doing that again so long as it's in working order. I guess I'm looking for input on either/both options. The Tamron is obviously much newer (I don't know that this necessarily means better?) and I could get one brand new with warranty. The Nikon is f/2.8 right through the range though and I often hear people talk fondly of older Nikon and Canon lenses as being better made etc.
Both seem to get good reviews, I guess part of me is slightly put off the Tamron because I have their 24-70mm f/2.8 (not the G2) which I've never really been entirely happy with - I seem to miss focus quite a lot with that one despite AF fine tuning and I've never gotten a really clear, sharp image with it, but I realise that may well be down to me or just a slightly bad copy.
Happy to hear any input
Do you need f2.8? If not, I use a Nikkor 16-35 f4 - it gets very good reviews and takes 77mm filters. It distorts quite a bit fully-wide, but it's easy to correct in PP
Probably my most-used lens
I'd like a 14-24 f2.8, but can't justify the extra cost
Personally, if you need f2.8, I'd go for a good secondhand Nikkor over the Tamron every time
Probably my most-used lens
I'd like a 14-24 f2.8, but can't justify the extra cost
Personally, if you need f2.8, I'd go for a good secondhand Nikkor over the Tamron every time
Thanks for that, I use Lightroom so distortion won't be a real issue I guess. Regards f/2.8, I do like shooting night sky/milky way shots so I was figuring f/2.8 would obviously let more light in but the lens really has to be sharp wide open otherwise that sort of defeats the purpose I guess.
Do you use that f/4 lens for night sky/astro stuff at all?
Do you use that f/4 lens for night sky/astro stuff at all?
Tamron 15-30 F2.8
One dam night by Chris Marr, on Flickr
Filters are a nightmare but apart from that ..
One dam night by Chris Marr, on FlickrFilters are a nightmare but apart from that ..
I've an early 17-35mm Nikkor AF-S (from serial number probably built about 2001). Purchased at least a decade ago, and I haggled a bit at Grays for it - slightly tatty one, no box etc etc.... I see that I would have to pay considerably more than the c£700 I paid for it.
It doesn't have an easy life - broken the hood at least once and the motor eventually squeaked and ground it's way to a halt with connections not reliably working. Now had a new lease of life after a service at Nikon UK.
I wanted a Nikkor - for reasons including that all my lenses "do the same thing" - well apart form the one "G" lens which is beautiful except for lack of aperture ring.....
I am not a big one for filters, preferring bracketing and PP if necessary, but a polar-bear-iser gets an outing from time to time and it's easy to use.
Quality: just excellent - well-behaved CA and flaring; Lightroom etc can automatically handle profile for "ironing out the kinks" when necessary; probably only used at f/4, the obvious sweet spot.
Handling: slightly weighty when you're loading your bag up, but a good solid, balanced feel when in use
Build quality: see above, built better than its plastic hood - apart from it wanting to give up electronically and having been a squeaky little bugger for most of the time I have owned it, the focus and zoom has remained solid, smooth and predictable
VFM: wouldn't look back now it's had so much use, and over at least a decade, and was bought at a good price, but I can see it seeming "expensive". Then again, even as a tatty example it would fetch a reasonable sum back on Bay of Fleas, so that's no hardship.
Would highly recommend it as just a brilliant little workhorse all round.
Oh - and it's on the Df ready to go right now...
It doesn't have an easy life - broken the hood at least once and the motor eventually squeaked and ground it's way to a halt with connections not reliably working. Now had a new lease of life after a service at Nikon UK.
I wanted a Nikkor - for reasons including that all my lenses "do the same thing" - well apart form the one "G" lens which is beautiful except for lack of aperture ring.....
I am not a big one for filters, preferring bracketing and PP if necessary, but a polar-bear-iser gets an outing from time to time and it's easy to use.
Quality: just excellent - well-behaved CA and flaring; Lightroom etc can automatically handle profile for "ironing out the kinks" when necessary; probably only used at f/4, the obvious sweet spot.
Handling: slightly weighty when you're loading your bag up, but a good solid, balanced feel when in use
Build quality: see above, built better than its plastic hood - apart from it wanting to give up electronically and having been a squeaky little bugger for most of the time I have owned it, the focus and zoom has remained solid, smooth and predictable
VFM: wouldn't look back now it's had so much use, and over at least a decade, and was bought at a good price, but I can see it seeming "expensive". Then again, even as a tatty example it would fetch a reasonable sum back on Bay of Fleas, so that's no hardship.
Would highly recommend it as just a brilliant little workhorse all round.
Oh - and it's on the Df ready to go right now...
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