Hey guys,
With a D700 now in my bag the wide angle world is now needing assessment to find an appropriate lens. As it stands I have a Sigma 10-20 so that just isn't going to cut it being the crop sensor design.
Before the Japanese earthquake I was looking at a 14-24mm Nikon F2.8 (and I am still am second-hand). Its the lens I want in the long run, but I am not going to be able to foot the nearly 2000 dollars (25% inflation ouch) for it after this event, and am tempted to hold the gun on it until this gets sorted.
This got me thinking about other lenses, and I came across the Sigma 12-24 F4.5-5.6. JM Tran had one for his canon (durign a wedding last year) which impressed me when I used it, I like the fact its the widest thing out there, and while without the cred of the 14-24 and seems to be a pretty well performing lens. Does anyone use one of these on a Nikon body, and what your thoughts on performance/comparison to other choices.
I did think at first of the 16-35, but the price issue is similar for it, but I don't believe this to be a wide enough lens for my purposes and for the effects I want to work with.
Now, the twist. Normally I would just wait....but I am heading to the states in early May for a month and bit of storm chasing and national parks as the pure focus (39 days) and to go without a wide for the D700 would be fairly criminal given its my favourite way to shoot. I've looked at renting the 14-24, but its just not worth it...going to run a bill of a grand for that sort of period. So any suggestion would be appreciated. (And alternatives to the above).