You probably have what you need right now. I generally advise against using ultra wide lenses because of the amount of sky and foreground they take in that usually has to be cropped away, and the inherent extension distortion, barrel or complex distortion, (which can usually be fixed in post processing), and the overall "special purpose" nature of these kinds of lenses. Many make the mistake of thinking they need a wide lens to "take it all in" when what they really need is to compose carefully and avoid taking it all in. But sometimes it is necessary to go wide.

I did the attached image with an 18mm lens (Nikkor 18-200mm F4-5.6) on a 10 mp D200 in 2008. I shot it as a three shot pano, with the camera in landscape orientation. My regret is that I did not shoot it with the camera in portrait orientation, which would have taken in a little bit more of that gorgeous sky. Oh, and I had a Sigma 10-20mm in my bag, which I did not use because of my comments above.

On the other hand, I much prefer one of the component images of that pano, which I have sold numerous times as a 24"x36" fine art print.

I have no issues using a modern zoom lens. Just because it is a zoom should not disqualify it getting good, sharp, reflection-free images.

The last image was taken with a D800 and a 24-70mm F2.8 This time the camera was vertical and it was a 3 frame pano. It's not beach, but it does illustrate an alternative to using an ultrawide lens.

Long time land-locked photographer taking a trip in a few weeks to St. Simons island in GA and St. Petersburg FL
I own a Nikon 7100.
My lenses include a 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 40mm macro, f2.8
, kit lens 18-55mm and 18-140mm 3.5/4.6. Oh and the kit 55-200mm

Should i be looking at a wider than 18mm lens than I can get with two zooms?
If so, any suggestions?
Adorama and B&H have a Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Zoom Lens for $249 refurbished. Any familiarity with that lens?
Thanks.

Long time land-locked photographer taking a trip in a few weeks to St. Simons island in GA and St. Petersburg FL
I own a Nikon 7100.
My lenses include a 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 40mm macro, f2.8
, kit lens 18-55mm and 18-140mm 3.5/4.6. Oh and the kit 55-200mm

Should i be looking at a wider than 18mm lens than I can get with two zooms?
If so, any suggestions?
Adorama and B&H have a Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Zoom Lens for $249 refurbished. Any familiarity with that lens?
Thanks.

I've not been to that location, but I agree that the 18-200 VR2 lens is very nice. If one needs to go wider, then one should shoot a panorama sequence and stitch them together, IMO. You don't have that lens, but the 18-55 and 55-200 lenses give you the same reach. I would just take those, if it were I. Although I don't own one, a macro lens for flower photography might be a nice thing to have.

Gene51, those panoramas are outstanding, and nicely illustrate why an ultrawide lens is not needed.

Yeah, wide and ultrawide lenses are terrible for seascapes and landscapes! Obviously I should have used something else for all these ()....





The Nikkor AF-P 10-20mm is a freakin' BARGAIN! Get it.... and a Circular Polarizer to use on it sometimes.

Check compatibility with D7100 (I think a camera firmware update is needed.)

Oh, and I change my lenses out whenever I need to, in order to get the shot I want. That means occasionally cleaning the sensor, especially when working in dusty places...



I do minimize lens changes at times by using two or three cameras set up in advance with different lenses. But there's usually not a lot of dust around the ocean... just be careful of blowing sand, if it's windy.

You probably have what you need right now. I generally advise against using ultra wide lenses because of the amount of sky and foreground they take in that usually has to be cropped away, and the inherent extension distortion, barrel or complex distortion, (which can usually be fixed in post processing), and the overall "special purpose" nature of these kinds of lenses. Many make the mistake of thinking they need a wide lens to "take it all in" when what they really need is to compose carefully and avoid taking it all in. But sometimes it is necessary to go wide.

I did the attached image with an 18mm lens (Nikkor 18-200mm F4-5.6) on a 10 mp D200 in 2008. I shot it as a three shot pano, with the camera in landscape orientation. My regret is that I did not shoot it with the camera in portrait orientation, which would have taken in a little bit more of that gorgeous sky. Oh, and I had a Sigma 10-20mm in my bag, which I did not use because of my comments above.

On the other hand, I much prefer one of the component images of that pano, which I have sold numerous times as a 24"x36" fine art print.

I have no issues using a modern zoom lens. Just because it is a zoom should not disqualify it getting good, sharp, reflection-free images.

The last image was taken with a D800 and a 24-70mm F2.8 This time the camera was vertical and it was a 3 frame pano. It's not beach, but it does illustrate an alternative to using an ultrawide lens.