Wide Angle Lens (Page 2): The most important thing in the video is saying why a polarizer is still useful for wide angle lenses. Just not for wide angle balloon pics. :-)...

amehta Loc: Boston

KlausK wrote:

So much for the Nikon not taking filters ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_x_gwR3Hnw&list=TLLajc-23L07f-aI-oGnla3M7LlpEr-PQi

The most important thing in the video is saying why a polarizer is still useful for wide angle lenses. Just not for wide angle balloon pics. :-)

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

The 14-24mm is a wonderful lens.
It will take a filter arrangement on the front.
The lens is expensive, bulky and heavy.
The filter attachment for the front is expensive.
I wouldn't dare put anything Cokin on the front of this lens.
It deserves better quality than that.
I don't use polarisers with my ultrawide because of uneven polarisation.

Personally, I think you will be much better off with the 16-35mm or the 17-35mm lenses.
They are cheaper, smaller, lighter and very good quality and image quality. They do not have a bulbous front element that the 14-24mm has.
The 17-35mm is very highly regarded.
I believe Ken Rockwell said the 16-35mm was sharper than the 14-24mm but I think he is the only one I have ever seen who has said that.
How about 2 lenses - the Nikon 17-35mm with Lee filter kit plus either the Rokinon 14mm ultrawide or the Rokinon 16mm fisheye, for less than the 14-24mm plus filter kit will cost you.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

PHOTOBILL71 wrote:

Good morning,
This fall I am planning a trip to New Mexico to the international balloon festival. I shoot with a d-700 and do not have a wide angle lens. I plan on buying or renting one for this shoot and wondering if any of you have a suggestion as to which lens will give me the best result to capture wide angle to get as many colors and balloons in this shooting situation? A these fixed lens or zoom?

Every lens has a specified viewing angle which is included in the lens specs. You can find those specs at the manufacturer's website and at retail sites such as B&H and Adorama. I'm not familiar with Nikon lenses, but as an example two of my Canon lenses, a 35mm prime and a 17-40mm zoom, have angles of 84 degrees and 103 degrees. The info can be useful if you are trying to choose between two lenses. BTW, with zoom lenses the viewing angle decreases as you zoom out to the longer focal lengths.

amehta Loc: Boston

In a lot of situations like this, I find I have a general sense of what I want to shoot, but nothing specific. When I'm at the event, I end up looking for shots which my equipment can handle, rather than seeing shots and wishing I had the equipment for it. I'm sure others will approach it from the other side. If you approach it like I do, the 16-35mm f/4 will be more than enough. If you come from the other direction, the 14-24mm f/2.8 gives you the best ultra wide-angle coverage.

denningjohn Loc: Dallas

Have had good success with Nikon 10-24, a little pricey but worth it. I Agee no circular polarizer.

amehta Loc: Boston

denningjohn wrote:

Have had good success with Nikon 10-24, a little pricey but worth it. I Agee no circular polarizer.

The Nikon 10-24mm is a DX lens, it will not work effectively on the D700.

zincgt Loc: Tucson AZ

I've been to the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque and wished I had the Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 I have now when I was there. Had only a Canon 28mm for my 60D crop factor then.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Sigma 10-20 is a DX lens, the OP is looking for a suggestion for an FX camera. But it is a great lens on a cropped sensor. The Nikkor 14-24 F2.8 is an excellent lens. but the 16-35 F2.8 might be a more versatile choice which still provides excellent image quality.

bear maker Loc: Indiana

I have the Sigma 10-20 on my rebel and am very happy with it.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

bear maker wrote:

I have the Sigma 10-20 on my rebel and am very happy with it.

That is a very nice lens! However, it is a DX lens for a crop sensor camera and the OP has an full frame camera and needs an FX lens.

Teacher Loc: Alabama

I went to a ballon festival last fall with my D-700. The lens I used the most was a 24-70f2.8. The 24 focal length was wide enough. Much wider and you get barrel distortion up close. Those fat balloons are barreled enough. I have a 16-35 f/4 but didn't need it. Have fun.

PHOTOBILL71 wrote:

Good morning,
This fall I am planning a trip to New Mexico to the international balloon festival. I shoot with a d-700 and do not have a wide angle lens. I plan on buying or renting one for this shoot and wondering if any of you have a suggestion as to which lens will give me the best result to capture wide angle to get as many colors and balloons in this shooting situation? A these fixed lens or zoom?

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

The 14-24mm is very sharp, but I prefer the 16-35mm as the 14-24mm only accepts jell filters in the rear and the front lens protrudes so you can not put a UV or Nikon NC filter on it. The 16-35mm accepts all front filters, is a sharp lens and you only lose 2mm over the 14-24mm.

MT Shooter wrote:

The Nikon 14-24mm is very hard to beat at any price, but that price is a bit steep to match.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

PHOTOBILL71 wrote:

Klausk, Not sure what you mean by matched polarizer/ Can you be more specific. Also it seem like I heard that the Nikon 14x24 will not take a filter....is this correct. I agree that I would think a day shot into the sky that a polarizer would be good, but would not think so for a night shot when trying to catch light up balloons??

Lee makes a filter holder for the Nikon 14-24. There are hard and gradient ND filters but no polarizer. Polarizers on big lenses don't work. Those that try to sell you one like Fotodiox are false.

The 14-24 is exceptional and very sharp, if not the sharpest lens for Nikon.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I have one on my Sigma 12-24mm and those are huge filter holders not the type to stick in your go to bag.

Mark7829 wrote:

Lee makes a filter holder for the Nikon 14-24. There are hard and gradient ND filters but no polarizer. Polarizers on big lenses don't work. Those that try to sell you one like Fotodiox are false.

The 14-24 is exceptional and very sharp, if not the sharpest lens for Nikon.

K7DJJ Loc: Spring Hill, FL

amehta wrote:

Either the 14-24mm f/2.8 or the 16-35mm f/4 would serve you well. You probably want to shoot raw (or raw+jpeg) so you can fix distortion more easily, since you will not be able to always keep the camera level. This shot was taken with a D800 and 24mm lens, processed with DxO Optics Pro 9. You can see how much of the edges are lost in straightening it, but it can be worth it. The effect with a lens in the 14-18mm range is even more dramatic.

I think your straightening crop example is misleading.