Just a guess, but SMC used to mean super multicoated, but i imagine both lenses would be.
Is there a price difference or do any retailers sell both?

A word of warning.

Do your homework before using old flash guns.
They have much higher trigger voltages and it is alleged they can fry the electrics of modern dslrs.

I understand that Vivitar 283s made in Japan are suspect.
Later ones from China & Korea are OK.

A word of warning.

Do your homework before using old flash guns.
They have much higher trigger voltages and it is alleged they can fry the electrics of modern dslrs.

I understand that Vivitar 283s made in Japan are suspect.
Later ones from China & Korea are OK.

A word of warning.

Do your homework before using old flash guns.
They have much higher trigger voltages and it is alleged they can fry the electrics of modern dslrs.

I understand that Vivitar 283s made in Japan are suspect.
Later ones from China & Korea are OK.

Mate, it's 67mm!
I have one!

If I could get a 500 F1.8 for the price, I would buy a dozen!
They are about £120 new! Then theconverter would be a marvel!

I recommended this lens on a UHH forum a few days ago.
Ihave owned mine 4 years and would simply not be without it. The extra 1/2 stop proveded by the more expensive version is of doubtful use.

I know the lens well, its been around in many reicarnations for donkey's years, (40 to my knowledge!) Paragon was another version, they are currently made by Samyang in Korea for Opteka and many other brand mainly available in USA.

They are very contrasty, very difficult to focus (even at f8)
and difficult to hold steady, even with tripod. I wouldn't buy a 2x, it would cost far mor than then lens is worth,
but do as Danilo says, play around, enjoy, his advice is sound.

ooh jb, i don't believe in camera store friends.
Salesmen work in photo shops, photographers take pictures.
The people on this site are far more knowledgeable, just look at Nikonian.

Nikon 10-24mm is a clear winner.

Sharpness is excellent even at the largest aperture, and images have bags of contrast, even when lighting conditions are flat and gloomy. The ring-type AF-S autofocus system is superbly fast, practically inaudible in operation and comes complete with full-time manual focus override.

Build quality is a good match for Nikon's top APS-C cameras, such as the D7000 and D300s, yet the lens still feels well balanced on lightweight bodies such as the D3100.

The only sticking point with the Nikon is that it's by far the most expensive lens in the group. For a more modest outlay, both Sigma 10-20mm lenses offer advanced features, but the older Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 version is particularly good value.

The Tamron 10-24mm is the cheapest zoom lens in the group, but suffered from exposure inconsistencies in our tests and lacks the Sigma lenses' ring-type ultrasonic autofocus.

For maximum wide-angle coverage, the Sigma 8-16mm is a tempting proposition, but image quality isn't quite as good as with the two Sigma 10-20mm lenses. Another alternative is the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens, which gives the widest angle of view in the group.

But the fisheye effect is more of an oddity than something that will appeal on a regular basis. At the other end of the scale, the angle of view offered by the Samyang 14mm and Tokina 12-24mm lenses are disappointing, and the Samyang's distortion is pronounced, especially given that it's a prime lens rather than a zoom.

Best ultra wide-angle lens for Nikons

If you've got a bigger budget, the Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S DX ED can't be beaten in terms of image quality.


GO BUY IT LADY!

I have had the f4/5.6 for 4 years and I love it.
I use it almost always with a polariser or graduated nd filter.
Forget the more expensive f3.5, it does not except normal filters and in the test I read, was not optically superior.
Hope this helps.

HAPPY 2013 TEA XXX
HOPE YOU HAVE A FAB. ONE

And to you too Cally, have a fab 2013, be healthy and happy. k

A VERY HAPPY 2013 TO ALL

A VERY HAPPY 2013 TO ALL