Need input.....Tokina 12-24 lens decision

[Liz]

I guess it comes down to a financial question. If you were working profesionally, you'd need both but the lens is a "want" for amateurs (there is nothing negative about that word, IMO, I'm one too). Not to say that you shouldn't keep the lens. You have other nice gear and know what it can do. I use my super-wide quite often and would hate to be without it.

Yes, it is a want - I just want to be sure it's not just a "whim" As for my other gear, I sold all the heavier lenses so it leaves me with the 50mm/f1.4 and the 28mm/f1.4. I sold my favorites - the 17-40L (wide, but not like the 12mm), 24-105L IS and the 70-300IS which is such a great lens - almost the quality of an "L." The Tokina is also a bit heavy for me, but I wouldn't be carrying it around for street photography which is what I used the others for - and walked for hours carrying the weight around my neck.

If you returned the lens, would you pay return shipping (as well as the shipping to get it to you in the first place) and/or a restocking charge, only to re-order it later and pay another shipping cost? If that were the case I'd keep it and put the money back into savings as I could.

I got it an Norman Camera for $10 less than anywhere else which covered some of the shipping. I would have to pay return shipping plus insurance - about $15. No restocking charge. Actually, wondering about whether I should have sent it back would probably drive me to ordering it sooner or later.

Steve, what do you use your superwide for other than landscape?

Liz

[another view]

My point about the shipping was that you paid $10-15 to get it to you and will pay that to return it, so you're $25 behind seeing as they don't have a restocking charge. I say $25 behind because if you did reorder it you'd pay the $10-15 once again to get lens #2 to you. Plus, I don't see the US dollar getting any stronger so the price of the lens may go up (wonder if that had anything to do with the lack of Nikon rebates at the end of last year) and cost of transportation is only going to increase.

I use my Sigma 10-20 for a lot of things, one being interiors. Layne Kennedy was the guy who got me hooked on a 20mm lens on a 35mm film SLR. That first image you see was taken with one, and probably on Provia slide film. A lot of his shots might not look like they were taken with a super-wide, but probably more than you might guess - IOW I don't think he over-uses it as a perspective distortion special effect.

[Liz]

My point about the shipping was that you paid $10-15 to get it to you and will pay that to return it, so you're $25 behind seeing as they don't have a restocking charge. I say $25 behind because if you did reorder it you'd pay the $10-15 once again to get lens #2 to you. Plus, I don't see the US dollar getting any stronger so the price of the lens may go up (wonder if that had anything to do with the lack of Nikon rebates at the end of last year) and cost of transportation is only going to increase.

I use my Sigma 10-20 for a lot of things, one being interiors. Layne Kennedy was the guy who got me hooked on a 20mm lens on a 35mm film SLR. That first image you see was taken with one, and probably on Provia slide film. A lot of his shots might not look like they were taken with a super-wide, but probably more than you might guess - IOW I don't think he over-uses it as a perspective distortion special effect.

Steve,
Your input has been a great help in sorting this out. You're right about the money. Buying and returning and buying a lens is costly. You're right about the US dollar, increasing prices and transportation.....

I want to thank you for the link to Layne Kennedy. What awesome, incredible photos! Wow! If nothing else convinces me to keep this lens, nothing will. After viewing his images, I was actually wondering if I should have gone for the 10-22. His creativity, composition, subjects, use of equipment WOWED me! I was very inspired. I doubt if I will return this lens after seeing what he does with wide!

Thanks so much Steve.....I really appreciate you taking the time to bring some clarity into the situation - and for the link to LK. I spent a bit of time there, and intend to go back tonight to see more. I was really intrigued with his photography.

ETA: I wonder if you would consider posting the Layne Kennedy website link on the Ultra-Wide Angle thread - I think it would be a great inspiration to those who just purchased - or already have - a wide angle lens (and for us wannabees too!),



Liz

[another view]

wondering if I should have gone for the 10-22

Don't second guess yourself - keep the Tokina! I have heard (rumor) that it's about the same design as the Nikon 12-24 which is an excellent lens. Layne was a huge fan of the 20 on 35mm film, and that's about a 14mm lens on a 1.5x or 1.6x DSLR - so with your new lens you're all set with that angle of view.

I went on one of Layne's workshops in 2001 and had a blast. He's a lot of fun to spend time with, a great teacher and really opened my eyes to photography in general. Some day I'd love to go on his winter sled dog trip, but it's a bit pricey... He is a Nikon shooter and was featured in their magazine awhile back - from that I know he has been shooting digital these days but he doesn't talk much about gear.

Good idea about posting the link in the ultra-wide thread but I feel like I should put one of my own shots in there too. Let me look...