Best Wide Angle Lenses For Nikon DX – Top 7 Picks (NEW Guide)

Tokina 11-16mm f2.8	Nikon AF-S DX 10-24mm f3.5	Rokinon 16mm f2.0
BEST OVERALL Low distortion Affordable and well built	PREMIUM CHOICE Extremely sharp Edge darkening	BEST BUDGET Smooth manual focus Fast aperture
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Last updated on June 1st, 2021 at 06:15 am

A wide-angle lens is any lens with a wider field of view than what your eyes see. Unfortunately, many people settle for the wrong product under the image of a wide-angle lens. In other cases, the lens is equally expensive as the camera, if not more.  

Choosing the right lens is quite hard. As a landscape photographer, opting for a lens with a narrow focal length and limited aperture range is just an invitation to poor quality images. Our list of the best lenses for Nikon DX consists of incredible lenses by some renowned manufacturers, including Rokinon and Nikon. Their long focal lengths and wide-angle views make them ideal for landscape and architectural photography.

Comparison Table: Best Wide Angle Lenses For Nikon DX

NAME	Nikon AF-S DX 10-24mm	Tokina 11-16mm	Sigma 10-20mm	Rokinon 16mm	Nikon AF-P DX 10-20mm	Rokinon 10mm	Tokina 12-28mm
APERTURE	f/3.5	f/2.8	f/3.5	f/2	f/4.5	f/2.8	f/4
AUTOFOCUS	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
IMAGE STABILIZATION	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
WEIGHT	1.01 lbs	1.23 lbs	1.14 lbs	1.25 lbs	0.50 lbs	1.27 lbs	1.16 lbs

Here are some of the best wide angle lenses for Nikon DX

1. Nikon AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED

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Features:

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm is a great lens for Nikons DX-format digital SLR cameras. With an impressive angle of view and a great optical formula of 14 elements in 9 groups, it’s the perfect lens for every landscape photographer.  

Ergonomics

Nikon is much smaller compared to other FX lenses but bigger than Micro four-thirds zoom. It surely won’t overwhelm your camera with its heavyweight until you’re using a compact camera like Nikon D3200. The communication and autofocus system, on the other hand, is perfect for every Nikon DX camera. Nikon sports a well-built plastic structure with a wide zoom ring and rubberized grip band. In short, the structure is strong and durable enough to stand well in tough conditions.  

Performance

Nikon delivers a 109-degree ultra-wide angle of view at 100mm that narrows down to 61degrees to a moderate wide-angle. The barrel distortion remains minimal, similar to other 10mm lenses at f/3.5-4.5, and decreases as you move towards the 14mm range.  

Moving on, Nikon comes with an internal focusing system and a great Silent Wave motor. They work simultaneously to deliver a fast, precise, and silent focus. You could switch to the focus ring for a manual focusing control, but we didn’t regret relying on the internal system. Moreover, the IF mechanism doesn’t rotate; hence there’s no need to worry about using a to the graduated neutral density filter.  

Talking about chromatic aberrations, they are a tad bit obvious with Nikon, but with advancements in camera technology, any similar defects will automatically be removed. The light falloff wasn’t a huge issue either; Nikon has firm control over any light fall off, and until and unless you are mounting the lens on a film camera, there is nothing to worry about.  

Moreover, Nikon has a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:5; thus, it’s meant for framing subjects with dimensions within 118x79mm. Surprisingly, the lens produces a pleasing bokeh effect. It utilizes a seven-segment diaphragm with rounded blades for a smooth blur. The overall results at f/5-8 are remarkably sharp, after which you may notice some diffraction that becomes more obvious on f/16. However, the performance remains great throughout the range except at f/22.  

Bottom line

We thoroughly enjoyed working with the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm lens. The remarkable image sharpness in the center and surprising edge sharpness is worth appreciating. We prefer having a better macro performance. However, it’s not a dealbreaker.

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2. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens

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Features:

The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens offers a new internal silent focusing motor and great performance. It is a great option for those who want to buy a wide-angle lens for Nikon DX.

Ergonomics

Tokina features a plastic-coated barrel and a solid build to withstand the tough photography conditions. It has a neat layout with hardly any switches for easy handling. Moreover, the zoom ring is great in terms of size and positioning. We didn’t face any issues in operating the well-dampened ring as it rotates smoothly. There aren’t any weather seals, and unfortunately, Tokina isn’t waterproof either. However, the lens mount gasket offers decent protection.  

Performance

The first factor to consider before purchasing a lens is the focal length: a wide-angle lens needs an ultra-wide focal length range. Tokina offers a smaller-than-full-frame image circle with an attractive wide-angle of view, but these features are not meant for general-purpose lenses. The 11-16mm range is decent for a photographers kit and results in well-composed images: you must ensure that your desired subject is close enough to not imitate a tiny dot in the frame. Landscape and architectural images are quite impressive as the lens frames the subject in a striking and focused manner. However, it’s best to avoid portrait photography with Tokina.  

Fortunately, the maximum f/2.8 aperture range makes up for any drawbacks in the focal length range and is ideal for low light action. Moving on, Tokina delivers impressive center sharpness that improves significantly after it’s stopped down. At f/2.8, the corners are really soft compared to much sharper corners at f/4 with great performance at f/8. Far off subjects cause less distortion: at 11mm, you may notice some barrel distortion, but it disappears around 14mm.  

We found the autofocusing system decent. The AF Drive is fast and accurate, but it may need to readjust on some occasions. Luckily, wide-angle lenses get away with slow as compared to the lenses with longer focal lengths.  

Bottom line

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens delivers a strong optical performance with some great features.

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3. Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens

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Features:

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 lens was introduced to the market a few years ago as an APS-C camera lens compatible with most renowned cameras.  

Ergonomics

The all-black matte-finished lens features a plastic body and rubberized coating for a basic finish. It consists of a metal body mount and plastic filter threads. The lens layout is fairly simple, with a single switch to adjust the autofocus along with a distance scale.  

Performance

Fortunately, we noticed quite a few improvements in this version, especially in terms of sharpness at 10mm. While using the lens at its widest angle (f/3.5), you’ll witness amazing sharpness throughout the frame. Despite the softness at the extreme edges, Sigma performs pretty well in this department. Moreover, the soft edges disappear by zooming out; hence it’s not a huge issue. As you stop down to f/8, the performance remains the same if not better with minimal blur and distortion. However, the quality begins to lack as you step down to f/16 with an average performance at f/22.  

Talking about chromatic aberration and the” vignette” effect, they aren’t problematic in this case. Even though the aberration is much higher than the previous version, you’ll get fairly decent images at f/4-5.6. The corner shading decreases as you move along the aperture. From 2/3EV darker at f/3.5, the dark corners adjust to 1/3EV at f/5.6.  

Fortunately, Sigma has firm control over the distortion: you may notice minor issues at 10mm that begin to reduce as you zoom into the lens with negligible distortion at 15mm. Furthermore, the autofocusing system is pretty impressive. The HSM focusing motor powers the system for effortless and almost silent operation. Sigma goes through the focusing range in less than 2 seconds, while the point to point focusing is much faster.  

Bottom line

Quite a few lenses were released after the Sigma 10-20mm lens. However, it still remains a highly demanded product to date. With its sophisticated internal control system and the ability to produce sharp images, Sigma is one of our favorites.

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4. Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 Aspherical Wide Angle Lens

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Features:

Rokinon 16MAF-N 16mm f/2.0 is an exciting camera specifically designed for use on APS-C sensor DSLRs.  

Ergonomics

Rokinon comes with two aspherical elements and an additional low dispersion ED element for great wide-angle optical performance. Astrophotographers find this lens great for shooting meteors and galaxies. The element is great for minimizing chromatic aberrations as well. Thanks to the UMC lens coating, your images are free of any ghosting or flare. There is a solid and smooth manual focus lens and a manual aperture ring instead of an internal autofocusing system.  

Performance

The most important feature of a wide-angle lens is the optical performance. At f/2, photographers get amazing performance. You may notice slight astigmatism and chromatic aberration in the corners while dealing with wide apertures but nothing too major. However, this issue reduces significantly as you stop down the lens to f/5.6. The stunning image quality bears no sign of defect throughout the frame and is great for daytime photography.  

A common problem that photographers face after moving away from the optical axis and closer to the corners is the enhancement of optical aberrations. Wide-angle lenses seem to suffer the worst of it, but Rokinon maintains firm control over these issues. The rectilinear design of the lens is decent for minimizing distortion. Even though we did notice some problems with radial and geometric distortion, the overall results were satisfying. Vignetting is an issue when you shoot at f/2, but the effect disappears as you approach f/2.8 and flawless images are delivered at f/5.6.  

Moving on, the image quality is stunning. Images taken at f/2 are a bit soft throughout the frame, but as you stop down the frame, there is an obvious improvement in the overall sharpness, especially in the center: center sharpness is incredible at f/4. As there isn’t any autofocusing motor, the focus depends on how fast you rotate the focus ring. The entire process is easy because of the wide focal length and 152 degrees rotation.  

Bottom line

In short, the camera isn’t meant for everyone. The complex usage and outstanding performance best suits professionals, especially astrophotographers, but Rokinon are equally great for landscape photography.

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5. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens

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Ergonomics

Weighing only 230g, AF-P is one of the lighter lenses we’ve worked with. Moreover, the dimensions are equally less at 2.8″ x 3″; however, the length increases after you adjust the zoom magnification. We were impressed to see how sturdy the lens felt considering the price: the durable plastic body is strong enough to stand up to various shooting conditions. However, there is a need for weather sealing and rubber gasket to protect the lens mount.  

Performance

Nikon’s optical construction consists of a Super integrated coating to reduce any interior reflections and enhance color reproduction. The center of the frame displays exemplary sharpness regardless of the focal length range. However, the performance at the wide end Isn’t as great as you move away from the center. However, you don’t need to fret about the poor quality as it improves once you stop the lens down.

Moreover, at 15mm, you won’t face such an issue as Nikon performs extremely well throughout the frame. Moving towards 20mm, you’ll find softer edges and an overall blurry effect but a consistent performance when compared to 10mm.  

Furthermore, there isn’t any considerable corner darkening at 15mm or 20mm, while most of the vignette can easily be eradicated by stopping down the lens. However, this may be an issue at 10mm with persistent falloff throughout the aperture range. On the other hand, Nikon steals the game with an impressive autofocus system. With the new Pulse Motor (AF-P) system, the lens delivers smooth and silent autofocus, which makes 10-20mm an excellent range to record videos at. Moreover, the Vibration reduction feature works as an image stabilization system that allows photographers to capture excellent images at slow shutter speeds.  

Bottom line

The affordable Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm, with its lightweight plastic body, is perfect for shooting in confined spaces, landscapes, and travel photography. Despite issues related to barrel distortion, it’s hard to find an alternative for Nikon AF-P.

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6. Rokinon 10mm F2.8 ED Ultra Wide Angle Lens

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Features:

Rokinon 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS is an excellent wide-angle lens for your APS-C sensor camera. With a 15mm equivalent and 109.5-degree angle of view, Rokinon delivers an excellent performance.  

Ergonomics

In short, Rokinon wasn’t disappointing in terms of the overall build. It feels solid and sturdy enough to stand up well in diverse photography conditions. Even though it was a bit big and heavy compared to other lenses, the large wide-open aperture, and focal length pretty much justify the dimensions. With several different mounts and a travel-friendly body, we don’t find the need to complain about the structure.  

Performance

Rokinon consists of a smooth focus ring and aperture ring for focusing purposes. However, we didn’t use the focus ring frequently as the wide depth of field with the right aperture setting is enough for the lens to focus on the subject. For critical focusing purposes, you can use the dual-display mode that displays the entire scene on the full-frame window and a magnified version on the EVF. In short, the entire process is fast and easy.  

Moving on, the image quality of almost every Rokinon lens is up to the mark. It delivers excellent color rendering and contrast with firm control over the flue. However, there is a risk of barrel distortion, but nothing too significant to ruin the entire image.  

The wide-open aperture setting of f/2.8 is perfect for low light conditions: the images feature great sharpness at the center, but the edges are smooth. By stopping down the lens, the smoothening improves, and you may notice a sharper center. F/8 is the ideal position for any photographer, as the images are extremely sharp throughout the frame with hardly any vignette effect. You may notice some darkening around the edges at f/2.8 and f/5.6.   Talking about chromatic aberrations, Rokinon seems to handle them pretty well: they remain under half a pixel width throughout the range. As a result, you won’t notice any noise even In high contrast areas.  

Bottom line

Rokinon 10mm F2.8 ED performs pretty well for a lens in this range. We found the sharpness levels and the fast max aperture pretty impressive, while enthusiasts get to enjoy a great performing lens without going broke.

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7. Tokina 12-28mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX Lens for Nikon

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Features:

Tokina 12-28mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro meets the expectations of all photographers who want a decent field of view and silent internal focusing.  

Ergonomics

Similar to other Tokina lenses, At-X features a solidly built body that weighs only 530g for hassle-free testing and transport. The lens barrel is made of high-quality plastic for a tough exterior with a rubber gasket around the lens mount. As a result, your lens remains safe from dust and moisture.  

Performance

One of the most important features of a lens is its autofocusing potential. Fortunately, Tokina doesn’t disappoint us in this department, with the AF system being powered by a powerful SD-M motor for minimal noise production along with fast, precise focusing. However, it doesn’t allow any manual focus adjustments, but Tokina found a way around it. By disengaging the autofocus by sliding the well-damped focus ring, you can easily make the necessary manual focus adjustments. Moreover, any changes to the magnification won’t result in any change in the length of the lens, making Tokina ideal for polarising and graduated filters.  

Talking about the performance, the lens delivers great sharpness in the center of the frame at 12mm. There was a noticeable lack of clarity at the edges, but it improves by adjusting the aperture. At f/8, the lens delivers an outstanding sharpness throughout the frame. Moving on to 28mm, there weren’t any obvious changes. The performance remained the same in terms of clarity and sharpness.  

Tokina has firm control over any chromatic aberrations and distortions. You may notice a bit of barrel distortion at 12mm that reduces by 90% at 28mm. There isn’t any unique distortion pattern across the frame, which makes it easy for you to edit the image.  

The lens works extremely well with the ultra-wide-angle subjects like landscapes and confined areas: the overall results look remarkably well-composed.  

Bottom line

The Tokina 12-28mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro lens is an excellent APS-C ultra-wide-angle lens. With an attractive price point and decent performance, there’s not much to hate about Tokina.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): About Wide Angles Lenses 

Q: How do you use a wide angle correctly?

A: The biggest mistake any landscape photographer could make is investing in a wrong wide-angle lens. Imagine settling for a” 50mm wide-angle lens”! The only reason why we use such a lens is to stretch and distort the perspective. If everything in your image is equal distance from the lens, there won’t be any focus on the desired subject. Make sure that you come super close to the subject to make it stand out with more depth and perspective.  

Before you do that, you need to have a clear subject in the image. Without one, there won’t be anything available for the viewer to land on. It’s better not to overcrowd your image with several subjects: follow the simple rule of” less is more.”  

Q: Do I really need a wide-angle lens?

A: Ultra wide-angle lenses are quite famous amongst photojournalists as well as enthusiasts. We prefer using a wide-angle lens when we need a larger angle of view, such as for landscape and architectural photography. It allows you to capture a major portion of your desired scene.  

Another reason why most people recommend wide-angle lenses to beginners is that they become fond of utilizing the optical zoom feature, which results in poor quality or” fake” images. Wide-angle lenses don’t allow users to magnify much and produce great results.  

Q: Is 24mm wide enough?

A: If you’re opting for wide-angle lenses, investing in a 24mm version isn’t the best choice. This is usually the point where the lens shifts from an ultra-wide-angle to a narrower angle or from landscape photography to urban shots. Obviously, the range doesn’t stop you from taking images of architectural sites, but they would appear less grand and more flattened out.  

If you are still confused, the prime spot for landscape photography is 21mm. Often known as the sweet spot, it’s wide enough to capture the grand site but not wide enough to ruin the shot. 18mm is ideal for photographers who don’t want to spend as much time on composing the image perfectly. It uses the foreground and background for a strong composition and versatility.  

Q: What is the best aperture for landscape photography?

A: There isn’t a perfect aperture setting for landscape photography, but some scenarios look better with a certain setting. Most photographers prefer searching for the” sweet spot”: two to three points after the widest aperture, for example, a lens with the max aperture at f/2.8 will be extremely sharp around f/5.6.  

If you want a booked effect on your images, an open aperture setting, or low f/stop, numbers are adequate. If you want to shoot an image of a butterfly, the lowest setting shifts focus to the butterfly while the background sports a softer look—landscape photography at nighttime benefits from an open aperture setting too. A narrow aperture works best when your scene has a lot of distance between the foreground and background. As a result of the setting, your images would be well focused and sharp.  

Conclusion

This is our list of the best wide-angle lenses for Nikon DX. Fortunately, they all deliver a great performance in terms of thorough sharp performance and minimal distortion and darkening. On top of that, purchasing them won’t make you go broke.  

While purchasing a lens, you need to ensure that it suits your specific shooting needs. Since a wide-angle lens is meant for landscape shooting or stretched out perspectives, you must select the right focal length- somewhere around 14mm to 21mm. There are various other factors to consider, including the aperture settings and the control over chromatic aberrations.