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Another friend has kindly loaned me his Nikon 16-35 f/4 VR lens also for a couple weeks to see if this is the ideal replacement ultra wideangle lens for my new D600 (to replace the Tokina 12-24/4 I'd been using on my crop sensor D7000 - it has an approx equivalent focal length of 18-36mm).

After picking up the lens in the city I took a slight detour on the way back to the office to try it out for a little city shooting

Handheld at 16mm and f/4 - the distortion auto corrected quite well in Lightroom

Mystic Herbs


I got so lucky with the timing on this shot - I wasn't actually planning on the soaring bird but I'll take it . I loved the texture of this old ramshackle stone building sandwiched between the two monoliths of glass and figured I'd do a shot pointing almost straight up (whilst trying not to get run down in the middle of the road ) and into the sunburst reflection no less. No flare - probably the Nano coating.

The Bird


For this last I headed underground and shot some handheld HDR brackets. This set was taken at 16mm at f/4 with the 0EV shot at 1/15 sec at ISO 560 whilst the +3EV shot was at ISO 4500! - with no noticable noise none the less! Again LR4's lens correction has done a marvellous job with the distortion at the wide end

I tried two different processings of the image...

The first a more muted rendition of the grimy underground tunnels (and probably my own favourite)

In the Bowels of the Spaceship


and this second a more heavily tonemapped but still not over the top grungy, noise and halo ridden psychedelia rendition



Perhaps if you'd indulge me and tell me which of the two versions you prefer (or none if that's your choice )?

They all work for me Rodney. Of the two underground shots I think I prefer the last with the warmer tones but of course the first would be more naturalistic. The 16-35 f4 is next on my acquisition list followed by some nice fast primes.

I prefer the first version (#3), ...I think the second is over saturated. I also think the first image is beautifully handled. The second image is way over processed for my taste and makes the image look a fake. No doubt about the lens though.....a nice piece of glass!

You're certainly doing the rounds of some nice glass !!!
The 16-35/4 is of late one of go to lens.
I'll be interested in what decisions you finally make (unless it's one of each !!!)
For me I opted for the 70-200, 24-70, but swung away from the standard trio with the 16-35 rather than the 14-24 as I decided that VR, filter use and lighter weight and size would result in more use... so far I think I made the right choice.

For the most part I'm finding these images over processed for my liking... I like the compositions however

Your wallet/credit card is not going to like you! Nice images, I am not a huge fan of the grungy HDR but the compositions are wonderful...I must get out and about with some wides again soon.

I quite like the first and third. The compositions are spot on.
Not a fan of the processing in the second and fourth. Looks like a great piece of glass and worth adding to the kit

Geoff M wrote:They all work for me Rodney. Of the two underground shots I think I prefer the last with the warmer tones but of course the first would be more naturalistic. The 16-35 f4 is next on my acquisition list followed by some nice fast primes.

Thanks Geoff - I believe it will be my next as well (I'd be interested in the comparison to the 17-35/2.8 tho)

Matt. K wrote:I prefer the first version (#3), ...I think the second is over saturated. I also think the first image is beautifully handled. The second image is way over processed for my taste and makes the image look a fake. No doubt about the lens though.....a nice piece of glass!

Thanks Matt (for second image - I was never really happy with that yet - see my mono version below)

Mj wrote:You're certainly doing the rounds of some nice glass !!! I'll be interested in what decisions you finally make (unless it's one of each !!!)
For me I opted for the 70-200, 24-70, but swung away from the standard trio with the 16-35 rather than the 14-24 as I decided that VR, filter use and lighter weight and size would result in more use... so far I think I made the right choice. For the most part I'm finding these images over processed for my liking... I like the compositions however

Thanks Mj - the 14-24 was ever an option for me - I want/need to be able to use filters so...

aim54x wrote:Your wallet/credit card is not going to like you! Nice images, I am not a huge fan of the grungy HDR but the compositions are wonderful...I must get out and about with some wides again soon.

We should go shooting at lunchtime during the week if you're in the city sometime...

PiroStitch wrote:I quite like the first and third. The compositions are spot on. Not a fan of the processing in the second and fourth. Looks like a great piece of glass and worth adding to the kit

Thanks Wayne

Here is a monochrome rework of #2 for consideration - still a gritty feel which I felt drawn to going

The mono rework is definitely more striking than the colour version. It draws the eye in more to focus on the detail and creates a different mood to the image.

Remorhaz wrote:

aim54x wrote:Your wallet/credit card is not going to like you! Nice images, I am not a huge fan of the grungy HDR but the compositions are wonderful...I must get out and about with some wides again soon.

We should go shooting at lunchtime during the week if you're in the city sometime...

I would love to...but my weekdays are spent locked up in a demountable in the courtyard of NEURA (out at Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick).

The mono rework definitely is intriguing, but missing that bite that a bit more contrast would give.

I favour the first of the two underground images and the new mono image is good. Mono often works better with HDR because it's less rooted in reality.

PiroStitch wrote:The mono rework is definitely more striking than the colour version. It draws the eye in more to focus on the detail and creates a different mood to the image.

Thanks Wayne

aim54x wrote:

Remorhaz wrote:We should go shooting at lunchtime during the week if you're in the city sometime...

I would love to...but my weekdays are spent locked up in a demountable in the courtyard of NEURA (out at Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick).
The mono rework definitely is intriguing, but missing that bite that a bit more contrast would give.

Well - if you ever do end up in the city during the week - give me a days notice...

and...

Remorhaz wrote:Well - if you ever do end up in the city during the week - give me a days notice...

Will do!

That looks awesome!