I just took my new toy (10.5 fisheye) and my "old" Tokina for a short visit to the city of Bruges (about 5kms from my office)...in Belgium.
I like those wide lenses for the ability to shoot hand held at night, the fish eye even
allowing to shoot @ ISO200. A few years ago, I considered a fisheye to be a toy (on film cameras) but with the defishing possibilities (NC4), it openS a new world of ultrawide shots.
Hope you will enjoy the journey:
#1 10.5mm To start the visit of a medieval city, you need an (old) map of the city:
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg1.JPG
#2 12mm Typical old buildings @ night
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg2.JPG
#3 10.5mm Same as before defished to show wider perspective (taken from the same spot)
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg3.JPG
#4 Tokina Lots of beautiful small shops to visit
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg4.JPG
#5 Tokina Another shop
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg5.JPG
#6 Tokina A last one if you like one of the local specialties we have: chocolates
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg6.JPG
#7 12mm The old "beffroi" and the "trade" building
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg7.JPG
#8 10.5mm Fisheye view from the same spot
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg8.JPG
#9 10.5mm Same view defished
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg9.JPG
#10 12mm If you want to warm up, you could try some skating
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg10.JPG
#11 10.5mm Another view
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg11.JPG
#12 10.5mm Another possibility to warm up: visit the local bars
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg12.JPG
#13 10.5mm This is the way you'll see beer after drinking too much of it
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg13.JPG
#14 10.5mm ...
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg14.JPG
#15 10.5mm You could drink from the fountain to freshen up
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/brg15.JPG
Hope some of you enjoyed it. I still have to learn a lot but I find my new toy pretty usable. Thanks for watching.
You know Guy, many times I just wonder if we make the right decisions when buying lenses. I am not referring to your 10.5mm fisheye, I am talking about the 12-24 Tokina.
How many times in these forums, and even in other forums, I read that the Tokina was such a bad choice because it was not sharp and because of the CA. I see pictures like yours and I begin to wonder if indeed the Tokina is a bad choice! Those pictures are superb.
Unquestionably, regardless of the quality of an optic, you have to know how to use the lens. When using independent lenses sample variation is going to be a problem because their quality control is not as good as that of the Big Boys and even the Big Boys have quality control problems and you see sample variation from time to time.
I tested the Tokina and also the Nikkor. I was not impressed with any of them. Maybe I did not shoot under ideal conditions, maybe I have to go back and repeat my test but the more I see the results from the Tokina the more it makes me think.
I am not saying I have not seen awesome pictures from the Nikkor also but in my humble opinion the lens is overpriced. It is not built like a professional lens but they surely nail you with a premium price.
Beautiful pictures Guy. I am glad I looked.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.
Outstanding work Guy!! I've been looking at the Tokina 12-24 and also the Sigma 10-20mm and haven't made up my mind yet.
I've really been meaning to head up to Belgium the last few months. German beer is fine and all...but you guys in Belgium have the finest beer on the planet!! I really liked your series of the Grand Platz in Brussels as well. My wife and I were there in the Platz in the dead of winter 2 years ago and had a lovely dinner and then some exceptional beers. I wish I could remember the names of the restaurant and the pub. The pub was in a corner of the Grand Platz and had gorgeous hard wood everywhere. Brilliant!
Cheers!
P.S. Is Bruge where they're doing the ice sculptures and play near the Hauptbanhoff? I've heard it was lovely!
camerapapi wrote:
You know Guy, many times I just wonder if we make the right decisions when buying lenses. I am not referring to your 10.5mm fisheye, I am talking about the 12-24 Tokina.
How many times in these forums, and even in other forums, I read that the Tokina was such a bad choice because it was not sharp and because of the CA. I see pictures like yours and I begin to wonder if indeed the Tokina is a bad choice! Those pictures are superb.
Unquestionably, regardless of the quality of an optic, you have to know how to use the lens. When using independent lenses sample variation is going to be a problem because their quality control is not as good as that of the Big Boys and even the Big Boys have quality control problems and you see sample variation from time to time.
I tested the Tokina and also the Nikkor. I was not impressed with any of them. Maybe I did not shoot under ideal conditions, maybe I have to go back and repeat my test but the more I see the results from the Tokina the more it makes me think.
I am not saying I have not seen awesome pictures from the Nikkor also but in my humble opinion the lens is overpriced. It is not built like a professional lens but they surely nail you with a premium price.
Beautiful pictures Guy. I am glad I looked.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida....Show more →
William,
Thanks for your comments.
About the Tokina, I have 3 colleagues now at the office who have bought one and everybody is very happy until now. I never suffered from any CA issues.
The only thing (I already mentioned this in other threads) is that the Tokina is a bit prone to flare if you are not careful. It seems that the Nikkor is better with that respect. Otherwise, that lens is a keeper and I really enjoy shooting with the Tokina...
alecto wrote:
Lovely tones, very nice images... and of the only Belgian city that i've visited, too!
Thanks, Bruges is one of the most beautiful "old" cities in Belgium. There are so many pictures to take... I guess I'll plan a second session... there is much more to share.
Ray C. wrote:
Outstanding work Guy!! I've been looking at the Tokina 12-24 and also the Sigma 10-20mm and haven't made up my mind yet.
I've really been meaning to head up to Belgium the last few months. German beer is fine and all...but you guys in Belgium have the finest beer on the planet!! I really liked your series of the Grand Platz in Brussels as well. My wife and I were there in the Platz in the dead of winter 2 years ago and had a lovely dinner and then some exceptional beers. I wish I could remember the names of the restaurant and the pub. The pub was in a corner of the Grand Platz and had gorgeous hard wood everywhere. Brilliant!
Cheers!
P.S. Is Bruge where they're doing the ice sculptures and play near the Hauptbanhoff? I've heard it was lovely!...Show more →
Thanks. and yes, the ice sculptures were there but I was not there to take pictures ...
I will certainly plan an evening shooting session in Brussels as well, very nice places too...
jacko wrote:
Beautiful set of images Guy. You really do some excellent night shots. Thanks so much for posting these, they are very, very good.
Thanks a lot for your positive comments. I will certainly post some more in the future, there are many other nice places to shoot in Belgium at night...
Guy
gugs wrote:
Thanks. and yes, the ice sculptures were there but I was not there to take pictures ...
I will certainly plan an evening shooting session in Brussels as well, very nice places too...
ok I was wrong... I rechecked on the internet and the ice sculptures are still there for a few days, indeed next to the railway station. I paid a second visit to the city tonight... https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/333554
...
) and go have fun with it! 
.