Ok decided on getting lens Sigma 10-20 or Tok 12-24

Ok I was wondering if I wanted the 30D or the ultrawide first. It was really hard to call so I made a coin toss and the lens won.
SOOO here is the thing.
I have always wanted to pick up the Toki 12-24
BUT recently after reading about the 10-20 and see how awsome it is and it has HSM is a big plus. I am leaning for the Sigma.
Would anyone else go for the Tokina instead and why.

I would go with the 30D personally. I upgraded from the XT and it was the best move I made. It just feels so much more professional and its much much easier to use.

The Toki is a nice lens. When using mine I tend to be using hyperfocal focussing for max depth of field most of the time - landscapes, interiors - so focussing speed is not really an issue. Often I'd just walk around at 12mm / f8 manually focussed at 1m or so.

Just played with my first UWA lens at work today, an 11-18 lens and I must say it was w-i-d-e, makes me feel like my 17-40 isn't wide at all, so much fun, I want one. That being said hsm + 10mm = I'd choose the Sigma.

cool hope its alot of fun and will hold me over till Feb till I get the 30D

I'm like your copy cat, my next moves are a 70-200 2.8 (on route), an UWA, maybe sell the 17-40, and pick up a new body.

I think I might pick up the Sigma 1.4x TC as well at the same time to give me a little more reach on my long end as well

10mm is fun, Sigma is clear choice unless you want to shoot group photos with a UWA lens at 24mm @f/4 (Tokina)

I don't know about the Tokina 12-24, but I can tell you the Sigma 10-20 is one sweet lens, fast accurate AF and tack sharp with great color and contrast.

Dorman wrote in post #2241666
Just played with my first UWA lens at work today, an 11-18 lens and I must say it was w-i-d-e, makes me feel like my 17-40 isn't wide at all, so much fun, I want one. That being said hsm + 10mm = I'd choose the Sigma.

That's probably because on your 1.6 crop camera - it really isn't that wide. These new ultra wides just get ya back close to where you were in the good old film days.

Toki 12-24 here, and it´s a good lens for the price. Unless you plain to go FF in the next future. Good IQ/price.

Toki has an f/4 constant along all the focals, tank construction.
Sigma gains 2 mm in the UWA side.

Actually same price at B&H. So it´s up to you. I think both are worth enough, you can get either and don´t go wrong. But be prepared to shoot quite horizontally to avoid vertical distortion !!

The Tokina 12-24 is an awesome lens. Besides, you don't really need HSM on an ultrawide... And the Tokina isn't slow. I wouldn't base your decision on the focusing motor alone. The Tokina has less distortion and light-falloff at the corners, is built like a tank (it feels more solid than some L lenses), and is a constant f/4. Oh and that zoom ring was the best out of any lens I've ever used.

The Sigma gives you an effective field of view of 16mm, which is substantially wider than the 19mm of the Tokina. The Tokina, at f4 constant, is faster. Image quality in the real world is pretty much the same.

So decide based on whether you want wider or faster. FWIW, unless you do a lot of WA, 19mm is more than enough for most applications.

Vandit

05Xrunner wrote in post #2241225
Ok I was wondering if I wanted the 30D or the ultrawide first. It was really hard to call so I made a coin toss and the lens won.
SOOO here is the thing.
I have always wanted to pick up the Toki 12-24
BUT recently after reading about the 10-20 and see how awsome it is and it has HSM is a big plus. I am leaning for the Sigma.
Would anyone else go for the Tokina instead and why.

Well, lenses before cameras, although I feel much more comfertable with my 30D then I ever did with the Rebel.
If you do a search I had a thread on this exact discussion more or less a week ago or so. I still don't know what to buy, but it seems like you can't go wrong with either lenses. I think I might get the Tokina 12-24 as it has constant F4 and will connect all my focal lengths (12-24, 24-70, 70-200).

Yea I have wanted that Tokina..Didnt really know about the sigma 10-20.
Now I see all the shots people get with it. and seems to be a winner. Its a hard choice..I was thinking of getting a used 20D for cheap and have that hold me over till I make a major body upgrade. the 20D will fill my needs of comfort and the better focus system.