On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 16:26:59 GMT, johnchap@erols.com wrote:

>I am planning to buy either a Sigma 14/3.5, Sigma 14/2.8 or a used Nikon
>15/3.5. Even used the Nikon is about 2x the cost of either of the Sigmas new.
> David Reuther's notes on the Nikon 15/3.5 suggest weak edge performance. It
>will be a relatively low-use lens for me. I suspect no one has even seen the
>new Sigma 14/2.8, but the other HSM Sigmas have been highly praised. Given
>all this, what advice/recommendations can anyone provide in making the
>choice. Again, thanks in advance.

The edges of the Nikkor 15mm f3.5 are fine - its the corners at wide
stops with color, and pretty much at all stops with B&W that aren't
great (though, I suspect, still better than the Sigmas...;-). The
bargain lens in this FL area is the Nikkor 15mm f5.6 - it is a
surprisingly fine lens, with truly amazing lack of linear distortion
and good evenness of sharpness to the corners, especially around f11.
It is slow, but as with all superwides, it is effectively faster than
rating since it is easy to hand-hold at VERY slow speeds (1/8th second
is easy with the 15mm). There is more on it on my Nikkor evaluation
list (under "I babble" on my web page). BTW, I have four favorite
very-wides: 15mm f5.6, 16mm f3.5 (now THAT is a GOOD lens!!!), 20mm
f2.8, and 28mm f4PC - all really fine lenses, capable of crisp
images everywhere in the frame...!