Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5~4.5G ED Lens Review
A wide zoom when you need it, where you need it.
Over the years, I’ve become enamored of wide zooms–the wider the better. One of my faves is a Tokina fisheye zoom that I practically take everywhere. But there’s only so much barrel distortion one person can take, and only so far that distortion correction can take an image–when you want to employ it, that is. Sometimes you just want to start out with straight lines wherever you can get them. So, when I heard that Nikon had a new 10-24mm lens, I was on it like an egret on a fish (hey, it’s the first metaphor that popped into my head).
I’d worked with Canon’s EF-S 10-22 mm lens–and simply loved it. At the time, I still had an APS-C Canon, but I was fast moving toward full-frame and knew the lens would not be long for this world if I bought it. So I tested it, and sadly said goodbye. Now that I’m back in the APS-C camp with the Nikon D300–and loving it!–it was time to examine yet another zoom in the ultra-wide dimension (super-wide? potato, potato–you get what I mean).
Making Choices
Okay, I know, this looks an awful lot like another lens from Nikon. But there is a difference. Considering that only a few dollars separates them, it really is a tough call choosing between the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5~4.5G ED and AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED.
The new 190XPROB model retains all the best-loved features of its predecessors but provides improvements in build, compactness and ease of use. Swinging the centre column from vertical to horizontal position is straightforward. You simply release the column locking knob and raise the column while pressing the button at the base of the column. When the column is in its highest position, this button triggers a release that allows it to be swung into horizontal position. The camera can then be balanced by sliding the entire column forwards. Reversing these steps restores the column to its vertical position. This adjustability is valuable for macro photography, low angle shooting, extreme balance points and off-centre work. It will also be valuable for chair-bound photographers, who can sit beside instead of behind the tripod and be much closer to the camera’s viewfinder. 
If the 3001 is the light weight of the trio, the 3051 is the heavyweight. It weighs in at 12.65 lbs. Way too much to carry around in the field for most people. However, it’s very, very, stable. It’s also big even when collapsed (over 3ft without a head) since it only has two-section legs. One unique feature is that just by pushing a tab at the top of the tripod, you can release all three legs, extend the tripod to the height you want, then lock it by releasing the tab. You can also do the same thing for each leg individually. It’s the most stable tripod I’ve used, beating out the 3 and 4 series Gitzos and Carbon Fiber tripods. So it should, given its weight. If you can haul it around in the trunk of your car, or use it in a studio, it’s great, but carrying it far isn’t an option I care for very much. Not a field tripod in my opinion, but you can’t buy more stability for around $200. 
This carbon-fiber tripod’s light 3.1-pound weight makes it extraordinarily easy to carry for a model with a maximum height of 54.3 inches — 63.4 inches with the center column fully extended. Its three-segment legs use Gitzo’s new G-Lock twist-lock system, a variation on the traditional knurled locking collar that’s said to increase the stability of the ‘pod when the legs are locked at narrower angles. The GT2530 gives you a choice of three such angles; both leg joints and twist locks are smooth and easy to operate. The rubber feet unscrew and can be replaced with other types of feet that Gitzo sells separately. That makes the tripod less versatile out of the box than a model with the familiar combination rubber-and-retracting-spike feet, but the included feet are shaped to provide good stability. The GT2530’s center column is both reversible and removable, and it has a built-in hook for adding weight to stabilize the tripod. For extreme low-angle shooting, the mounting plate can be unscrewed from the center column and attached directly to the top of the legs. Anyone who has ever struggled to unscrew a mounting plate should be grateful for the two handle-like nubs on the top of the tripod; these make it easy to grip and turn the mounting plate and its base separately. With the center column in place, the GT2530 has a minimum height of 13 inches. About $535 (with carrying bag). 
If you’re buying a tripod on a shoestring budget, this aluminum model will give you all the basics for well under $100. It’s the only tripod in this year’s group with a head included in the price, so there’s no need to purchase one separately. The head’s three-way pan/tilt design, which is operated with twist-locks and a panning handle, is suitable for both photo and video shooting; the tripod comes with two quick-release plates so you can leave one attached to your camera and one to your camcorder. The standard head can also be removed, either to use a different head with the legs or to mount the head on the bottom of the center column for low-level shooting. Built to support up to 11 pounds of gear, the 757 weighs a modest 6.2 pounds, head included. The head isn’t made of the strongest stuff, though, so we’d keep one hand on it if mounting a very heavy lens. Closed up the tripod is 29.3 inches long. Fully extended, it rises to 61.5 inches; crank its geared center column all the way up and you get a surprising 74.8 inches of height. Although this model’s three-section legs aren’t particularly sturdy, it compensates by attaching them to the center column with built-in braces. Other handy features include two spirit levels (one on the head and one on the legs) and retractable foot spikes. About $80. 
If you thought a horizontal center column was cool, then the GT2530EX tripod takes you to the next level. Rather than using a traditional center column running in between the legs, the GT2530EX offsets the column and mounts it in a pivoting clamp at the top of the legs. This allows the column to be quickly set at any angle including straight down. The ability to quickly adjust your camera position without having to move the whole tripod or adjust the leg heights is of tremendous benefit to anyone doing careful compositions. The Gitzo Explorer GT2530EX carbon fiber tripod and the G1276M head are a compelling combination if the price is not an object. Gitzo promotes the tripod as the perfect tool for “exploring new perspectives” and I have to agree that the total flexibility of positioning makes the combination extremely attractive for those shooters needing such versatility. 
Featuring the same NeoTec opening and closing mechanism as the 458B tripod, the 684B monopod is designed for support with unprecedented speed. The 684B can fully extend to 65.6 inches and collapse to 27.9 inches. Like the 458B, the 684B can support payloads up to 17.6 pounds and features the same “upside down” leg construction, further ensuring its durability and reliability in all environments. 
This superlight carbon-fiber tripod weighs in at just 2.2 pounds, or about a kilogram, but can support nearly ten pounds. It extends to 57.5 inches, but folds down to a slim 14 inches. In other words, it’s small enough to fit in a carry-on sized bag, but strong enough to handle even a pro camera with some long glass attached. Less weight and size on the ‘pod means more room for other gear, and we like that a lot!