Best value and best quality wide angle photo lens for Nikon D3000?

I'm quite interested in Tamron's as it is a good price and the review from my photog magazine gave it 4 stars against Nikon's own wide angle lens.
But has anyone here had any use of it? And what would you recommend (for under £500)

Tokina is coming out with an AF-S version of their fabulous 11-16mm f/2.8, in addition to their 11-16mm AF-D version. The AF-S version will autofocus on your camera, but the AF-D version will not as your camera lacks an in-camera focus motor (the focus motor has to be in the lens).

Tokina's AF-S lenses are called DX II (DX2). However, I'm not sure when they are due to be released.

Otherwise, look at the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 DX II, which will autofocus on your camera and is available today. They are right at $600 US, so it should be within your budget.

Tokina also makes a 12-24mm f/4 DX (not a DX 2) which is $100 cheaper, but that lens is equivalent to a Nikon AF-D lens and will not autofocus on your camera. So make sure you get the DX 2 lens.

If you are not familiar with Tokina lenses, they are somewhat of a boutique lens maker, and only make a few lenses. While they are an independent company today, they got their start as an off-shoot of Nikon more-or-less a few decades ago, when several Nikon engineers developed a new company to research zoom lenses.

At any rate, Nikon really does not have a great DX lens in this focal range. The Nikon 10-24 is average, and the Tokina is a vastly superior lens… In my view.

They are at least worth a look before you decide on your purchase.