pls help. any good wide angle lenses for scenery taking?

[seafone]

There is always alot of comparsion between the sigma 10-20 and DA12-24. Both are very good uwa to be used on pentax. I have the 10-20 and didn't regret getting it over the 12-24. The 2mm extra is a lot and don't under estimate the 'just' 2mm difference if u are into uwa. I have landscape shot taken at 10mm and I really like them. However, it's not easy to compose at 10mm.

Sigma lens got quality issue, so it's adviseable to test the lens extensively in the shop before swiping your card.

For Europe, a 15 or 16mm is ideal for most shot. Anything wider is less use and harder to control in framing a good composition.

I won't want to bring the 10-20 to Europe this summer. I've just got a da15 to do the job. All are good lenses, just depending on how you want to frame your composition and travel preference.

 

[Jin80s]

OMG... sorry im really new. so what good lens should i buy? n does the weather play apart? scare the weather too cold n the lens might not work or something like tat.. how? need more adv. n how tat sigma 8-16mm lens? any1 has tat? need some feed back.

 

[seafone]

Don't know about the sigma 8-16mm. If it's this new, then I guess it's not easy to get any feedback on this lens unless you are willing to be one of the first to try it out.

Ai ya. There is no need to worry too much about the weather seal and condition. The lens won't freak out at zero degree one lah. Many of us use the camera and lenses during winter, on top of mountains and so for. U don't leave your camera out there pouring under the rain and snow, right. When you are done with the shoot, keep it back into your bag... These are basic.

If you are new to photography, I suggest you read up more and find out if you really need a uwa. What's wrong with 18mm on the kit lens? Have you explore it enough to know the limitation of it? I didn't mean to bounce you off from buying, all those are good lenses and aren't that cheap. When you select a focal length for shooting, you should already envision the composition even before you look through the viewfinder. Mounting the lens and using the viewfinder is only for confirmation of what you want to compose.

Look around at photo sample more often, study their composition and perspective. And then you will be able to know, understand what focal length u need.

A lot of people can tell u this is good, that is good. But end of the day is you behind the viewfinder.

 

[hjbyeo]

Guys, I think you probably have lots of samples of the 10-20 from our famous Pentax user in WK. And I am quite sure you've seen the practical applications of the DA 15 from several Pentaxians in Desmond and FengWei.

Mine's nowhere near WK's standards or some of the masters in this forum, but I just want people to know some real world/travel photos from a 12-24.

Here's a couple -

 

[darrrrrrrrrr]

Some sceneries from the 12-24 from my recent travels

 

[MagnumLite]

Sorry to be digging out this old thread, got a few questions and opinion on wide angle lens.

I'm looking for opinions on the following lens:-

1) Pentax 10-17mm (17 or 20??) Fisheye
The fisheye effect, is throughout the range or only at the widest i.e 10mm?

2) Tamron 10-24mm

3) Pentax 15mm

Have also notice that here, seniors tend to lean towards Pentax lense. No doubt they offer better IQ and so on, then again as newbie especially in the Pentax world, budget is a big consideration.

Currently the Tamron looks like a good buy, then again the Pentax Fisheye is around the same price range, correct me here where the Pentax is a fisheye lens the Tamron is rectiliner? The Pentax 15mm price is also not far off from these two right? So how much more does the 15mm cost?

TIA for any reply.

 

[scorpioh]

Sorry to be digging out this old thread, got a few questions and opinion on wide angle lens.

I'm looking for opinions on the following lens:-

1) Pentax 10-17mm (17 or 20??) Fisheye
The fisheye effect, is throughout the range or only at the widest i.e 10mm?

2) Tamron 10-24mm

3) Pentax 15mm

Have also notice that here, seniors tend to lean towards Pentax lense. No doubt they offer better IQ and so on, then again as newbie especially in the Pentax world, budget is a big consideration.

Currently the Tamron looks like a good buy, then again the Pentax Fisheye is around the same price range, correct me here where the Pentax is a fisheye lens the Tamron is rectiliner? The Pentax 15mm price is also not far off from these two right? So how much more does the 15mm cost?

TIA for any reply.

Is the Tamron available in k-mount? Fish eye effect is throughout the range but most pronounced at 10mm. Get the DA15mm. It's like USD$500 only compared to its initial launch price of some $550. Think it costs more locally even after you factor in shipping (vpost) and GST.

 

[Baracus]

Sorry to be digging out this old thread, got a few questions and opinion on wide angle lens.

I'm looking for opinions on the following lens:-

1) Pentax 10-17mm (17 or 20??) Fisheye
The fisheye effect, is throughout the range or only at the widest i.e 10mm?

2) Tamron 10-24mm

3) Pentax 15mm

Have also notice that here, seniors tend to lean towards Pentax lense. No doubt they offer better IQ and so on, then again as newbie especially in the Pentax world, budget is a big consideration.

Currently the Tamron looks like a good buy, then again the Pentax Fisheye is around the same price range, correct me here where the Pentax is a fisheye lens the Tamron is rectiliner? The Pentax 15mm price is also not far off from these two right? So how much more does the 15mm cost?

TIA for any reply.

Why no Sigma 10-20mm and Pentax/Samsung 12-24mm? Too expensive? :think:

Tamron 10-24 has been reputed to be the worst-performing UWA overall. (Gathered from what little reviews) The Fisheye is a fun lens (and not distortion-free at 17mm? I forgot) :dunno: 15mm is great for IQ and size, but missing either extremes. 10-12mm can give some creative effects besides the coverage.

 

[pinholecam]

A Sigma 10-20mm or Pentax 12-24mm are great options as covered before.
The DA15 wins if you talk about size and portability. So small that you'd just 'bring it along anyway'
A lens you bring out is one that has a chance will be used. A lens left in the dry cab is just that

Even though the FL is fixed at 15mm, its usually wide enough. Even with a 10-20, I am often using 12-17mm.
So it all boils down to personal preference and portability. No wrong going for any of the 3 options.

The Tamron though has been reviewed as the worst of the UWA (I don't have this lens to state as fact). :sweat:
A fisheye, is a special effects and fun lens. I would not recommend it as you only UWA option. Further to this, at 17mm, there is still a weak fisheye effect and if you de-fish (using a program) it will cause image degradation and crop the image further such that if becomes very near to a 17-18mm rectilinear lens.

 

[VanGogh53]

I am very happy with my Sigma 10-20mm which cost me about $800+; this is sufficient for me to carry around for landscape. I am very sad that I didn't have the K7 and Sigma 10-20mm in my India trip last year. The pictures would have been marvellous. Yes, like Pinhole said, the palace, the snowscape mountains, the "great wall" of Jaipur... wow, never leave home without the 10-20mm if you are into landscape!!!

 

[Nikkornos]

Too bad the Tokina 11-16mm is not available in Pentax mount, its a good sharp lens. And distortion control is quite good.
I saw online that the Tokina 12-24 is the same as the Pentax 12-24, just OEM for Pentax by Tokina. But dunno true or not? If it is true then Pentax users are paying 50% more since the Tokina version is only $850 or something.

The Pentax DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL has similar technical details as the Tokina, and seems to be off the same optical design. Tried once using two lenses on the same camera body, and could not tell much difference between the two.

Buy the Tokina and the spare money for a good polarizing filter + pocket money. You will be all set.

 

[Nikkornos]

A Sigma 10-20mm or Pentax 12-24mm are great options as covered before.
The DA15 wins if you talk about size and portability. So small that you'd just 'bring it along anyway'
A lens you bring out is one that has a chance will be used. A lens left in the dry cab is just that
Even though the FL is fixed at 15mm, its usually wide enough. Even with a 10-20, I am often using 12-17mm.

I tried the 15mm in Boston. It seems to be more soft than the 12-24mm @15mm F4, for some reason. :dunno:

 

[liveevil]

The Pentax DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL has similar technical details as the Tokina, and seems to be off the same optical design. Tried once using two lenses on the same camera body, and could not tell much difference between the two.

Buy the Tokina and the spare money for a good polarizing filter + pocket money. You will be all set.

I dont think the Tokina 12-24mm comes in Pentax mount. According to the Tokina website, theres only Nikon and Canon mount.

 

[pinholecam]

I tried the 15mm in Boston. It seems to be more soft than the 12-24mm @15mm F4, for some reason. :dunno:

Bad copy? :think:
Camera shake when testing indoors for a lens with f4 max aperture?

Frankly, I've never bothered with testing for the sharpness of my UWAs. To me they just need to be sharp enough since they are for the 'bigger picture' (very subjective and YMMV)
MHO of UWAs are that they typically take wide views which are often distant. Razor sharpness would be hard to gauge (if at all relevant) anyway.
I've no complaints of the details captured for my DA15, Sigma 10-20 or even Soligor 17mm.

A good copy of any of the UWAs would be good choices.

 

[Yamakasi]

I saw online that the Tokina 12-24 is the same as the Pentax 12-24, just OEM for Pentax by Tokina. But dunno true or not? If it is true then Pentax users are paying 50% more since the Tokina version is only $850 or something.

think dun have 50% more..i just check with manly on sat for the price..its $1039 including GST..about $200 more..

 

[MagnumLite]

Is the Tamron available in k-mount? Fish eye effect is throughout the range but most pronounced at 10mm. Get the DA15mm. It's like USD$500 only compared to its initial launch price of some $550. Think it costs more locally even after you factor in shipping (vpost) and GST.

The Tamron comes in the Pentax mount.

Why no Sigma 10-20mm and Pentax/Samsung 12-24mm? Too expensive? :think:

Tamron 10-24 has been reputed to be the worst-performing UWA overall. (Gathered from what little reviews) The Fisheye is a fun lens (and not distortion-free at 17mm? I forgot) :dunno: 15mm is great for IQ and size, but missing either extremes. 10-12mm can give some creative effects besides the coverage.

As mentioned by pinholecam, these two lenses have been covered in the previous discussion.

Just bare a little bit further with this noobie, just that I guess I enter into the DSLR world at the wrong timing when lens price are escalating skyward. Given the choices that was discuss earlier, this is my conclusion so far and guesstimate

1. Sigma 10-20mm - Older version without HSM and a f4 ard $800, newer version with HSM and f3.5 ard $1000+
2. Pentax 12-24mm, f4 ard $1200
3. Pentax DA 15mm, f4 ard $800?
4. Pentax 10-17mm, f3.5 fisheye ard $600-$700??
5. Tamron 10-24mm, f3.5 $700

Eye candy wise the Tamron looks with the best for the range it cover, faster and cheaper but for the bad review ...

What about option 6, Samyang 14mm f2.8? Going for ard $600 and it's manual focus:think::dunno::nono:???

 

[pinholecam]

The Tamron comes in the Pentax mount.



As mentioned by pinholecam, these two lenses have been covered in the previous discussion.

Just bare a little bit further with this noobie, just that I guess I enter into the DSLR world at the wrong timing when lens price are escalating skyward. Given the choices that was discuss earlier, this is my conclusion so far and guesstimate

1. Sigma 10-20mm - Older version without HSM and a f4 ard $800, newer version with HSM and f3.5 ard $1000+
2. Pentax 12-24mm, f4 ard $1200
3. Pentax DA 15mm, f4 ard $800?
4. Pentax 10-17mm, f3.5 fisheye ard $600-$700??
5. Tamron 10-24mm, f3.5 $700

Eye candy wise the Tamron looks with the best for the range it cover, faster and cheaper but for the bad review ...

What about option 6, Samyang 14mm f2.8? Going for ard $600 and it's manual focus:think::dunno::nono:???

Totally understand your perspective.
It depends on what you can live with. If I did not want to spend too much money. Even the Tamron would do. Its not going to be a disaster. In fact it covers up to 24mm which is very good for walk arounds. Better than no picture and certainly better than any sort of add on wide angle attacment.
The Samyang is similar in argument. The MF is not important for a lens of this FL. DOF is so high that its probably at at infinity by 2m.

If the DA15 is really $800, I'd get it in an instant. This is a lens that is truly unique from Pentax. No one atm produces a UWA that is so small. I just can't emphasize its portability enough.

 

[Nikkornos]

I dont think the Tokina 12-24mm comes in Pentax mount. According to the Tokina website, theres only Nikon and Canon mount.

They were on display in Boston.

 

[Nikkornos]

If the DA15 is really $800, I'd get it in an instant. This is a lens that is truly unique from Pentax. No one atm produces a UWA that is so small. I just can't emphasize its portability enough.

You are right.
All others even at 17mm f 3.5 already is a piece of heavy glass/plastic. And cost much much more.

 

[oyama85]

No one mentioned about Sigma's 8-16mm?
Tot of getting 1 myself too.
Bad point is no filter threads.

Just a suggestion. =)