Ultra Wide Zoom Experience


I am making a decision to purchase one. I like your feedback on the following: Sigma 10-20mm F4; Tamrom 10-24mm F3.4; Pentax 10-17mm. This is for landscape purpose. Pls show your pictures (or links); estimated cost and recommended shops. I am still waiting for the new Pentax Macro 100mm F2.8 WR... Thanks
 

Sigma 10-20 since no DA 12-24 in the list. For pics, can just see night86mare APAD thread. :cool: If I'm not wrong, the Sigma costs $900+.
 

10-17mm is a fisheye lens.

personally, it is not so commonly used. i'm glad i got it though, quite useful for certain types of architecture.

these are taken with the sigma 10-20 (all at 10mm) - a lot of the pictures in my pbase link are taken with this lens.

http://www.pbase.com/night86mare/image/115320028
http://www.pbase.com/night86mare/image/111087791
http://www.pbase.com/night86mare/image/111027904
http://www.pbase.com/night86mare/image/102847818

pentax 10-17 fisheye
http://www.pbase.com/night86mare/image/101308715
http://www.pbase.com/night86mare/image/101280821
http://www.pbase.com/night86mare/image/117551327
http://www.flickr.com/photos/night86mare/2786136695/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/night86mare/3433777149/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/night86mare/2807881549/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/night86mare/3965318261/

as you can see, with fisheye there is extreme distortion.

i hope this helps.
 

Not sure why 12-24 isn't on your list, too expensive? Here are a few shots from it anyway.

12mm
p1071647145-4.jpg


12mm
p303291664-4.jpg


12mm
p876838655-4.jpg


14mm
p689903623-4.jpg


24mm
p85720035-4.jpg
 

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night86mare uses Sigma 10-20mm, so it must be good :D
 

it must be good :D

erm, no, not really. i simply chose it because it was widest possible at that time, cheap too, grey from orient photo.

sigma 10-20 has problem with corner sharpness, that's for sure, but other than the wonky distortion - only pinching at the corners.... i'd say it's very good value for money especially if you still can get it at a good price grey. i think the price has gone up though!
 

Generally I hear more good things about the Sigma 10-20 than the Tamron 10-24, so among your 3 options I'll pick the Sigma. The fisheye may not be what you're looking for if you are intending the UWA for landscapes, the distortion makes it more of a specialty lens. I don't have a rectilinear UWA, so I'll just contribute a few fisheyes... ;p

758446874_GSkwY-L.jpg


758818397_gYsg2-L.jpg


576012599_auwpa-XL.jpg


Another Pentaxian was asking some time ago about getting a rectilinear UWA vs the fisheye, in the end he chose the fisheye. You need to really like the effect...
 

how about tokina 11-16?

the only thing i don't like is the lack of manual focus /AF button. using the focus ring to do the job will means i can't do AF and then switch to MF without affecting the focus point set by the AF.

but i will go and check it out myself first before i decide if this is really an issue.
 

how about tokina 11-16?

the only thing i don't like is the lack of manual focus /AF button. using the focus ring to do the job will means i can't do AF and then switch to MF without affecting the focus point set by the AF.

but i will go and check it out myself first before i decide if this is really an issue.

The Tokina 11-16 isn't made in K mount right?

Well, you can with the DA 12-24's quick shift. Anyway, with enough practice, flipping the AF switch isn't much harder than pressing any AF/MF button to disengage the AF drive (which I think only Sony has on its mid-range and above models?) Also, one trick I read is to depress the lens release button which should disengage the AF drive, freeing your focus ring. Whether you want to do that and risk your lens falling off is up to you ;)
 

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how about tokina 11-16?

the only thing i don't like is the lack of manual focus /AF button. using the focus ring to do the job will means i can't do AF and then switch to MF without affecting the focus point set by the AF.

but i will go and check it out myself first before i decide if this is really an issue.

The Tokina 11-26 doesn't come w/ Pentax mount :confused:
 

Ya I was that Pentaxian.:bsmilie: Thanks to all the bros who have given me advices then! To TS, I was in the exact situation as you awhile back. I was deciding between the exact 3 lenses too. In the end, I picked the 10-17 fisheye after seeing some of the wonderful pics taken by it from night86mare and Gengh. Initially I did regret the decision because its really hard to use the FE well but in the end I decided that I should practise more with this lens as I really like the effect.

If you have to choose, just choose between the Sigma 10-20 or the Pentax 10-17. Read many negative comments regarding the Tamrom 10-24.

Another Pentaxian was asking some time ago about getting a rectilinear UWA vs the fisheye, in the end he chose the fisheye. You need to really like the effect...
 

Funny how tokina dun make them in K mount, guess they just want to OEM for pentax ha ha ha.
 

Funny how tokina dun make them in K mount, guess they just want to OEM for pentax ha ha ha.

The Tokina 12-24/4, I can understand.. But I don't understand why they don't make the 11-16/2.8. Either the 11-16 is a Pentax design (like the 12-24, 16-50, 50-135) and there's a DA* version in the pipeline, or Pentax has not enough market share for Tokina to bother. :dunno:
 

Or just don't need an 11-16 when there's a 12-24?
 

I heartily recommend the DA 12-24mm f/4.
It is sharp from f/4 and has better distortion control than the Sigma.
This lens has simply excellent flare control, a distinguishing feature that I can't help emphasizing but even though it doesn't go as wide as the Sigma, I think on balance it is well worth the money.
This f/4 is just great so I really can't understand the need nor hype for an f/2.8 ultrawide.

4399699597_94f2780dd6_o.jpg

K-7 DA 12-24mm
 

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if want to go really wide, get the fish eyes. it has the added advantage of macro. playing with the macro, wide angle and the zoom will give you results that you will never expected at places you will never think possible.

below are the links to some of the shots that i like

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/3127909704_d815f76b16_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3127081983_ed6f5250e1_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2974799488_425fc9991e_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/3091864333_12a89e4f06_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3091864393_317e8d0b27_o.jpg
 

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