12-24mm - Pentax vs Sigma

I'm after a little advice... I think I might be already answering my own line of thinking but a little input and experience from you fine chaps and chapesses won't go a miss.

I already own a Sigma EX 12-24mm DG and in an effort to wean myself off carrying all the MF and Pano kit around I have been trying to use my K10D for at lot more Landscape work... However, the Sigma has been annoying me hence my post. My issue is regarding the built-in hood and the inability to fit filters to use on this fine lens. This is becoming a major gripe for me - I like this lens, it turns in some cracking results but not being able to fit filters is really hampering my way of working.

So, the question is: How does this Sigma compare to the Pentax equivalent? Anybody had any experience of them both?

I checked out some old threads https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2408&postdays=0&postord... so can see that filters aren't an issue on the Pentax 12-24mm as I'm using Lee holders. However that post is nearly a year old, some of you clearly like the Pentax but does anyone else have any differing views a year further down the line?

One benefit of the Sigma is that it's full frame - not that I use my 35mm all that much anymore (2 films so far this year) but it's still a small plus in it's favour and could be an even bigger plus in the future - not that I want to get into THAT debate . And 12mm in 35mm is a lot of fun to play with...

Has anyone that uses the Sigma been able to come up with a workable way of using filters? That would save me a shed load of cash...

How about another curve ball - anyone have any view on what the Sigma 10-20mm is like - would give me less overlap once I've got 16-50mm sorted later in the year. Does the 10-20mm suffer from the same filter issue as its 12-24 sibling?

Thanks in advance...

Will

Hi Will,

I've got the 10-20 Sigma, and I like it - usual good EX build quality.

Recently posted about it here:
www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=24768&highlight=#24768

You can use filters with it - I've used 'P' size polariser in the mount, which, rather than fitting to an adaptor, I just hang on the front of the lens in the holder, the bayonet bits for the hood hold the P holder quite nicely. It does vignette at the wide end though, so you'd either have to get an X size (think Matt has these for his Pentax), or go for screw-ins.

Might get away with taking a hacksaw to a P holder though, cutting off the front couple of slots, but I haven't tried it.

Dan

if you feel the need to sell the 12-24 for a pittance then I'm busy trying to convince myself that I need one

Thanks Dan - that's quite handy info and I've just had a look at the 10-20 on Sigma's website. Don't know why but I'd always assumed that the hood was fixed like their 12-24, it's not and will take a 77mm filter... But I had also believed that it was a FF DG version and not DC digi only as it is...

Hmmmm.............

Cheers!

I still like the Pentax 12-24

(Got mine from Technikdirekt in Germany )
Matt

Looks like I may have found the answer to my troubles...

Either that or Don & Liam have been at it again with their hair-brained ideas!!!

http://www.dslr.co.uk/x-pro_filter_on_12-24/index.htm