DA 10-17

I've noticed it's a lens that hasn't been discussed much in these forums.

My friend who bought my *ist DL fancies getting a fish-eye lens.... The DA 10-17 is labelled 'fish-eye' and she has fancied a Sigma 10-20 EX DC but that is labelled only as a super wide-angle...

Could I have some feedback to pass onto my friend?

Cheers

Peter

I've only just taken delivery of one, but feedback will follow very soon.

It is very well made.

: : :

I did a search for 10-17mm and got 45 hits here. Lots of info in those topics and some very good tips on its use. Also try going to http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/ and from the home page click on Image Data then pick Lens and then chose the 10-17mm fisheye at the bottom of the list. You should get back 33 stunning examples of what this lens can do. Also check out Niblue's and Galloot's websites for further examples.

If I fail to get one of these lenses from Santa then I believe I finally have enough money squirrelled away to buy one myself in January.

Drew

Drew, 45 hits out of tens of thousands isn't much... , when you compare it with the number of hits regarding other DA lenses....but thanks anyway

John, I look forward to what you have to say...currently I am enjoying my 16-50 DA*

The 10-17 is a fisheye, not rectilinear like the 10-20.

So, at 10mm on the fisheye you have 180 degree angle of view - wider than the 10mm of the rectilinear.

The two distort in different ways - fisheyes bend straight lines but keep relative proportions (e.g. square is a square but curvy), whereas the super wide rectilinear keeps straight lines but distorts the relative proportions (so squares can become odd trapezoidal).

Horses for courses.... and it's probably not "widely" discussed because a fish-eye is something that's not to everyone's taste

(Have a look on Wikipedia and Google for info on fish-eyes)

Matt

I've got both the Sigma 10-20 and the Pentax 10-17. Both are excellent lenses however the Sigma is a lot more useful generally so unless your friend really wants a fisheye then the Sigma is going to be the better option.

This is an example shot using the Pentax fisheye:




and this from the Sigma:




These two shots were from similar vantage points, the first with the Sigma, the second with the Pentax:

nice landscape !
Where is that ?
cheers
Pete

That's exactly what I would say (probably a bit less eloquently put). The 10-17 is a fantastic lens and there's a lot of fun you can have with it. You have to learn though how to make best use of it (i.e. how you produce the pics you like and many others may loathe).
A fish-eye lens is probably the Marmite of lenses (I don't like Marmite but I like the 10-17).

Prieni

Oi! There's nothing wrong with Marmite.

You're probably thinking of that weak and watery stuff called Vegemite.

G

Vegemite weak and watery Mate you can repair potholes with vegemite

That doesn't surprise me. But I was talking about the flavour, not its qualities as a building material. I'm glad you have found a suitable use for it.



G

Up in the NW of Scotland - the 2nd shot is at Applecross and the last two are at Knockan Crag, north of Ullapool.

Thanks

not the finest example (technically speaking) but a fun shot from this evenings tree decorating....

John,


Any feedback yet ?