Help me choose cheap wideangle

Hello there!
I'm looking for a cheap wide angle lens. I'm browsing ebay and found some interesting options, one of which was this Cosina 19-35/3,5-4,5.
What can you tell me about it? How bad is it? I guess pretty bad, since the price for NEW is just 109 euros. But... what can you say?

P.S. maybe someone here is selling used wide lens for similar money?

My camera - K100D

that lens will certainly be no better than the DA 18-55, and probably quite a lot worse.

If you didn't get an 18-55 with your camera then I would suggest a trip over to

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/index3.asp?id=65&section=%3Cfont+size%3D4%3...

where you will find a brand new DA 18-55 for the princely sum of £69.


The only advantage that Cosina has is full frame coverage, but unless you are planning to use it on a film camera this wont be an issue, and the 18-55 more or less covers full frame from ~24mm onwards anyway.

Thanks!
I have the kit 18-55 lens. Just thought this was a bit wider.

How likely is it to be better than the Pentax 18-55? The 18-55 is better than "pretty poor" according to www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/pentax_1855_3556/index.htm

What part of the range is most important to you? What about a used Pentax prime lens?

This is what they actually said:
The Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL is a surprisingly good kit zoom although it has its weaknesses specifically at 18mm. The center and border performance is fine here but the extreme corners are somewhat soft. Pronounced vignetting and reduced contrast are also present at f/3.5. At 35mm and 55mm the situation is much better. CAs are very well controlled. The build quality is good for a kit zoom and a level up from the rest of the gang such as the Canon EF 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 or Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED. All-in-all a good offer from a price/value perspective but naturally there're better lenses out there ... with a much higher price tag.

Where did you see "pretty poor"?

G

When I studied optics, 18 was wider than 19.

G

I presumed that Cosina is in 35mm format...

George, I said it was BETTER than pretty poor. "Pretty poor" were Jealousy's words.

Incidentally, I've posted a question on Pentax-A 28mm versus the 18-55 on the Lenses section, and would be interested in any replies there. Thanks.

It is, but a 19-35 is still a 19-35 whether it's on a 35mm camera or a digital camera.

the format a lens is designed for has no impact on its focal length, a 19mm lens is a 19mm lens whether it's being used as an ultra wide on a 35mm film camera, a sensible wide on APS-C or a moderate wide on 110.

The only thing which changes is the image circle the lens projects. Since the DA 18-55 is designed for APS-C cameras, it produces a smaller image circle than that Cosina, but as you are using it on an APS-C size DSLR this will have no impact.

I apologise. My brain seems to have ignored the "better than".

G

The Cosina 19-35 is in fact a suprisingly good lens for the money. When I bought my DS I bought the body and used this as the standard zoom (until I go the 16-45) and the results were good. I had had good results on film with it before, and it has had several reviews which said it was much better than expected for the money (I think it was about £109 new - astonishingly cheap for such a wideangle lens) and pretty much held its own against considerably more expensive competition. It is a pit plasticy but you can't have everything. I still have it to get ultrawide on film.

I have the Vivitar version of this lens. Pretty good for the price (about £30 on the auction site). It works on film and digital and works pretty well - some vignetting to be expected, and fall off in the corners, but not bad at all.

that lens will certainly be no better than the DA 18-55, and probably quite a lot worse.

I've owned both lenses and my 19-35mm (Pheonix branded but it's the same lens) was noticeably sharper than the 18-55 kit lens (which I thought was the worst Pentax lens I've owned).

I used to use the 19-35mm a lot with my film cameras and it's a decent little lens optically although it's quite plasticy from a build perspective.

I am using a Sigma 10-20mm, which is actually designed for digital SLR's. Mine comes from Japan at the cost of about GBP 250.00. It has never let me down. The lens is very sharp:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0502/05021403sigma10-20dc.asp

some examples, taken with K10D (sorry about colour balance):
http://photoma.wmin.ac.uk/main.php?g2_itemId=9253

maybe under GBP 200 on eBay
Hope this is of any help.