The Pentax 11-18mm f2.8 DA* Has landed

Very excited I can tell you! Never have I spent sooooo much on a piece of photography kit, lens or body. I just couldn't resist the SRS Microsystems weekend special offer.
First impressions, a very nicely made bit of metal, glass and plastic.

It's a beast!



I had a quick play at lunchtime directly pitted against my trusty Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX
On initial few snaps WOW! It blows the sigma out of the water. With the Pentax at f2.8 and the Sigma at f8, in the centre of the image you could argue either way, personally I think the Pentax is sharper. You don't have to move too far from the centre and even at this aperture difference the Pentax is way sharper, I can hardly believe my eyes, I will be taking more shots to make sure I'm not exaggerating the difference.
In my v quick head to head two things were noticable.
The Sigma gives a slightly warmer image, which surprised me ( could be the changing light due to cloud forming)
10mm is quite a lot wider(and taller) than 11mm quite a difference.
The 3rd difference the Pentax seems to be sharper and resolve a lot more detail, I mean a lot sharper but, it needs to at about three times the cost!
Sorry I'm so excited I had to share.

I remember thinking it a was a bit of a monster when I saw one at SRS. Have fun. New lenses always make for a good day...

K.

Congrats, looks like a good piece of kit and also like it's going to be well used!

Cheers Womble, there were only three weekends this year when I was 100% committed to working and the SRS 100th Anniversary bash was one of them. If I'd have been free I would have joined you for the day.
Cheers HarisF1, I'll do my best. For better or worse I do take a lot of photographs!

Looks like I'll have a Sigma 10-20mm for sale soon

Very nice. Cant wait to see the pics.

Regarding the field of view, maybe the new Pentax isn't really quite as wide as 11mm...

At these sort of FL 1mm can make a significant difference.

All sounds very positive. I was very tempted myself but held off for now. My main query , besides the price!, is how the lens performs with filters .
I would love to know whether you get vignetting particularly with a 100mm square system and at which focal length.
Any information on this would be most welcome. I have asked on both the forums without success so far.
Thanks
Paul

Cant answer your question directly as I dont have the lens or indeed a recent aps-c camera. On my K1 I use the DFA 15-30 and Lee filters have a adapter to allow use of 150mm filters. You could ask them.

I think the Lee filters are available for the DFA since it's essentially the same as the Tamron 15-30 for other camera makes.

With a massive front element it'll be hard to get a normal filter kit to fit. Perhaps you can test the thinner ones (take only 2 filters) for use with the 11-18.

That wide I guess a PL will not be so relevant. I find HDR in software so effective these days that bracketing and leaving the filters at home is often just as good, to achieve correct exposure in a high contrast scene.

That leaves ND filters to slooooooow the shutter speed.

Still very early days with the lens.
Compared to my Sigma 10-20mm it produces much less flare
It does produce some fine purple fringing even in the centre of the image when taking a partially clouded sun through tree branches at the 11mm end, still makes an incredibly clean image compared to the Sigma, I mean chalk and cheese, incredible even wide open.
I've only had another quick lunch time play indoors at the 18mm end. It displays much less distortion at this focal length than the Sigma (pincushon), the Pentax HD 16-85mm (barrel) and the Pentax DA* 16-50mm.(Barrel)
Interestingly when compared to the Sigma 10-20 at 18mm the Sigma is sharper across the frame to f7.1 due to lack of time I then skipped to f18 where the Pentax came out on top. In a way the Pentax being so great at 11mm. 18mm seems a little disappointing but, I got to get out and about.
Paul, I do have some cheap 100mm filters, I have hardly ever used them as I tend to bracket shots, it might be a little while but I'll look my filter system out and give it a go.