Wide Angle - Prime v Zoom

I know that on the Pentax system there's lots of options for wider angle lenses and these are the main suspects!

Pentax DA14
Pentax DA15
Pentax DA21
Pentax 12-24
Sigma 10-20
Sigma 8-16
Tamron 10-24

Since I've bought my DA 40mm Ltd I've loved it, it makes me more likely to take my K20 with me most of the time now that the lens adds hardly any weight to the camera, also I'm finding that a fixed focal length is making me think more about the shots I'm taking.

I'm very tempted to add a 15mm and 21mm to my kit basically making up an all round prime kit.

I know that IQ wise the 15mm and 21mm are meant to be excellent but I also know that most people recommend the Pentax 12-24 if size isn't a massive issue, I'm just wondering if anyone on here with the 15mm / 21mm has any thoughts on how much they use them and also if they have used them v some of the other wide zoom lenses (Pentax / Sigma) and what their thoughts were.

Cheers folks,

Chrs

I can highly recommend the DA14/2.8


And don't forget the DA10-17 ... another corker

Why not Sigma 8-16? If using filter is a critical requirement then the Sigma 10-20 is another good choice.



Old Royal Naval College by Tùng béo, on Flickr



Old Royal Naval College Painted Hall by Tùng béo, on Flickr



Old Royal Naval College Painted Hall by Tùng béo, on Flickr

Have had the 21mm, amazing small lens but I'd skip it for the 15mm as I found the IQ of the 21mm to be very good, but there's noticeable distortion - worse than the DA16-45mm IMO. On the upside the contrast and flare resistance is fantastic, but the DA15mm is supposed to excel in those areas too, as well as being very 'straight'.

Plus there are plenty of cheaper options for 24mm primes if you want a pocketable wide-normal lens. Pentax-M 24mm or Sigma 24mm f2.8 for example. But try finding another 15mm prime the size of the DA15mm!

The 12-24mm would be more versatile, but you want small don't you!

If you don't love the DA15mm, you can always sell it to me

I have the DA21 and if I ever only take one lens with me anywhere it's normally that one. One of my all time faves - especially if you have good enough light to get the f-stop into double figures - although still sharp enough wide open. There are some distortions but they can generally be corrected in PP if necessary (depending on the subject you will either notice them or not)

I seem to have a range of wide angle lenses which I have picked up (mostly second hand) - the sigma 10-20 is very cool - again it's sweet spot it is with a smaller aperture I think, but 10-20 I find a useful wide angle range, although inevitably it gets used more at 10mm than anything else. I have a 16-50 DA* which can produce some great pics but I generally am less happy with the results than from the sigma or the DA21 - probably that's me rather than the lens

Don't forget also the 10-17 fisheye. It's maybe an acquired taste, but can produce some uniquely cool pics.

If i had to pic one from those I would go with the DA21 every time... cheaper filters too as well (if required) although I haven't tried out the DA15 ever - it's next on my LBA list

Regards

Thanks folks, I did have the 10-20 and sold it A. Because I needed the cash at the time and B. I wasnt really using it.

But now that my main lens is the 40mm I really need something wider, I've been enjoying the prime lens, especially its size but based on current price I could just about buy another 10-20 and a DA21mm for the price of the 15mm Ltd!

Quite tempted by the 8-16 though, despite its size some of the images I have seen have been excellent from it.

Are those taken with the 8-16 mate? Looks a cracking lens.

You could have bought this one. M42 fitting mind...

Lol now that is expensive!

Its a difficult one to call this really as there are so many options and each depends upon your own personal preference. I previously owned the Sigma 10-20 but sold it quickly as I just didn't like the distortions at the wide end (much the same as those in the photos above from the 8-16).

I now have the DA12-24 and find it pretty much perfect for my needs (size been the exception) - distortion is pretty much non-existant and it's very sharp even wide open, great for architecture or landscapes.

As I said though it's a case of personal priorities/preferences - yours may well be different from mine

Simon

Thanks Simon, I'm going to get some time next week to get into Watford to get into SRS and have a look at the options, I'll see what I think if I don't find the 12-24 too "big" then I might just opt for that, as I can see size is really the only thing it doesn't have as one of my preferences, it would cover off both the 15mm and 21mm with focal length to spare! and is also the same price really as just the 15mm so based on money I might end up just buying the 12-24.

The perspective in the pictures above is simply due to the viewpoint and tilt of the lens. I'm not sure what you mean by the DA having non-existent distortion, at the 12mm end it isn't going to be noticeably different to the Sigma at 12mm if you were taking the same type of pictures. The Sigmas at 10 or 8mm will accentuate the perspective compared to 12mm, but it is still just perspective effects.

I have both the Tamron 10-24mm and the DA15.

I quite liked the 10-24 - it is a very versatile lens with very reasonable IQ. Like all the wide zooms it is big.

The DA15 on the other hand is small, discreet and has great IQ and has an angle of view that I happen to love.

I loved my 24mm on film and the 15 is as close as it gets.

The now DA15 lives on my camera and comes out as part of a 3-4 lens kit (15,24,[50]+ [55-200/70-300]). The 10-24 has not been out since I got the DA15 it now lives in my secondary bag.

This is a shame really as it deserves better. I'll take it out again soon.

MZ

There's a guy in Scotland who imports them from across the pond and sells them on ebay at a reasonble price... other than that, you can purchase from B&H and add the shipping and import taxes to the price you pay - so nasty surprises. I think the end cost is about 450.00 GBP depending on the exchange rate.

Thanks mate, I've dealt with Kerso before so I've fired off an email to enquire about the 15mm, his Ebay price seems very reasonable and he's usually a little cheaper direct, only a 12 month warranty but for £150 less I think I could live with that.