Wide angle for Pentax digital: advice and availability?

Hello! I can really do with some advice...
After using my Pentax DS for more than one year, I would like to add a wide angle lens. I am really missing the angle of view given by my loyal 20mm I used on my Pentax film camera.
I can only think of three option:
Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax 12-24mm and Pentax 14mm.

The Sigma seems to be unavailable everywhere here in the UK. Also, I always bought Pentax lenses in the past!!

The Pentax 12-24mm is more expensive, but I suppose after one year I will forget the extra cost while I am enjoying the lens. But again, it seems to be difficult to get (at a reasonable price). It is listed on the German site www.technikdirekt.de at 600Euros, but it is not available: it says 'coming soon'. Does anyone have experience with this company? 'Coming soon' sometimes may mean 'never'.

Another option is the 14mm fixed lens.... It is faster, but it is not a zoom.


Any advice? (On how to make up my mind and where to buy ....)
Many thanks

Luisella

Chris @ SRS has the DA 12-24mm (my recommendation) in stock and is just up the road from you in Watford. He's usually good for a bit of discount off his web price for us forum members.

The Pentax 12-24mm is a lovely lens. It covers the focal length you are missing and has the advantage of being a constant aperture zoom. (The f number does not change whilst zooming)

There are plenty of dealers in the UK who have the lens, why not try SRS, Jessops, Jacobs, Park Cameras, etc., whichever one has your loyalty.

The lens is not in stock: I rang them last Saturday (before driving to the shop) and they told me that it should arrive 'sometimes next week'.
I called several other places today (the ones quoting a price below £550.00) again with no luck.
Good tip about the discount for the member forum: I don't think I would have asked for it...

Thanks for the advice, anyway.
Luisella

The Pentax is undoubtedly a lovely lens but personally I went with the Sigma as it's also a very good lens but wider and half the price. Having a constant aperture is a worthwhile feature but with wide angles you tend to shoot more often at smaller apertures (or at least I do!) anyway and given these lenses don't have aperture rings I've not found the Sigma being non-constant any kind of issue.

Warehouse express list the Pentax 12-24 at £629 but for the same sort of cash you could by the Sigma 10-20 (£290) and still have cash left for a Pentax 16-45mm F4 or a 10-17mm fisheye.

The 14mm F2.8 I'd love to own but not at £599!

I've had my Sigma 10-20mm for some 18 months or so now and I've found it an excellent lens both in build quality and optically. I'd have been willing to pay some premium for the Pentax lens but not the difference they currently are - from what I've heard the price difference is significantly less marked elsewhere in the world than it is here in the UK.

The lack of constant aperture will not be a problem: the problem is that the lens seems to be unavailable everywhere in the UK (with Pentax fit) and none seems to know when it will be available. I found one at a place in London for £320 instead of the £290.00, but I am reluctant to buy it, in case there is a problem and I will be unable to get a replacement.
The price for the 12-24mm at SRS is £519.00, (but not in stock just now).
The price in Germany is 600 euro, still more expensive than the Sigma, but not so bad. (But again, it is no good if they don't have it !!!!)
I fully agree: but I have seen it at Pixmania for £432.00, so it is cheaper than the 12-24. (but I did not check the availability).
Again, I fully agree, but I would like the lens now or at least I would like to know when I can have it!
Many thanks again for your advice: maybe I could by the 10-17mm now and wait for the Sigma.....

The 10-20 is a bit more than half the price of the 12-24 here in Australia and i have my eye on the sigma

I got my 12-24 from Mathers Of Lancashire for £489. Ordered it on the Tuesday, arrived on the Thursday - very happy with the service, the lens and the price!

It's listed on their website here: http://www.mathersoflancashire.co.uk/page5.html

Many thanks for your help: all considered, I will wait for the Sigma lens and put the difference in the price toward another lens!!!

Again, if anyone knows of a supplier of the Sigma lens....

Have you tried Mathers - they list it on their site at £299?

Andy

I ordered the sigma 10 - 20 two weeks ago from warehouse express and it was delivered the next day for the same price as SRS including postage.

Davem

I know two german sites - who currently got a stock of the sigma 10-20

www.foto-bock.de - € 489 - the also got the pentax 10-17 if that will do.

Or

www.foto-koster.de - € 479 for the sigma. The also got the 16-45 f4...


Just to let you know!

There is a 12-24 listed on ebay - buy it now price £ 550.

(UK-ebay)

Another sold for £300 odd a few days ago.

G

I tried this morning: again not in stock and unable to give a delivery date. Obviously, there are distribution problem from Sigma.
The 12-24 Pentax is also not in stock, but he should be able to get it in a couple of days.

Many thanks for your help!