Wide Angle Lens

Hi

I am looking to buy a new wide angle lens - what would people recommend?

If this has been discussed before I'll try and find the links

Thanks
M

To be honest it has been discussed quite a lot. The most popular current choices are the Sigma 10-20mm & the Pentax 12-24mm

A search should produce quite a few threads

simon

Have a look at some of the shots Robby and MX veteran have posted, taken with the Sigma 10-20mm it might convince you

I am delighted with my Sigma 10-20mm which is about £150 cheaper than the Pentax 12-24mm. As I have said on other threads, the first of these I had was replaced because of a front focusing problem, but Sigma identified the problem straight away when I sent them some sample shots and my supplier replaced the lens by return post. Brilliant service all round and the new lens is great
I know nothing about the Pentax 12-24mm, but did not consider it on cost grounds.

The Pentax 12-24mm is an exceptional lens, with very very low distortion making it suitable for architecture shots.

The Sigma also has very low distortion. See www.photozone.de/pentax

Not many on the forum appear to have the Pentax 12 -24 but I am sure that is entirely down to the high cost.

There are devoted fans of both the Sigma 10 - 20 and the Pentax 10 - 17 (fisheye) on the forum and the relative merits of these two lenses in particular have been debated extensively.

It really comes down to what you intend to use the lens for.

Martin,

Try these two links :-

www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6543

www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6203

Martin,

Pentax 12 - 24 - £485

Pentax 10 - 17 - £295

Sigma 10 - 20 - £289

(all are SRS prices)

I always find PBase a useful resource for comparing lens outputs - it certainly helped make my decision easier!

Pentax 12-24 samples here: http://www.pbase.com/cameras/pentax/smc_da_12-24_4_ed_al_if

Sigma 10-20 samples here: http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/10-20_4-56_ex_dc_hsm

and you can find further examples of the 12-24 at www.pentaxphotogallery.com (go to; Image Data -> Lens -> SMC DA 12-24MMF4 ED AL (IF) ).

I prefer seeing actual examples of photos to lab tests but if lab tests are your thing then photozone.de (as mentioned above) seem as competent in carrying them out as anybody - they've covered both of these lenses as well as the various zooms that reach down into the wide end (18-55, 16-45, 16-50, etc) and of course the Pentax DA 14mm F2.8 (which few people seem to own and is apparently being discontinued - there may be a few bargains around if vendors are clearing their stocks of this one).

Happy hunting!

Thanks for all the info and links to other threads.

I have an oportunity to buy a lens whilst in the US in the next month or so. Would the warranty cover it despite coming back to UK?

Cheers
M

Pentax lenses have worldwide guarantees, I don't know about Sigma. You would need to check in the shop. I know if you import a SIgma by post they will only cover it under the guarantee if you can prove you paid the duty on it. Not sure if they are the same about you buying it abroad in person.

Been tempted by either the Sigma 10-20 or the Pentax 12-24 myself, but having the DA* 16-50 wondered if it was worth spending £500 for 4mm on the Pentax.

Now, we do know that Tokina and Pentax developed the 2x DA*'s together, and from what I can make out, the 12-24 comes from the same Tokina ATX Pro range, see here:- http://www.tokinalens.com/products/tokina/index.html

From what I have read around the net, Tokina are due to release an 11-16mm 2.8 in the same range, so, the question is, are we expecting to see a Pentax DA* 11-16mm F2.8? If so, I would definately hold out for it, as I see it being a very good match for the 2x DA*'s we currently have, with no crossover on the focal lengths, and keeping at 2.8 like the others.

Does anyone know anything on this one? Also, what do you think, am I making sense?

Quick thing I don't understand

Why does a SIGMA 10-20mm not produce a fish-eye result whereas a Pentax 10-17mm does?

What is the difference that causes this?

I want to take landscape shots so I don't want a fisheye lens where the image needs corrected to produce a rectilinear shot.

Rectilinear lenses have differently shaped elements to correct the image.