Wide angle lens opinion needed

I need some suggestions for a wide angle lens. Criteria are:
* Wide or zoom, doesn't matter but AF is a must-have
* Shortest focal length less than 20 (e.g. 21mm limited is out of the question)
* f2.8 or better
* IQ only needs to be decent (kit lens level is perfectly fine)
* Reasonably priced and is available to be bought from somewhere

Is there any lens out there that can get all 5 stars from the above?

The only thing I seem to find is the DA* 18-55 f2.8 but the price is too high for a half-stop aperture advantage over the kit lens (Note: I do not intend to use this lens for "serious" work)

Thank you guys in advance.

:arrow: Sorry, accidentally left my manner in the toilet but found it in time.

I think apart from the DA* 16-50mm you'll be looking at the tamron 17-50mm, or sigma 17-50 and sigma 18-50mm.
Can't recall a prime that goes that wide and that fast though.
I'm afraid I've never used any of them but sure other members will be able to tell you

DA14/2.8 - very highly thought of by those who own one.

I use my DA14/2.8 a lot. Fantastic lens with excellent IQ.

On a not so expensive note the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5(4) is a great lens too.

I can add my vote for the DA14mm f2.8 - lovely build, fast aperture, excellent IQ (corners at wide apertures can be a little soft) and close focus - the close focus is probably my favourite feature.

Having said that I have the DA*16-50mm f2.8 as well - it is my "walkaround" lens and has the advantage of "weather-sealing".

Is AF such a must have with very wide lenses? DoF will ensure everything is sharp so you could look at the Samyang 14mm for around £250

Ooops! I completely forgot about the DA 14mm!
Gartmore's got a point though when I'm shooting at extreme wide angles I don't feel the need of AF, only time I need it is when I creep up mega close with the 10-17mm fisheye but I think that's just a bit special about that lens itself.

Depends what you want, for pure wide angle what about the Sigma 10-20, Sigma/Penta 12-24 or Tamron 10-24?

Oops just noticed the f2.8 or better requirement.

As Lennybloke, DA16-50 as principle walkaround lens. Got the speed and width to meet most requirements.

DA14's a great lens - I don't give the use it deserves. Tend to favour the DA12-24 of my wider lens options if I'm travelling. Don't find the extra stop slower a problem because I'm happy to hand hold with SR enabled at 1/20 sec or 1/15 if braced. If you shift your minimum f stop size to 4, a lot more options become available.

Ultimately, depends on your expected use for the lens, the budget you have and which body you are using.

I'm intrigued by that one too, but it seems to have mixed reviews. The Samyang 85mm (which I have) was almost universally adored by testers, even when some were clearly desperate not to let it beat CaNikony lenses costing four or five times as much in the final result. I'm very happy with mine, even if I'm planning to use it for motorsport rather than the conventional portrait use!

The 14mm has apparently been redesigned in response to early criticisms but one review suggested that while the initial flaws had been corrected there were some new flaws in the redesigned lens. I'd love one as it's a 14mm full frame prime with an aperture ring (perfect given I have a substantial collection of Pentax 35mm bodies), but £250 is a fair bit of money considering this uncertainty.

I find my 16-50 is amazingly easy to misfocus at the wide end. Without the AF my results would be much poorer, even with the huge DoF sometimes you need critical focus.

I am all for fast lenses but I agree that f/4 is perfectly fine for a super-wide. It's not as though you're going to be using it to get thin DOF, quite the opposite in fact. So the extra stop is not nearly so useful as it would be on a normal lens, for example.

I traded for a DA12-24 some time ago and have never regretted it. A great lens considering the compromises of wide angle in the first place.

I couldn't disagree more. For close up stuff the narrow DOF of the DA 14mm/2.8 is wonderfull.

Wide apertures also allow faster shutter speeds. And where there's motion this is a bonus.


Another reason for wide aperture on a superwide is low light shooting.

I would find f4 far too restricting.