Pentax doesn't use HSM - it's driven by a motor in the body.

It's only the forthcoming Pentax 16-50, 50-135, and 60-250 star (read expensive) lenses that have supersonic motors.

For the focal length you mention there are only two rectilinear options: the Sigma 10-20 and the Pentax 12-24. And in your budget that narrows it down to one

Note: There is also the Pentax 10-17mm fisheye that is around the same price. Note that it is a non-circular fisheye, and at 10mm it will have 180 degree angle of view - much more than even the Sigma.

So, it depends what you want to capture.

The other thing to take note is that both the 10-20 and 12-24 struggle with Cokin P ND grads. You need to shell out another couple of hundred quid for half decent Z-Pro or Lee filters to work with these lenses! The fisheye cannot take filters at all.


Depending on what you have currently, the SMC-DA 16-45 is available quite cheaply and is an absolutely cracking lens. Coupled with a set of decent P-sized ND grads you've got a really excellent landscape lens (different in quality to the 12-24 and in many ways easier to use).

Decisions, decisions
Matt

Hi Ben,
Thanks for that - it makes sense. You've got an amazing control over the light!
So... do we get to see the results of the simple setup as well?! Hope so
Thanks!
Matt

Ben,
Thanks for the comments. Unlike you I rarely have strobes set up, and usually shoot with available light
Out of interest, just how many lights do you use??
Matt

Interesting stuff Ben.

Out of interest, have you tried the SMC-FA 50/f1.4 yet? Maybe a little on the long side for your uses, but it's a lens that never disappoints me with beautiful bokeh and stunning sharpness. I'd be most interested in knowing how the new 16-50 compares against both the 16-45 and the 50/f1.4 for portraiture and the like (e.g. this and this )

As if you didn't have enough to do already
Matt

You also need to enable a custom function:
"Using aperture ring" = "Permitted" (it's on the last page of the custom menu)

HTH!
Matt

Have a Lacie 120 "Laframe" and it's rather nice (but as with all displays it needs calibrating with a decent Spyder )
Matt

Sounds like a JPG tester to me
On screen at 100% the JPGs may appear "sharper" in the Canon, because they oversharpen

A real test should be RAW using the same application for both cameras. Or, as Ben points out, in the day-to-day usage.

Makes me wonder why Larry "owns a K10D" when he finds the XT/XTi sharper... fishy to me...

Matt

Wonderful macro Dan
I can almost feel those hairs
Matt

Ben,
My word
The lighting on the last of the six gives me the goosebumps. (The woman in black reading a book - "judaïsme" Zowee!
It'll be interesting to see these in print or at a larger size (edit: just checked the second site and the images are larger. The fine detail in the clothing looks fabulous!)
Excellent!!
Matt

I quite agree with you Ben
The first time I used the K10D with the SMC-F 100mm/f2.8 macro I was utterly blown away by the resolution and detail. I've used it for portraiture too and you can see every pore, and fine facial hair even on children It's utterly amazing.
But that's with RAW and Silkypix. JPG is "soft" because that's the Pentax look.
Matt