I've been following info on the Pentax 17-70 with interest (mainly on another forum:blush as I was looking at it as a potential "upgrade" for the Sigma, my main hope was that distortion at 17mm would be less.

From what I've read the Pentax only really offers the advantage of SDM over the Sigma, initial reports seem to suggest that IQ/distortion are no better & I'm guessing that CA will probably be slightly worse.

IMHO for the current price of the Pentax version you really would have to list "SDM" as an essential requirement to pay the substantial premium over the Sigma. Having said this it's still early days for the lens..apparently Photozone have a review in the pipeline.

Personally I went out & bought a Sigma 10-20 instead

simon

I like the composition & your idea works well - it's only the distortion that I don't find appealing

simon

Hi Chris,

Not wanting to go off-topic from the OPs original post but...

I use PTlens which is a great plug-in & works well most of the time, didn't quite explain myself well, by distortion I meant more the "goldfish bowl" effect that happens sometimes when you get very close to foreground objects etc.

At 12mm this rarely happens, at 10mm it's there quite often...the effect definitely adds drama, as in the OPs shot here with the fisheye, it's just not my own personal taste. I usually take the shot at 10mm & 12mm & keep the one I prefer - so far 90% of these have been the 12mm version

cheers

simon

The shot certainly has some drama about it but being completely honest the distortion spoils the shot for me.

Coincidentally I've just bought a wide angle lens, the Sigma 10-20 & whilst 10mm offers a "different" take on things I do find that the distortion doesn't work for me most of the time. Fortunately at 12mm any distortion all but disappears !!

simon

This is a shot from yesterday of Llanbadrig Church near Cemaes on the Isle of Anglesey, the original site dates back to 440AD & is thought to be the oldest Christian site in Wales.

It's also perched high on a dramatic clifftop, along some of the most rugged section of the Anglesey coastal path...for film buffs Demi Moore filmed "Halflight" here too !!

simon

[IMG]http://www.landscapephotographyuk.com/images/llanbadrig-church-cemaes.jpg[/IMG]

Really been a struggle to catch some decent sky this year but things at last broke today.

This is Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey


[IMG]http://www.landscapephotographyuk.com/images/Red-wharf-bay-anglesey-1.jpg[/IMG]

A couple of shots taken during a coastal hike on a sunny day on Anglesey last weekend....

All C&C appreciated

simon

South Stack Lighthouse & Ellins Tower
[IMG]http://www.landscapephotographyuk.com/images/South-Stack-lighthouse-anglesey.jpg[/IMG]

Porth Y Post
[IMG]http://www.landscapephotographyuk.com/images/porth-y-post-anglesey.jpg[/IMG]

Had another go with the conversion, nothing too drastic but a touch more burning to add a little more contrast - BTW the original is converted in ACR - perhaps this isn't the best place, am I better off saving the RAW to Tiff & then converting in CS3 ?

thanks

simon

[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/G104369_bw_2.jpg[/IMG]

No problem & thanks for the info on B&W conversion - the process is new to me so I appreciate some guidance, I'll have another go myself

cheers

simon

Just been looking at past shots which might convert to B&W - this was taken last year, it's Tryfan mountain in Snowdonia. Would appreciate peoples thoughts - does it work for you in B&W ?

thanks


Simon


[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/Tryfan_bw.jpg[/IMG]