wide angle zoom choice?

philmorley · 09-30-2008, 10:15 PM

looking for a lens

price isn't important but what I'm after is something that

zooms wider than 28mm (mostly looking for 18-24mm)
excellent optically
reasonable chance of getting a good one and still be good in 12 months
isnt chock full of ca / fringing (I can get rid of it, but it still leaves marks (short of putting a huge amount of work))
is available new (I'm long done with ebay & 2nd hand glass)

so I have ruled out pentax 16-50 / 16-45 / tamron 17-50 / sigma 18-50, is there anything else??? is high ca just the nature of beast when wider than 28mm??

Phil

SpecialK · 09-30-2008, 10:21 PM

You did not say anything about the Pentax 12-24, or are you looking for 3rd party?

philmorley · 09-30-2008, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by SpecialK

You did not say anything about the Pentax 12-24, or are you looking for 3rd party?

Hi, brand isn't important, I was under the impression that it too had lots of ca? I'll have to look into some more.

*Frank Fletcher* · 10-01-2008, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by philmorley

Hi, brand isn't important, I was under the impression that it too had lots of ca? I'll have to look into some more.

My favourite lens in my quiver is the Sigma 10-20mm. I have some nice prime glass, but the 10-20mm just suits my style. CAs are moderate as seen on this review:

Sigma AF 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC (Pentax K) - Review / Test Report

This is compared to the DA 12-24mm, which has higher CA:

Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 AL ED [IF] - Review / Test Report

On Photodo, I guess more people like the 12-24mm.

**Damn Brit** · 10-01-2008, 01:04 AM

I'll put in another vote for the Sigma 10-20. It's the only one I've used apart from the Pentax 10-17 Fisheye but I'm very pleased with it.
Quite a few people have the 10-20 and seem to be happy with it. There was a spate of posts regarding the 10-20 a few weeks ago, images as well, so you might want to do a search on it.

soccerjoe5 · 10-01-2008, 01:44 AM

i had a 10-20 for my nikon system and i loved it.

i really want a pentax DA* version of the 11-16 though

Substitute · 10-01-2008, 02:53 AM

So to do I soccerjoe...
Actually I am looking for an equivalent of the Nikkor 17-35mm +weather sealing...
Clearly a DA*11-16mm

Lowell Goudge · 10-01-2008, 03:15 AM

You have some choices.

Sigma make a 10-20, and also a 12-24(Full frame)
Pentax make the 12-24 and also the 10-17 fish eye
Tamron has announced a 10-24mm

There have been excellent results posted for both the pentax 12-24 and sigma 10--20.

I read an article that the sigma 12-24 is actually sharper than teh 10-20, and it has the advantage that it is full frame, so alsu useable on a film camera.

tanron will be a wait and see, until the lens is released.

ps personally, I have the sigma 10-20

soccerjoe5 · 10-01-2008, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by Substitute

So to do I soccerjoe...
Actually I am looking for an equivalent of the Nikkor 17-35mm +weather sealing...
Clearly a DA*11-16mm

Why not the 16-50? I'm very happy with my copy. Or were you talking about 17-35mm in 35mm equivalent?

philmorley · 10-01-2008, 06:52 AM

thanks everyone.

I think I need to investigate more methods of getting rid of ca / fringing

Substitute · 10-01-2008, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by soccerjoe5

Why not the 16-50? I'm very happy with my copy. Or were you talking about 17-35mm in 35mm equivalent?

I had one and will get one again...Il love it but I need 17-35mm in 35mm, that's close to the DA 12-24 put it is at f4 and not a weather sealed star....

**roentarre** · 10-01-2008, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by philmorley

thanks everyone.

I think I need to investigate more methods of getting rid of ca / fringing

Among the choices, sigma 10-20 will almost have no fringeing issues. The pricing is more reliable in melbourne as well. Stock is available.

you can try camerawarehouse on line and deliver to your house.

Recently the sale for sigma zooms is finished in the city stores. Maybe wait for a while and the sale might start again.