[simonkit]

I currently own the Sigma 17-70 & am delighted with the lens - however I'm looking for a little more at the wide end to complement the 17-70 & was hoping for a few recommendations.

I've already discovered the sigma 10-20 which seems to be well respected, any better alternatives ?

thanks

simon

[superfuzzy]

I currently own the Sigma 17-70 & am delighted with the lens - however I'm looking for a little more at the wide end to complement the 17-70 & was hoping for a few recommendations.

I've already discovered the sigma 10-20 which seems to be well respected, any better alternatives ?

thanks

simon

There's the Pentax 12-24. I don't own either lens so can't comment, but here's the basic specs for comparison:

Sigma 10-20, 83.5 x 81, 77mm filter , f4-5.6, 470g
Pentax 12-24, 83.5 x 87.5, 77mm filter, f4, 430g

[egordon99]

I have the Sigma 10-20mm and I love it!
This one was taken on Saturday @ 13mm. It's 2mm wider than the Pentax, although it's a stop slower at the long end.


Ultra-Wide is fun! (@10mm)


I'm sure you could get some GREAT images in Wales with either the Pentax or the Sigma.

[simonkit]

Thanks for the recommendation.

To be honest the Sigma 10-20 looks very much the favoured option, it's significantly less expensive than the Pentax

I intend using a polariser pretty much permanently & would like to know about the level of vignetting that I'm likely to encounter ?

thanks

Simon

[Duplo]

Well no doubt that the Sigma 10-20 is able to produce excelelnt results, there are however quite a few other options as well.

Primes:
DA14:
Excellent performer, excellent lens in all respects (one of my personal favourites)
and resonably fast (f2.8)
Go here for a number of samples:
Zenfolio | Duplo Photography | Pentax DA 14mm f2.8 IF
Zenitar 16mm Fisheye:
Seems to be performing quite well too and has a lot of followers here.
Full manual lens though.
Tamron 14mm:
Sean (Carpents) has one and really likes it.

Zoom (aside from the 10-20)
Sigma 12-24:
I have heard good about it, but is a big and heavy bugger of a FF lens.
DA12-24:
Seems to be producing excellents results, I have no deep personal experience with it though.
Constant f4. a tad slow at night though.
DA10-17FE:
A very fun well constructed and overall excellent lens. similar FOW to the DA14mm at 17mjm.
A load of examples can be found here:
Zenfolio | Duplo Photography | Pentax DA 10-17mm f3.5-4.5 Fisheye

Probably a lot more around, but those were the "off the top of my head" ones...

My personal favourites are the DA14 and DA10-17 in the range, but that is a very personal preference.

[Kresica]

Had both of them, Sigma 10-20 and Pentax 12-24, for a week. AF is equally fast, but Sigma is sharper when wide open, wider, cheaper of two, and less prone of chromatic aberrations.
Tested them together with my 16-45



My tip is: buy Sigma 10-20 AND Pentax 10-17 fisheye, then you have the best of both worlds.

[little laker]

Well no doubt that the Sigma 10-20 is able to produce excelelnt results, there are however quite a few other options as well.

Zenitar 16mm Fisheye:
Seems to be performing quite well too and has a lot of followers here.
Full manual lens though.

They no longer import the Zenitar, so it might be a little hard to find.
Although from what I've seen it's a wonderful lens.

I'd keep my eyes open in the marketplace on this site for them if you want one.

[Confused]

Hi simon

Re your question:

I'm looking for a little more at the wide end to complement the 17-70

I obviously haven't the faintest idea what budget you have at your disposal, but your choice really comes down to two things. If you like your wide-angle images to appear rectilinear, IMHO the Sigma 10-20mm is simply a 'no-brainer' ! You'd also be surprised what a luxury it is to be able to 'frame' your image perfectly with the invaluable wide-zoom facility. If however you like photographs with the typical edge-curvature distortion of a fish-eye, then plump for Pentax's DA10-17FE with (144/92.5 vert/horiz) degree view. I'd find it hard to believe that that you'd be disappointed with either of these wonderful lenses, but you can see from my user profile below which one I went for ! Incidentally, you may have difficulties obtaining the Sigma 10-20mm in Pentax mount, due to the two break-ins which Sigma Imaging UK suffered some months ago at their warehouse. I had to wait until last week to finally obtain mine from SRS !

Best regards
Richard

[Duplo]

If you like your wide-angle images to appear rectilinear, IMHO the Sigma 10-20mm is simply a 'no-brainer' ! You'd also be surprised what a luxury it is to be able to 'frame' your image perfectly with the invaluable wide-zoom facility.

Is it... I would have called the DA14 the same... guess it reall depends on how you prefer to work. But yeah the 10-20 can turn out some great photos, but it really depends on how you prefer to work.

If however you like photographs with the typical edge-curvature distortion of a fish-eye, then plump for Pentax's DA10-17FE with (144/92.5 vert/horiz) degree view.

That we can completely agree on though, a fun lens capable of great results

[Confused]

Hi Duplo

Re your question:

Sigma's 10-20mm rectilinear lens: Is it ?

I'm no expert in this matter, but I'd simply ask you to read the following quotes:

Manufacturer's Description
Sigma is adding a new 15-30mm f3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG lens group. This new rectilinear 15-30mm f3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF lens provides focal lengths from 15mm ultra-wide angle to 30mm wide-angle and is the first of its kind in the world.

Sigma 10-20mm Strengths:
Build quality, optical sharpness, price (a much better deal than Canon's 10-22), flare control, fast and quiet focussing, and very rectilinear image (most important IMHO).

The 10-20mm is a rectilinear lens with a far smaller field of view.

This is quite simply one of the great Sigma products. It is well built. Highly accurate rectilinear lens which means there is little bending of straight lines.

We recommend this camera to Esate Agents and Travel Companies wanting to shoot wide angle pictures. This is a high quaility lens and is termed 'rectilinear', this means there is no distortion often associated with wide angle pictures. In a recent test it scored better than the more expensive Nikon and Canon lenses.

You will get much sharper, cleaner, rectilinear images with the Sigma 10-20mm.

You want the rectilinear lens (Sigma 10-20mm)

The Sigma 10-20mm is a linear wide angle without the defining characteristics of a fisheye.

The Sigma 10-20mm is not a fisheye. No curvature is achieved.

Case proven, m'Lord !!!!!

Best regards
Richard

P.S. Revisiting your reply again, it occurred to me that you might have meant that the DA14 is a 'no-brainer' ?
If so, after all that effort I will simply go down to the nearest cliff and throw myself over !!!!!