[chrislondon]

Hi,

I have just started to get into DSLR Photography having just recently purchased a K100D Super.

I'd like to buy a secondary lens to complement the kit lens. I'm interested in taking some wide angle shots and would like to take advantage of the backwards compatibility of the Pentax lens system (the availability and large range of cheap older lenses was one of the features that attracted me to the Pentax cameras).

Does anyone have any suggestions for any good, cheap wide angle lenses (manual focus is fine)?

Chris

[benplaut]

To be entirely honest the kit lens is a pretty decent wide angle. Is it not wide enough, or do you not like the IQ?

Some chea(er) options are the Zenitar 16mm fisheye, Tokina 19-35mm (not as wide as the kit), and Pentax 16-45mm (most expensive)

[chrislondon]

Thanks for the feedback benplaut...

To be honest i'm particularly interesting in comparing the quality of images from the kit lens vs what I may be able produce using older lenses.

I chose wide angle because i'm particularly interested in taking this style of photograph.

I'd be happy to here suggestions of other good cheap starter lenses.

[benplaut]

Unfortunately, there really aren't many old lenses that are wide on a DSLR, because a wide on film is 24mm or 28mm, and a wide on digital is 16mm or 18mm. Anything wider can pretty much only be found with brand new lenses made specifically for DSLR.

Unfortunately, there really aren't many old lenses that are wide on a DSLR, because a wide on film is 24mm or 28mm, and a wide on digital is 16mm or 18mm. Anything wider can pretty much only be found with brand new lenses made specifically for DSLR.

Not necesarily. Tokina RMC 17 f3.5 (cheap 100-200ish)
Tamron Adaptall 17 (not as cheap, 200-300ish)
Zeiss Flektagon (m42) 20 f4 and f2.8 (200-400 depending on the model)
Pentax A15 3.5 (outrageously expensive)...

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographer-s-marketplace/19872-fs-tamro...rime-lens.html Speaking of devil, it is cheaper than I remembered.

[rparmar]

Pentax A15 3.5 (outrageously expensive)...

In the near future to meet a 15mm f/3.5 DA limited. Likely also expensive. Guess £800?

[roy]

as stated as far as wides go ..most all lenses have an equation. like this.
quality, price, speed
you get to chose two of those or all three if you can afford it..

[hinman]

I have several not-so-wide angles that I paid really cheap. I roughly piad $5.0 for a Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 with an A setting and the other is a Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 totally Manual that I bought it here from James for cheap since it is not compatible to K mount in K100D/K10D and I bought a dremel and a good screw driver to remove the base and grind off the excess portion of the flange.

Samples from my Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 is quite alright even for late night shooting with hand holding shots. It is not well built like my Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 as it is all plastic but it serves me alright as a wider angle in 24mm. It is definitely no 21mm limited but it serves me fine for the cheap price that I paid for it.

Vivitar 24mm f/2.8
with cropping to have a wider view


with cropping to have a wider view


with cropping to have a wider view


no cropping, panning for bird's movement, in manual focus

Night shooting all hand-held is my constant pushing on my limits to have good shots all the way down to 1/8 and 1/4 seconds in hand holding shots

Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 night shooting hand-holding

And I also like the less than $100 investment that I have on my Tokina 19-35 f/3.5-4.5. While it is not as wide and not as fast you would expect, it serves me very well.

Tokina 19-35 f/3.5-4.5
with cropping for a wider angle and cut out flare




with cropping in 19mm


in 35mm for a perspective

Thanks,
Hin

[hinman]

And my memorable first few shots in 2008 to start off the year with celebration and excitement in Pentax and my wildest passion in photos with inexpensive gear such as the $5.0 vivitar that I got out of LBA and BBA on the cheap. It SUCKS life in getting unused gear and I learn my lesson hard not to count on luck as I have a difficult time in unloading gear and you all know that in marketplace. But for this Vivitar, I get drunk and if I have to do it all over again, I buy it with no remorse

First two shots of 2008 by Vivitar 24mm f/2.8
PP in my Picasa focal b&w and shadow


Let's celebrate for Pentax in 2008 and be thankful at all time
PP in Picasa with adding warm color tone


Blog posts
ABC Wednesday -- corona eXtra - Hin's Photo Blog
ABC Wednesday -- My Z lion needing zzz..... - Hin's Tech Corner

And my blog is mentioned in NYTimes in this article and I can't be happier to have someone noticing my blog which I have no time to update to share my own learning and love of photography and Pentax excitement. I need to stay away from gear hunting and focus on learning and sharing after I unload few more lens, I am more than ready to go back and celebrate the year with photography and learning

NYTimes on Picasa learning
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/technology/personaltech/24askk-002.html?_r...0A&oref=slogin

My Picasa Demo Page
Picasa Tutorials - Hin's Tech Corner

[cajuncutter]

Good pictures Hinman. I rembered your thread about your mod and I did the same thing with a Vivatar but used a fine tooth hacksaw blad. Worked perfectly. 75-205 f/3.5. Takes killer pictures, especially for someone that has only owned a Dslr for a little over 24 hours.

[hinman]

Good pictures Hinman. I rembered your thread about your mod and I did the same thing with a Vivatar but used a fine tooth hacksaw blad. Worked perfectly. 75-205 f/3.5. Takes killer pictures, especially for someone that has only owned a Dslr for a little over 24 hours.

Thanks Cajuncutter. Now my question back to forum on wide angle. A bit off topic but related to wide angle not on the cheap side.

I have strong liking of wider angles in my shooting. I need input for planning for a zoom and prime with Auto focus in the future. I am planned for 21mm limited due to peer influence from Justin, Rose and many of you. I have not researched into 14mm but I am sure I will crave for it after 21mm. My wide angle question is more towards in finding a wide end zoom after my Tokina 19-35 f/3.5-4.5 which I plan to keep to use as a walk around with Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 for portraits. In the long end, I currently have DA 50-200 and Tamron 70-300 Di. So I am yet to fill the wide end zooms, my choices are as follows:

1. Sigma 10-20

2. Wait for Tamron 10-24

3. Wait for Tamron 17-50

4. Pentax 10-17

5. Pentax 12-24

Any suggestions for my wide end zoom is appreciated. I thought about Pentax 10-17 but I hear a lot of discussion on undesirable fish-eye effects but I see a great number of non-fish-eye shots in 16mm and 17mm. I wish the Tamron 17-50 or Pentax 12-24 also work for film cameras as I love lens that fit both worlds. I know that Sigma 12-24 may fit both but I have bad stereotyping

Thanks,
Hin

[clawhammer]

It's not quite as wide, but the FA 20-35 seems to be a little better than the kit lens to me. the distortion is a little better and you don't have any issues with vignetting.

I got recently the sigma 10-20 and it is quite funny to use. If you like wide angle and already have the 19-35 I would go for an ultrawide rather than for the 17-50 f2.8 (unless you shoot in dark places predominantly)

Thanks Cajuncutter. Now my question back to forum on wide angle. A bit off topic but related to wide angle not on the cheap side.

I have strong liking of wider angles in my shooting. I need input for planning for a zoom and prime with Auto focus in the future. I am planned for 21mm limited due to peer influence from Justin, Rose and many of you. I have not researched into 14mm but I am sure I will crave for it after 21mm. My wide angle question is more towards in finding a wide end zoom after my Tokina 19-35 f/3.5-4.5 which I plan to keep to use as a walk around with Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 for portraits. In the long end, I currently have DA 50-200 and Tamron 70-300 Di. So I am yet to fill the wide end zooms, my choices are as follows:

1. Sigma 10-20

2. Wait for Tamron 10-24

3. Wait for Tamron 17-50

4. Pentax 10-17

5. Pentax 12-24

Any suggestions for my wide end zoom is appreciated. I thought about Pentax 10-17 but I hear a lot of discussion on undesirable fish-eye effects but I see a great number of non-fish-eye shots in 16mm and 17mm. I wish the Tamron 17-50 or Pentax 12-24 also work for film cameras as I love lens that fit both worlds. I know that Sigma 12-24 may fit both but I have bad stereotyping

Thanks,
Hin

[Lowell Goudge]

You have left out the sigma APO 12-24 EX DG It is expensive but reported better overall than the sigma 10-20 (note also it is full frame DG not DC)

Overall, you need to decide whether you want fish eye or rectalinear. that will include/exclude the Pentax 10-17.

I personally own the sigma 10-20 and like it. I took this basically because I wanted to get to 10 mm. I have already a full frame 18-35 which I used on my PZ-1 and the field of view with a 12 mm on a DSLR would be equal to 18mm on my PZ-1 I wanted wider

At the time sigma 10-20 was the only possibility because I did not want a fish-eye, although lately I have seen some shots with the 10-17 that transform rather boring snaps into interesting photos,