a wide angle for around 500 USD

cpritchardv · 07-01-2014, 11:33 AM

Hi everyone.

Last year I received a 500 USD visa giftcard for my birthday which I have been saving. I am about to head abroad again and I was thinking of picking up another lens. I currently own an 18-135mm, 55-300mm, a DA 35mm 2.8, and an Industar 50mm 3.5 m39 mount lens.

Ive been lucky enough to have gone to some fairly picturesque places with mountains and sweeping landscapes. Before I either used the 18-135mm or stitched together the 35mm, but ive always wanted a dedicated wide angle that would be able to capture what im looking at without me having to stitch things together. Also it would be nice to have a wide angle with higher IQ than the 18-135.

ive looked at lots of reviews, made my own ranking system, and have looked through related topics. I guess what im asking is if people think its worth it to have a dedicated wide angle even though I already have the wide angle on the one end of my zoom. Also, the lens ive been looking into has been the da 15mm f/4. I know its a little more than the 500 USD i have, but I have come to really like primes, and the fact that they are a lot compact is a big factor because I want to keep my bag light if possible.

so, is the da 15mm worth getting? or is there something else I should look into.

thanks in advance for your opinions, ive done a significant amount of research on my own, but I like to hear what people actually say.

oh, and I guess i should mention, I have a K-5ii

thanks again

**boriscleto** · 07-01-2014, 11:55 AM

The 15mm Ltd club only has 475 pages...

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/86234-15mm-limited-controls-my-mind-club.html

fgaudet · 07-01-2014, 12:00 PM

If you can go without Auto Focus, check the Bower/Rokinon/Samyang super wide lenses (10mm or 14mm). Optically they're very good, more so than their price would suggest.

But if AF is a requirement, the DA15 is a winner for sure. I am personally shopping for one at the moment (or maybe a 21)

**TER-OR** · 07-01-2014, 12:01 PM

I have no experience with the 15mm, which is by all accounts brilliant.

Other choices to consider are a 10-17mm fisheye - which at 17 is a UWA, not so fishy. It's really fun to play with, and can result in some very cool images.
Sigma's 8-16 I rented a couple years ago, and really liked it - the images I have from that time are among my wife's favorites. It's only available used now, and getting more expensive by the month.
These aren't primes, but at either end of the range are totally different, and are like having two lenses in one.

ElJamoquio · 07-01-2014, 12:13 PM

I'd get either the 15mm and the 8-16, used.

I have them both and they're both excellent. If you go 15 I'd get one of the older straight-bladed-aperture ones.

VoiceOfReason · 07-01-2014, 12:22 PM

If you can find the 8-16 used I'd definitely go for it. Other than that if you want a UWA zoom there are both the Tamron 10-24 (I loved my copy, but sold it after I got the 8-16) and the Sigma 10-20 that plenty of people like. If you can stretch your budget a little then on Amazon you can get the Tamron 10-24 for 330 used and the Rokinon 14 f/2.8 new for 300.

Amazon.com : Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras B001P (Model B001P) : Camera Lenses : Camera & Photo

http://www.amazon.com/Rokinon-FE14M-P-Ultra-Pentax-Black/dp/B003VSGZ4S/ref=s...inon+14+pentax

cpritchardv · 07-01-2014, 12:33 PM

Thanks for the quick input from everyone, I have a lot more to look into now!

dagaetch · 07-01-2014, 12:41 PM

I purchased a used 15mm limited from a forum member about a month ago, and I love it. Highly recommend.

DeadJohn · 07-01-2014, 01:01 PM

I like the Tamron 10-24 for versatility. I prefer it for walking around packed cities and in museums. It's good for landscapes, too. It's a completely different lens than the Pentax DA15 and it's difficult to compare the two, but now that I have the 10-24 I feel no temptation to buy the 15. My other wide lens is the Samyang/Bower/Rokinon 14mm/2.8. Manual focus only, but very sharp even wide open. It works well for wide field Milky Way night images.

This is one of the first photos I took with my 10-24. It's a snapshot, not "art", but I think it does a good job showing the wide end at 10mm. Any 10mm will stretch corners and the 10-24 is rectilinear rather than fisheye distortion. Bright lights in the scene don't cause flare problems. This was taken handheld with a K-r; you K-5ii will give more dynamic range and more leeway for boosting shadows without introducing noise.

The 10-24 is sharp enough for my needs. I cropped 25% of an image for this.

carrrlangas · 07-01-2014, 01:09 PM

I´d go with the DA15 if your main need is for travel. Hawling one of the ultra wide zooms is really a pain. Even worse when mounted on the camera. I mean, all of those are havier and bigger than your DA18-135. And that includes the 600g Samyang 10mm, 12mm and 14mm primes. The DA15 on the other hand is a joy to use and carry and as the thread Boriscleto posted, has great qualities. There´s not much to think in this case I´d say!

But... If you are happy with the 18mm of your DA zoom... why not spend the money on the trip itself...

thechumpen · 07-01-2014, 01:16 PM

Yeah 15 for sure when it comes to travel. It's so small you don't even have to think about taking it out with you. I also have the Samyang 14mm but size and weight means I had to sacrifice taking other lenses meaning I rarely take it out unless I knew for sure I'd need a wide angle. 15 just pops in the bag and is always there on the off chance you want wide angle. Having gone through a number of lenses I'm now a big fan of the 18-135 as a walkabout then small, light primes like the Ltds or plastic fantastics.

OregonJim · 07-01-2014, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by fgaudet

If you can go without Auto Focus, check the Bower/Rokinon/Samyang super wide lenses (10mm or 14mm). Optically they're very good, more so than their price would suggest.

I second this. The Rokinon 14mm has been a stellar performer for me. There is really no need for autofocus with a wide angle anyway.

**bpv_UW** · 07-01-2014, 08:55 PM

15 for sure...brilliant lens!

peterjcb · 07-02-2014, 04:58 AM

no question...DA15

bdery · 07-02-2014, 05:18 AM

Originally posted by cpritchardv

ive looked at lots of reviews, made my own ranking system, and have looked through related topics. I guess what im asking is if people think its worth it to have a dedicated wide angle even though I already have the wide angle on the one end of my zoom. Also, the lens ive been looking into has been the da 15mm f/4. I know its a little more than the 500 USD i have, but I have come to really like primes, and the fact that they are a lot compact is a big factor because I want to keep my bag light if possible.

so, is the da 15mm worth getting? or is there something else I should look into.

Heck yes the DA15 is a fine lens. If you want very wide it's the lens to get in your situation. You could get it used for a good price probably.

The other lens I'd consider is the DA21. a fantastic lens too, just not as wide. I'd suggest sorting your pictures by focal length to see what FL you actually use the most, and then look at your favourite pictures and see if they would have pleased you more with a wider lens or not.

07-01-2014, 11:33 AM	#1
cpritchardv Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 53	a wide angle for around 500 USD Hi everyone. Last year I received a 500 USD visa giftcard for my birthday which I have been saving. I am about to head abroad again and I was thinking of picking up another lens. I currently own an 18-135mm, 55-300mm, a DA 35mm 2.8, and an Industar 50mm 3.5 m39 mount lens. Ive been lucky enough to have gone to some fairly picturesque places with mountains and sweeping landscapes. Before I either used the 18-135mm or stitched together the 35mm, but ive always wanted a dedicated wide angle that would be able to capture what im looking at without me having to stitch things together. Also it would be nice to have a wide angle with higher IQ than the 18-135. ive looked at lots of reviews, made my own ranking system, and have looked through related topics. I guess what im asking is if people think its worth it to have a dedicated wide angle even though I already have the wide angle on the one end of my zoom. Also, the lens ive been looking into has been the da 15mm f/4. I know its a little more than the 500 USD i have, but I have come to really like primes, and the fact that they are a lot compact is a big factor because I want to keep my bag light if possible. so, is the da 15mm worth getting? or is there something else I should look into. thanks in advance for your opinions, ive done a significant amount of research on my own, but I like to hear what people actually say. oh, and I guess i should mention, I have a K-5ii thanks again

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Affordable aspherical wide-angle for a K5?	torontoem4o	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	18	10-15-2013 05:39 PM
Most affordable wide-angle lens for a beginner?	Fat Albert	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	20	08-02-2013 12:06 PM
Why not buy a Fuji x100 or other high quality walk around vs a wide angle for DSLR?	haycyn	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	06-01-2013 12:18 PM
best wide angle around $400?	jmbower	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	06-19-2009 02:38 AM
Best wide angle around 20mm ?	faust	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	04-01-2008 03:36 PM

07-01-2014, 11:55 AM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	The 15mm Ltd club only has 475 pages... https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/86234-15mm-limited-controls-my-mind-club.html

07-01-2014, 12:00 PM	#3
fgaudet Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 726	If you can go without Auto Focus, check the Bower/Rokinon/Samyang super wide lenses (10mm or 14mm). Optically they're very good, more so than their price would suggest. But if AF is a requirement, the DA15 is a winner for sure. I am personally shopping for one at the moment (or maybe a 21)

07-01-2014, 12:01 PM	#4
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	I have no experience with the 15mm, which is by all accounts brilliant. Other choices to consider are a 10-17mm fisheye - which at 17 is a UWA, not so fishy. It's really fun to play with, and can result in some very cool images. Sigma's 8-16 I rented a couple years ago, and really liked it - the images I have from that time are among my wife's favorites. It's only available used now, and getting more expensive by the month. These aren't primes, but at either end of the range are totally different, and are like having two lenses in one.

07-01-2014, 12:13 PM	#5
ElJamoquio Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,873	I'd get either the 15mm and the 8-16, used. I have them both and they're both excellent. If you go 15 I'd get one of the older straight-bladed-aperture ones.

07-01-2014, 12:22 PM	#6
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	If you can find the 8-16 used I'd definitely go for it. Other than that if you want a UWA zoom there are both the Tamron 10-24 (I loved my copy, but sold it after I got the 8-16) and the Sigma 10-20 that plenty of people like. If you can stretch your budget a little then on Amazon you can get the Tamron 10-24 for 330 used and the Rokinon 14 f/2.8 new for 300. Amazon.com : Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras B001P (Model B001P) : Camera Lenses : Camera & Photo http://www.amazon.com/Rokinon-FE14M-P-Ultra-Pentax-Black/dp/B003VSGZ4S/ref=s...inon+14+pentax

07-01-2014, 12:33 PM	#7
cpritchardv Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 53 Original Poster	Thanks for the quick input from everyone, I have a lot more to look into now!

07-01-2014, 12:41 PM	#8
dagaetch Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 111	I purchased a used 15mm limited from a forum member about a month ago, and I love it. Highly recommend.

07-01-2014, 01:01 PM	#9
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	I like the Tamron 10-24 for versatility. I prefer it for walking around packed cities and in museums. It's good for landscapes, too. It's a completely different lens than the Pentax DA15 and it's difficult to compare the two, but now that I have the 10-24 I feel no temptation to buy the 15. My other wide lens is the Samyang/Bower/Rokinon 14mm/2.8. Manual focus only, but very sharp even wide open. It works well for wide field Milky Way night images. This is one of the first photos I took with my 10-24. It's a snapshot, not "art", but I think it does a good job showing the wide end at 10mm. Any 10mm will stretch corners and the 10-24 is rectilinear rather than fisheye distortion. Bright lights in the scene don't cause flare problems. This was taken handheld with a K-r; you K-5ii will give more dynamic range and more leeway for boosting shadows without introducing noise. The 10-24 is sharp enough for my needs. I cropped 25% of an image for this.

07-01-2014, 01:09 PM	#10
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	I´d go with the DA15 if your main need is for travel. Hawling one of the ultra wide zooms is really a pain. Even worse when mounted on the camera. I mean, all of those are havier and bigger than your DA18-135. And that includes the 600g Samyang 10mm, 12mm and 14mm primes. The DA15 on the other hand is a joy to use and carry and as the thread Boriscleto posted, has great qualities. There´s not much to think in this case I´d say! But... If you are happy with the 18mm of your DA zoom... why not spend the money on the trip itself...

07-01-2014, 01:16 PM	#11
thechumpen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Middle of England Photos: Albums Posts: 296	Yeah 15 for sure when it comes to travel. It's so small you don't even have to think about taking it out with you. I also have the Samyang 14mm but size and weight means I had to sacrifice taking other lenses meaning I rarely take it out unless I knew for sure I'd need a wide angle. 15 just pops in the bag and is always there on the off chance you want wide angle. Having gone through a number of lenses I'm now a big fan of the 18-135 as a walkabout then small, light primes like the Ltds or plastic fantastics.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-01-2014, 07:37 PM	#12
OregonJim Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 1,327	Originally posted by fgaudet If you can go without Auto Focus, check the Bower/Rokinon/Samyang super wide lenses (10mm or 14mm). Optically they're very good, more so than their price would suggest. I second this. The Rokinon 14mm has been a stellar performer for me. There is really no need for autofocus with a wide angle anyway.

07-01-2014, 08:55 PM	#13
bpv_UW Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 765	15 for sure...brilliant lens!

07-02-2014, 04:58 AM	#14
peterjcb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Weddington, NC Posts: 468	no question...DA15

07-02-2014, 05:18 AM	#15
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,356	Originally posted by cpritchardv ive looked at lots of reviews, made my own ranking system, and have looked through related topics. I guess what im asking is if people think its worth it to have a dedicated wide angle even though I already have the wide angle on the one end of my zoom. Also, the lens ive been looking into has been the da 15mm f/4. I know its a little more than the 500 USD i have, but I have come to really like primes, and the fact that they are a lot compact is a big factor because I want to keep my bag light if possible. so, is the da 15mm worth getting? or is there something else I should look into. Heck yes the DA15 is a fine lens. If you want very wide it's the lens to get in your situation. You could get it used for a good price probably. The other lens I'd consider is the DA21. a fantastic lens too, just not as wide. I'd suggest sorting your pictures by focal length to see what FL you actually use the most, and then look at your favourite pictures and see if they would have pleased you more with a wider lens or not.