[thompson101]

Hey guys,

I emailed Sigma a few months ago about their UWA 8-16mm lens in k-mount and they told me they'd be doing another production run in mid November. They're finally available to purchase again directly from Sigma!

8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM | Sigma Corporation of America

Just thought I'd share the good news in case anyone else was looking to get their hands on one

[Outis]

Awesome! Thanks!

[VoiceOfReason]

Get ti while it is hot! I know I really like mine.

[dadipentak]

Get ti while it is hot! I know I really like mine.

ditto.

[Edgar_in_Indy]

My 8-16mm has more of the traditional Sigma "crinkle" finish (but perhaps with a smoother grain than earlier lenses), but it looks like the current production model has the same rubberized finish as my 85mm.

I wonder if they're going to "Art" this lens.

[TER-OR]

Oh, I didn't need to see this!

[nonstopnick]

any idea how much?

[MAS_ttl]

Oh, oh. My wife gave me the funds for my birthday that would just about cover this! But I was just about to pull the trigger on a used Pentax 12-24. I have seen some great photos with both and read so many reviews that I am completely confused. Anybody have real life experience with both lenses who can weigh in? (BTW, the 8-16 seems like it fits so perfectly with my set-up - Siggy 17-70, Siggy 70mm macro and Pentax 60-250. No overlap like the 12-24, but sharpness and ultimate flexibility - arghh!)

[RobA_Oz]

My 8-16mm has more of the traditional Sigma "crinkle" finish (but perhaps with a smoother grain than earlier lenses), but it looks like the current production model has the same rubberized finish as my 85mm.

I wonder if they're going to "Art" this lens.

Mine, bought about a year ago, has the more recent smooth finish to it, but so did my 10-20, which was much earlier. I can't say I was ever attracted by the crinkle finish on the previous lenses.

any idea how much?

Unless it's been through a substantial price hike, it'll be a bargain. If people have the desire and the means, and want Sigma to keep producing lenses in K-mount, they should not hesitate to get one of these. The design isn't perfect (it's more prone to flare than the 10-20, for example) but there's nothing else like it for Pentax users.

[Nicolas06]

Oh, oh. My wife gave me the funds for my birthday that would just about cover this! But I was just about to pull the trigger on a used Pentax 12-24. I have seen some great photos with both and read so many reviews that I am completely confused. Anybody have real life experience with both lenses who can weigh in? (BTW, the 8-16 seems like it fits so perfectly with my set-up - Siggy 17-70, Siggy 70mm macro and Pentax 60-250. No overlap like the 12-24, but sharpness and ultimate flexibility - arghh!)

Exactly for the range:

- DA12-24 range is more common and less extreme... Meaning that many time you'll keep it on the body behing able to switch between UWA and normal wide angle focals... Needing to switch lens all the time is not that good... I know I can take photos of almost everything with my DA21 but not with the DA15... So DA12-24 give you best of both worlds.
- But the 8-16 is more extreme meaning if you really want extreme distorsion you need this one. There no many 8mm rectilinears lenses available on APSC.

[TER-OR]

Yeah once you get into this UWA range, each lens is its own beast - and this 8-16 is truly its own animal. I'm not sure there's anything quite like it (in a zoom anyway).

[johnyates]

any idea how much?

According to the link above, $649.

[DSims]

Oh, oh. My wife gave me the funds for my birthday that would just about cover this! But I was just about to pull the trigger on a used Pentax 12-24. I have seen some great photos with both and read so many reviews that I am completely confused. Anybody have real life experience with both lenses who can weigh in? (BTW, the 8-16 seems like it fits so perfectly with my set-up - Siggy 17-70, Siggy 70mm macro and Pentax 60-250. No overlap like the 12-24, but sharpness and ultimate flexibility - arghh!)

Based on what you own (a number of Sigmas), you probably want the 8-16. The only reason I sold mine was I don't like Sigma rendering as much (the next time I need WA I'm considering a Q7 (or later) and the 08, believe it or not). But in every way, including build quality, I was extremely impressed by Sigma 8-16. About the only advantage of the Pentax 12-24 is it has a faster aperture and rendering more typical of Pentax or Tokina. But I just don't think it's as good a lens. The only competition for the Sigma 8-16 is the Tokina 11-16, but of course that's not available in Pentax mount. All the other WA zooms fall short of producing pleasing images, IMO. To do any better, you have to go to a FF lens (and the corresponding body), such as the Nikon 14-24 or the Sony 16-35. But now you're talking at least 3 times as much for the lens alone. The only other top-quality options I can think of are the DA15 or a Fuji with a Fuji 14mm or Zeiss Touit 12mm. But the 8-16 fits in perfectly with your kit.


Just be aware that you'll usually be shooting it around f/6.3 for optimal IQ, so you're not getting faster apertures like your other lenses have. But when you see the IQ I doubt you'll have a problem with it. Shooting is easy - manually set focus to between 3' and infinity (usually right at infinity), f/6.3, zoom, and compose. That's it. Very sharp images come out. Can't beat this lens between 9.5mm and 16mm (and what other lens goes wider than 10mm anyway?).

[thompson101]

For anyone who has ordered this, just a heads up, they don't appear to be sending out emails when they ship the lens. But rest assured, it's on it's way! I ordered mine Wednesday with 2 day shipping and just got it today!