[FckShoes]

I'm in the market for a wide angle lens for my k100d super, looking for the best "bang for your buck" lens available. Any recommendations?

[Gooshin]

whats your budget?

does it have to be auto focus?

the Zenitar 16mm Fisheye wins hands down at around 150 + shipping

you can buy my Sigma 18mm F2.8 prime for 180 + shipping, its manual focus but does have the "A" settings,

then you have some other weird crap like 17mm F3.5 lenses here and there.

after which you have the 500-600 dollar range Modern lenses like the Sigma 10-20 or the Pentax 12-24/ Pentax Fisheye 10-17

[FckShoes]

whats your budget?

does it have to be auto focus?

the Zenitar 16mm Fisheye wins hands down at around 150 + shipping

you can buy my Sigma 18mm F2.8 prime for 180 + shipping, its manual focus but does have the "A" settings,

then you have some other weird crap like 17mm F3.5 lenses here and there.

after which you have the 500-600 dollar range Modern lenses like the Sigma 10-20 or the Pentax 12-24/ Pentax Fisheye 10-17

Sorry, I'm looking between 150-200, does not have to be auto focus.

[Gooshin]

Sorry, I'm looking between 150-200, does not have to be auto focus.

well then you're going to have to go on to the used market and score some crazy deals.

the zenitar is the only lens for less than 200 dollars that will cover more ground than your kit lens at 18mm.

after that you have very rare relics that most people want 300-400 dollars for.

so... yeah.

[MrA]

You don't actually specify what you define as wide angle. I have the K100D super also, and I get along grate with the Sigma Ultra Wide II 24mm f2.8. Its wide enough for everyday use, and faster than the kit lens, also smaller. Manual focus but with the A setting on the aperture ring. And for targets beyond about 5m, you don't have to touch the focus ring anyway.

Also, it seems to be selling rather cheaply on ebay in spite of excellent reviews. Got mine for under £25.

I'm also in the market for a budget wide angle prime - but beyond 18mm, the only one remotely in my "casual bidding" price range that comes up is a Vivitar 17mm f3.5 (that's from memory) - in any case the extra 1mm isn't worth it for me.

There are pentax 15mm lenses, but they sell for a pretty penny. The only other interesting one I'm watching for (and I have no idea on price, cos a copy hasn't appeared on ebay since I found out it exists), is an old Sigma 14mm f3.5 (link) (the one from before they made the 14mm f2.8 which is what google throws up readily).

To be honest though, bargains notwithstanding, I think I'm best saving for a Sigma 10-20mm.

[stevebrot]

The Zenitar prices have been going up recently. I think the current average with shipping may be closer to $240.

Steve

[Raybo]

I have a pristine Sigma (filtermatic?) 16mm f2.8 that I may want to sell.

PM me if you are interested.

Ray

PS Price would be around $125

[madbrain]

I'm in the market for a wide angle lens for my k100d super, looking for the best "bang for your buck" lens available. Any recommendations?

What lenses do you currently have ?
If you have the 18-55mm kit lens, it goes down to 18mm, which is wide angle (27mm equivalent in 35mm camera), but is not ultra wide.

I was unable to find a budget wide angle lens that was significantly wider than the 18mm of the kit lens. I bought a Sigma 10-20mm, which is autofocus, but costs $500 new. About the same as my K200D after rebate Certainly not budget. I wish I could have found a used one. I just got it yesterday and haven't played with it yet. But it will get lots of use on my trip - I leave for Europe saturday.

[heatherslightbox]

I've also noticed that the 10-20s are hard to find used. I guess people like it so much that they actually want to keep it once they buy it.

Heather

[Buddha Jones]

Id stick with the kit lens, or version II of it even.

[konraDarnok]

Id stick with the kit lens, or version II of it even.

ditto.

if you want wider than the kit lens, or faster than the kit lens, be prepared to spend some cash.

If you don't have the kit lens, setup an 'bid assistant' in Ebay. Que up every 18-55mm Pentax kit lens they have listed -- and set your max price for 50 dollars.

You'll win one.

[Venturi]

Sorry, I'm looking between 150-200, does not have to be auto focus.

Outside the kit lens this or it's predecessor is the only other "budget" wide angle I know of with decent optics. I've got the earlier model of this lens and it's nice and sharp and gets you an extra 1/2 to full stop of speed over the 18-55. But at 77mm the filters aren't exactly "budget". If you need the extra speed it may be worth the cost but otherwise as others have said I'd stick with the kit lens.

note: there's also an HSM version of this lens but that one will run you ~$400 and the HSM is lost on the K100 if I'm not mistaken.

[MrA]

I have a pristine Sigma (filtermatic?) 16mm f2.8

That's a fisheye, right? Like the Zenitar 16mm?

[axl]

I've also noticed that the 10-20s are hard to find used. I guess people like it so much that they actually want to keep it once they buy it.

Heather

100% right, why would anybody want to part with that lens? I certainly won't be gettin rid of mine for a while...

Id stick with the kit lens, or version II of it even.

Second to that, stick with kit for a while, and later when you'll have bigger budget get ultra wide angle if you'll still be after one...

[danielchtong]

whats your budget?

does it have to be auto focus?

the Zenitar 16mm Fisheye wins hands down at around 150 + shipping

I second that . I got that around Can$160 shipping included. There was no tax as it stated $20 on the parcel.

Is that Putin/s image?



Daniel