DSLR wide angle in the ~13 to 16mm range, what are the choises for Pentax

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 01-18-2009, 10:08 PM

I'm longing for a prime that for APS-C corresponds to something in the 20-24mm range on film SLRs, so 13-16mm, non fish-eye. Don't mind if it would happen to be full frame, but that is not the main purpose. What are the choises for a Pentaxian?

DA14/2.8? I've researched it on the forum and elsewhere, and it appears to me that it get very different verdicts, some people like it, others not. Why?

Comming DA15 limited? What speed will it have? Price?

Anything else? Third party?

Older lenses? The Tamron or Tokina 17mm are close in focal lenght, are they an alternative? Might be able to live with MF. Anything else legacy?

Hope someone have some advice. Example pictures very welcome!

Dtkeith · 01-18-2009, 10:14 PM

Sigma 10-20mm EX DG (srry, don't know the aperture range) would be a good choice seems like.

rpriedhorsky · 01-18-2009, 10:31 PM

It's digital, so you can remove lens distortion in PP, even fisheye, particularly if you have a fancy tool like PTLens. Worth considering since wide-angle lenses with low distortion can be expensive and heavy.

SpecialK · 01-18-2009, 10:34 PM

OP does not want a zoom.

I suggest going to Adorama and search for lenses with Pentax mount.

Rico · 01-18-2009, 11:03 PM

Douglas the images of the DA15LTD show it having an f4 widest aperture.

tybeck · 01-18-2009, 11:07 PM

The Pentax DA 12-24mm/4 is quite good. I know that Tamron has put out their 10-24mm for Canon, so Pentax might be out already or soon to follow.

troyz · 01-18-2009, 11:25 PM

Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden

Older lenses? The Tamron or Tokina 17mm are close in focal lenght, are they an alternative? Might be able to live with MF. Anything else legacy?

Hope someone have some advice. Example pictures very welcome!

FWIW the manual focus Tokina RMC 17/3.5 needs to be stopped down to at least f/5.6 to get reasonable contrast.

(Tokina 17, f/8, ME Super, Kodak 400UC, Coolscan V, taken while standing on garbage can)

Last edited by troyz; 01-18-2009 at 11:31 PM.

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 01-19-2009, 12:53 AM

Originally posted by troyz

FWIW the manual focus Tokina RMC 17/3.5 needs to be stopped down to at least f/5.6 to get reasonable contrast.

(Tokina 17, f/8, ME Super, Kodak 400UC, Coolscan V, taken while standing on garbage can)

Thanks for the advice and the photo. You wouldn't have a shot with the lens further open to demonstrate how soft it goes? Does it have the A contacts?
Do you know if the Tamron 17mm is better? I've heard people claiming both. At least I already have two adaptall 2 KA mounts so I would have covered that part of the cost already, and I could use any of those two lenses on my film cameras as well.

Marc Sabatella · 01-19-2009, 12:54 AM

KEH has both the "K" and "A" versions of the 15/3.5 right now, but they aren't cheap. There is also the Zenitar 16, ostensibly a fisheye but the effect is apparently not as severe on APS-C as on FF and in any event is very easily corrected - I know several folks use it as a general purpose super-wide, snce it is so cheap.

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 01-19-2009, 12:57 AM

Originally posted by tybeck

The Pentax DA 12-24mm/4 is quite good. I know that Tamron has put out their 10-24mm for Canon, so Pentax might be out already or soon to follow.

Originally posted by Dtkeith

Sigma 10-20mm EX DG (srry, don't know the aperture range) would be a good choice seems like.

Sory, don't want a zoom. Planning to replace the DA18-55 with the DA16-50 and then the DA10-17+DA16-50+DA50-135 will be just as much zoom as I want.
What I'm looking for now is to maybe complement my primes with something in the 13-16mm range.

That is actually a valid question. Is the DA16-50/2.8 good enough at 16mm to replace a prime?

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 01-19-2009, 01:02 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

KEH has both the "K" and "A" versions of the 15/3.5 right now, but they aren't cheap. There is also the Zenitar 16, ostensibly a fisheye but the effect is apparently not as severe on APS-C as on FF and in any event is very easily corrected - I know several folks use it as a general purpose super-wide, snce it is so cheap.

Thanks Marc, I will take a look. Do they ship to Europe?
I think this would have been a tempting option had I not had the DA10-17 fisheye, which I'm very hapy with. What I'd like to have is a prime with as little distortion as possible, and faster than the DA10-17 (I am looking for an older fisheye for my film cameras, for the right price, but that is a less prioritised project right now than a wide angle prima).

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 01-19-2009, 01:04 AM

Originally posted by Rico

Douglas the images of the DA15LTD show it having an f4 widest aperture.

So it will be slower than the DA14/2.8, but probabl more compact. The DA14 is a bit bulky.

Originally posted by rpriedhorsky

It's digital, so you can remove lens distortion in PP, even fisheye, particularly if you have a fancy tool like PTLens. Worth considering since wide-angle lenses with low distortion can be expensive and heavy.

I have played around a little with that on shots taken with the DA10-17 fisheye, but even when it works fine, it takes time.

raider · 01-19-2009, 01:05 AM

I have the DA14 and I like it. In fact I used it more than other lenses during any field trips.

danielchtong · 01-19-2009, 03:26 AM

Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden

DA14/2.8? I've researched it on the forum and elsewhere, and it appears to me that it get very different verdicts, some people like it, others not. Why?

Lens choice is pretty subjective and each is looking for different things.
I think it is easy to order Zenitar 16mm from Russia in Sweden.

My widest lens was used to be FA28mm which is not very wide indeed

Zen has long list of ardent users

Zenitar 16 FE- presentation and samples: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Daniel

Wheatfield · 01-19-2009, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden

I'm longing for a prime that for APS-C corresponds to something in the 20-24mm range on film SLRs, so 13-16mm, non fish-eye. Don't mind if it would happen to be full frame, but that is not the main purpose. What are the choises for a Pentaxian?

DA14/2.8? I've researched it on the forum and elsewhere, and it appears to me that it get very different verdicts, some people like it, others not. Why?

Comming DA15 limited? What speed will it have? Price?

Anything else? Third party?

Older lenses? The Tamron or Tokina 17mm are close in focal lenght, are they an alternative? Might be able to live with MF. Anything else legacy?

Hope someone have some advice. Example pictures very welcome!

I quite like the 14/2.8, though mine does have issues with accurate AF. It is definitely a notch above the A15/3.5 on the digital. I have both, so I've been able to compare them side by side. The 14 is about the same size as the A15/3.5 but significantly lighter.

01-18-2009, 10:08 PM	#1
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374	DSLR wide angle in the ~13 to 16mm range, what are the choises for Pentax I'm longing for a prime that for APS-C corresponds to something in the 20-24mm range on film SLRs, so 13-16mm, non fish-eye. Don't mind if it would happen to be full frame, but that is not the main purpose. What are the choises for a Pentaxian? DA14/2.8? I've researched it on the forum and elsewhere, and it appears to me that it get very different verdicts, some people like it, others not. Why? Comming DA15 limited? What speed will it have? Price? Anything else? Third party? Older lenses? The Tamron or Tokina 17mm are close in focal lenght, are they an alternative? Might be able to live with MF. Anything else legacy? Hope someone have some advice. Example pictures very welcome!

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01-18-2009, 10:14 PM	#2
Dtkeith Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Photos: Gallery Posts: 39	Sigma 10-20mm EX DG (srry, don't know the aperture range) would be a good choice seems like.

01-18-2009, 10:31 PM	#3
rpriedhorsky Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 210	It's digital, so you can remove lens distortion in PP, even fisheye, particularly if you have a fancy tool like PTLens. Worth considering since wide-angle lenses with low distortion can be expensive and heavy.

01-18-2009, 10:34 PM	#4
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	OP does not want a zoom. I suggest going to Adorama and search for lenses with Pentax mount.

01-18-2009, 11:03 PM	#5
Rico Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,204	Douglas the images of the DA15LTD show it having an f4 widest aperture.

01-18-2009, 11:07 PM	#6
tybeck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 452	The Pentax DA 12-24mm/4 is quite good. I know that Tamron has put out their 10-24mm for Canon, so Pentax might be out already or soon to follow.

01-18-2009, 11:25 PM	#7
troyz Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 389	Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden Older lenses? The Tamron or Tokina 17mm are close in focal lenght, are they an alternative? Might be able to live with MF. Anything else legacy? Hope someone have some advice. Example pictures very welcome! FWIW the manual focus Tokina RMC 17/3.5 needs to be stopped down to at least f/5.6 to get reasonable contrast. (Tokina 17, f/8, ME Super, Kodak 400UC, Coolscan V, taken while standing on garbage can) Last edited by troyz; 01-18-2009 at 11:31 PM.

01-19-2009, 12:53 AM	#8
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374 Original Poster	Originally posted by troyz FWIW the manual focus Tokina RMC 17/3.5 needs to be stopped down to at least f/5.6 to get reasonable contrast. (Tokina 17, f/8, ME Super, Kodak 400UC, Coolscan V, taken while standing on garbage can) Thanks for the advice and the photo. You wouldn't have a shot with the lens further open to demonstrate how soft it goes? Does it have the A contacts? Do you know if the Tamron 17mm is better? I've heard people claiming both. At least I already have two adaptall 2 KA mounts so I would have covered that part of the cost already, and I could use any of those two lenses on my film cameras as well.

01-19-2009, 12:54 AM	#9
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	KEH has both the "K" and "A" versions of the 15/3.5 right now, but they aren't cheap. There is also the Zenitar 16, ostensibly a fisheye but the effect is apparently not as severe on APS-C as on FF and in any event is very easily corrected - I know several folks use it as a general purpose super-wide, snce it is so cheap.

01-19-2009, 12:57 AM	#10
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374 Original Poster	Originally posted by tybeck The Pentax DA 12-24mm/4 is quite good. I know that Tamron has put out their 10-24mm for Canon, so Pentax might be out already or soon to follow. Originally posted by Dtkeith Sigma 10-20mm EX DG (srry, don't know the aperture range) would be a good choice seems like. Sory, don't want a zoom. Planning to replace the DA18-55 with the DA16-50 and then the DA10-17+DA16-50+DA50-135 will be just as much zoom as I want. What I'm looking for now is to maybe complement my primes with something in the 13-16mm range. That is actually a valid question. Is the DA16-50/2.8 good enough at 16mm to replace a prime?

01-19-2009, 01:02 AM	#11
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374 Original Poster	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella KEH has both the "K" and "A" versions of the 15/3.5 right now, but they aren't cheap. There is also the Zenitar 16, ostensibly a fisheye but the effect is apparently not as severe on APS-C as on FF and in any event is very easily corrected - I know several folks use it as a general purpose super-wide, snce it is so cheap. Thanks Marc, I will take a look. Do they ship to Europe? I think this would have been a tempting option had I not had the DA10-17 fisheye, which I'm very hapy with. What I'd like to have is a prime with as little distortion as possible, and faster than the DA10-17 (I am looking for an older fisheye for my film cameras, for the right price, but that is a less prioritised project right now than a wide angle prima).

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01-19-2009, 01:04 AM	#12
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374 Original Poster	Originally posted by Rico Douglas the images of the DA15LTD show it having an f4 widest aperture. So it will be slower than the DA14/2.8, but probabl more compact. The DA14 is a bit bulky. Originally posted by rpriedhorsky It's digital, so you can remove lens distortion in PP, even fisheye, particularly if you have a fancy tool like PTLens. Worth considering since wide-angle lenses with low distortion can be expensive and heavy. I have played around a little with that on shots taken with the DA10-17 fisheye, but even when it works fine, it takes time.

01-19-2009, 01:05 AM	#13
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	I have the DA14 and I like it. In fact I used it more than other lenses during any field trips.

01-19-2009, 03:26 AM	#14
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden DA14/2.8? I've researched it on the forum and elsewhere, and it appears to me that it get very different verdicts, some people like it, others not. Why? Lens choice is pretty subjective and each is looking for different things. I think it is easy to order Zenitar 16mm from Russia in Sweden. My widest lens was used to be FA28mm which is not very wide indeed Zen has long list of ardent users Zenitar 16 FE- presentation and samples: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Daniel

01-19-2009, 06:34 AM	#15
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,975	Originally posted by Douglas_of_Sweden I'm longing for a prime that for APS-C corresponds to something in the 20-24mm range on film SLRs, so 13-16mm, non fish-eye. Don't mind if it would happen to be full frame, but that is not the main purpose. What are the choises for a Pentaxian? DA14/2.8? I've researched it on the forum and elsewhere, and it appears to me that it get very different verdicts, some people like it, others not. Why? Comming DA15 limited? What speed will it have? Price? Anything else? Third party? Older lenses? The Tamron or Tokina 17mm are close in focal lenght, are they an alternative? Might be able to live with MF. Anything else legacy? Hope someone have some advice. Example pictures very welcome! I quite like the 14/2.8, though mine does have issues with accurate AF. It is definitely a notch above the A15/3.5 on the digital. I have both, so I've been able to compare them side by side. The 14 is about the same size as the A15/3.5 but significantly lighter.