Any cheap options for a lens wider that 18mm?

kevinschoenmakers · 04-02-2009, 11:37 AM

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Are there any cheap options when it comes to buying a lens significantly wider than 18mm? Or is coughing up 400+ euros on a 10-20/12-24 lens the only way to go?

I don't mind it being a manual lens, but I guess there aren't any anyway.

netuser · 04-02-2009, 11:39 AM

12-24 is the best IQ way to go

RawheaD · 04-02-2009, 01:09 PM

You could always buy the 10-17 fisheye zoom, and correct the distortion in PP. Good $150 or so cheaper than the 12-24.

kibipod · 04-02-2009, 01:20 PM

There is one Zenit 16mm fisheye. Seems like many people use and like it. I have not used it. So I can not comment on quality.

MrApollinax · 04-02-2009, 01:27 PM

The only sub 18mm manual primes i have seen around are the K/M/A 15mm primes. These lenses are pretty rare and thus will be pricey. Otherwise you have the DA14 and DA15ltd primes which are in current production.

kevinschoenmakers · 04-02-2009, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by RawheaD

You could always buy the 10-17 fisheye zoom, and correct the distortion in PP. Good $150 or so cheaper than the 12-24.

Originally posted by kibipod

There is one Zenit 16mm fisheye. Seems like many people use and like it. I have not used it. So I can not comment on quality.

I've concidered this lens, but I think I would grow tired of the fish-eye effect quite fast.

Quote:

Otherwise you have the DA14 and DA15ltd primes which are in current production.

I wouldn't call those 'cheap' though...

**xs400** · 04-02-2009, 02:14 PM

If you want cheap, try one of these > Fisheye .25x Lens for AF 52mm 55mm 58mm 62mm NEW - eBay (item 200325781002 end time Apr-28-09 08:50:01 PDT)

kevinschoenmakers · 04-02-2009, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by xs400

If you want cheap, try one of these > Fisheye .25x Lens for AF 52mm 55mm 58mm 62mm NEW - eBay (item 200325781002 end time Apr-28-09 08:50:01 PDT)

Nah, the imagequality is bound to be sub-par, and I'm not really looking for a fisheye. I was hoping someone would point me to an old prime that usually sells for <100 euros, but I guess those just don't exist.
I'm going to South-Korea this summer where these asian-manufactured electronics are bound to be cheaper, so maybe I'll break the bank there and get a 10-20/12-24.

nixcamic · 04-02-2009, 05:45 PM

If you find anything, be sure to post it here, I'm also looking for such a lens. Unfortunately, to be cheap and old it has to be FF, and FF glass wider than 18mm is rare/expensive.

Blue · 04-02-2009, 05:47 PM

If you could get your hands on a used Sigma DG EX 15-30mm that would be a good option.

kjao · 04-02-2009, 06:09 PM

I have got a Tokina RMC 17mm/f3.5 (manual focus) that's very good. I got it for less than US$100, can't really remember how much exactly as I got it a few years back. The only thing not so good with this lens is flare control.

Zenitar 16mm/f2.8 Fish-eye is another option as mentioned above.

ajuett · 04-02-2009, 06:23 PM

Vivitar has a few manual focus zooms and primes.

I found a used Vivitar 17-28mm f/4-4.5 for $95 Canadian, not too much info about it anywhere. A few pictures via google look pretty good though. As soon as I get the money I'm going to have a look at it. This will be for my SLR, having a 'real' 17mm will be sweet.

amicah22 · 04-03-2009, 08:53 AM

I saw one of these go on eBay in ex shape for 180 us. I had one and its huge but the resolution is superior to the 10-20, just be careful of centering defects.

Originally posted by Blue

If you could get your hands on a used Sigma DG EX 15-30mm that would be a good option.

kevinschoenmakers · 04-03-2009, 11:57 AM

Is the 3mm less be a significant difference?

palmor · 04-03-2009, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by kibipod

There is one Zenit 16mm fisheye. Seems like many people use and like it. I have not used it. So I can not comment on quality.

This is a nice lens and because it is Full Frame the FE affect isn't as dramatic and easily correctable in PP if you want.

Here are two shots, neither corrected for the FE affect. You can see in normal landscape shots it isn't too noticeable but if you have lines then it is.

04-02-2009, 11:37 AM	#1
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509	Any cheap options for a lens wider that 18mm? Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Are there any cheap options when it comes to buying a lens significantly wider than 18mm? Or is coughing up 400+ euros on a 10-20/12-24 lens the only way to go? I don't mind it being a manual lens, but I guess there aren't any anyway.

04-03-2009, 08:53 AM	#13
amicah22 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Queen creek, az Photos: Gallery Posts: 81	Good idea I saw one of these go on eBay in ex shape for 180 us. I had one and its huge but the resolution is superior to the 10-20, just be careful of centering defects. Originally posted by Blue If you could get your hands on a used Sigma DG EX 15-30mm that would be a good option.

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04-02-2009, 11:39 AM	#2
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236	12-24 is the best IQ way to go

04-02-2009, 01:09 PM	#3
RawheaD Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 831	You could always buy the 10-17 fisheye zoom, and correct the distortion in PP. Good $150 or so cheaper than the 12-24.

04-02-2009, 01:20 PM	#4
kibipod Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 276	There is one Zenit 16mm fisheye. Seems like many people use and like it. I have not used it. So I can not comment on quality.

04-02-2009, 01:27 PM	#5
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	The only sub 18mm manual primes i have seen around are the K/M/A 15mm primes. These lenses are pretty rare and thus will be pricey. Otherwise you have the DA14 and DA15ltd primes which are in current production.

04-02-2009, 01:48 PM	#6
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509 Original Poster	Originally posted by RawheaD You could always buy the 10-17 fisheye zoom, and correct the distortion in PP. Good $150 or so cheaper than the 12-24. Originally posted by kibipod There is one Zenit 16mm fisheye. Seems like many people use and like it. I have not used it. So I can not comment on quality. I've concidered this lens, but I think I would grow tired of the fish-eye effect quite fast. Quote: Otherwise you have the DA14 and DA15ltd primes which are in current production. I wouldn't call those 'cheap' though...

04-02-2009, 02:14 PM	#7
xs400 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,929	If you want cheap, try one of these > Fisheye .25x Lens for AF 52mm 55mm 58mm 62mm NEW - eBay (item 200325781002 end time Apr-28-09 08:50:01 PDT)

04-02-2009, 02:21 PM	#8
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509 Original Poster	Originally posted by xs400 If you want cheap, try one of these > Fisheye .25x Lens for AF 52mm 55mm 58mm 62mm NEW - eBay (item 200325781002 end time Apr-28-09 08:50:01 PDT) Nah, the imagequality is bound to be sub-par, and I'm not really looking for a fisheye. I was hoping someone would point me to an old prime that usually sells for <100 euros, but I guess those just don't exist. I'm going to South-Korea this summer where these asian-manufactured electronics are bound to be cheaper, so maybe I'll break the bank there and get a 10-20/12-24.

04-02-2009, 05:45 PM	#9
nixcamic Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Guatemala Posts: 354	If you find anything, be sure to post it here, I'm also looking for such a lens. Unfortunately, to be cheap and old it has to be FF, and FF glass wider than 18mm is rare/expensive.

04-02-2009, 05:47 PM	#10
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	If you could get your hands on a used Sigma DG EX 15-30mm that would be a good option.

04-02-2009, 06:09 PM	#11
kjao Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 423	I have got a Tokina RMC 17mm/f3.5 (manual focus) that's very good. I got it for less than US$100, can't really remember how much exactly as I got it a few years back. The only thing not so good with this lens is flare control. Zenitar 16mm/f2.8 Fish-eye is another option as mentioned above.

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04-02-2009, 06:23 PM	#12
ajuett Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,100	Vivitar has a few manual focus zooms and primes. I found a used Vivitar 17-28mm f/4-4.5 for $95 Canadian, not too much info about it anywhere. A few pictures via google look pretty good though. As soon as I get the money I'm going to have a look at it. This will be for my SLR, having a 'real' 17mm will be sweet.

04-03-2009, 11:57 AM	#14
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509 Original Poster	Is the 3mm less be a significant difference?

04-03-2009, 12:05 PM	#15
palmor Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North of Boston, MA Posts: 798	Originally posted by kibipod There is one Zenit 16mm fisheye. Seems like many people use and like it. I have not used it. So I can not comment on quality. This is a nice lens and because it is Full Frame the FE affect isn't as dramatic and easily correctable in PP if you want. Here are two shots, neither corrected for the FE affect. You can see in normal landscape shots it isn't too noticeable but if you have lines then it is.