Good Wide Angle Zoom?

JamesD · 10-31-2009, 10:11 AM

My wife and I each have k10ds and we love them. Currently we primarily use the Tamron 18-250mm and the Pentax 50mm 1.8 for available light shooting. We're looking for a wide-angle zoom that will not break the bank and yet deliver reasonably crisp shots with a minimum of purple fringing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

**Ash** · 10-31-2009, 12:48 PM

Hi James.
How wide do you need it?
The wider, the costlier it is...
I would suggest the Pentax DA 16-45, which is a little wider than the Tamron you have, but being a Pentax lens there will be some (not excessive) purple fringing in high contrast situations (very few lenses produce no purple fringing on digital SLR cameras, as it's mainly a feature of the camera as opposed to CA, which is a feature of the lens).

Otherise, if you like Tamron the 17-50 produced by them is excellent. Any wider, and you're looking at significantly more expensive ultra-wides like the Pentax DA 12-24, but the Sigma 10-20 may still be within your budget...

wlachan · 10-31-2009, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by JamesD

with a minimum of purple fringing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

DA12-24/4 is out then cos PF is its major weakness. It has great sharpness however.

jake123 · 10-31-2009, 01:53 PM

Honestly when I had my 12-24 I didn't notice much purple fringing. Anyway, you could try picking up a 10-20 Sigma locally used for a great price.

JamesD · 10-31-2009, 02:15 PM

Thank you, All, for your replies. They've been great help since I was quite confused as to which direction to go. I'll study these lenses before making any decision.

cbaytan · 11-02-2009, 08:51 AM

Originally posted by JamesD

My wife and I each have k10ds and we love them. Currently we primarily use the Tamron 18-250mm and the Pentax 50mm 1.8 for available light shooting. We're looking for a wide-angle zoom that will not break the bank and yet deliver reasonably crisp shots with a minimum of purple fringing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I recommend DA 16-45mm.

lesmore49 · 11-02-2009, 09:12 AM

I have the 16-45 and a kit 18-55...both are fine..but the 16-45 is better. I recommend the 16-45.

**wtlwdwgn** · 11-02-2009, 12:15 PM

I haven't used a 16-45 but I can recommend the 16-50 and 12-24. I keep an eye on eekBay for used lenses and there a few there now, including a 16-45 for $200.00.

**Lowell Goudge** · 11-02-2009, 12:18 PM

I am surprised everyone is suggesting the 16-45.

the OPis asking for wide angle, wider than the present 18-250.

16 is not a big change,.

I would suggest looking at sigma both 10-20 and 12-24 as well as the pentax 12-24 and tamron 10-24.

These are WIDE angle zooms

cbaytan · 11-02-2009, 12:37 PM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

I haven't used a 16-45 but I can recommend the 16-50 and 12-24. I keep an eye on eekBay for used lenses and there a few there now, including a 16-45 for $200.00.

16-50 is more expensive, heavier, proned to bad CA (purple fringing) , also several bad copies around (look for the 16-50 bad copies serial database, sticky thread in the lens section). and has no superiority over the 16-45 in resolution and color rendition. It's only superiority is it's 1.5 stop faster oh also it's WR. Pick your choice.

Panache · 11-02-2009, 12:39 PM

Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Pentax 10-17 fisheye!

cbaytan · 11-02-2009, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

I am surprised everyone is suggesting the 16-45.

the OPis asking for wide angle, wider than the present 18-250.

16 is not a big change,.

Oh yes, 2 mm difference is huge, at least to me. I still keep the 18-55 kit lens, 16mm is what would I call as "wide" .

**Ash** · 11-02-2009, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

I am surprised everyone is suggesting the 16-45.

the OPis asking for wide angle, wider than the present 18-250.

16 is not a big change,.

I would suggest looking at sigma both 10-20 and 12-24 as well as the pentax 12-24 and tamron 10-24.

These are WIDE angle zooms

These are ultra-wides. Suggestions have been made for the 12-24 and 10-20 - but it *sounds* like from the OP that these may be beyond his budget?

**Ash** · 11-02-2009, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by Panache

Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Pentax 10-17 fisheye!

Being a fish eye lens, it's less applicable to the variety of settings available, and it suffers quite shocking PF.

Jasvox · 11-02-2009, 11:24 PM

The 18-250 is a decent lens which is very capable of capaturing very nice, sharp, clear photos. I have one, not had any problems with fringing, thankfully...but in those cases where I need to remove fringing, Lightroom seems to clear that up very well.

Which PP software do you use?

Jason

10-31-2009, 10:11 AM	#1
JamesD Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 536	Good Wide Angle Zoom? My wife and I each have k10ds and we love them. Currently we primarily use the Tamron 18-250mm and the Pentax 50mm 1.8 for available light shooting. We're looking for a wide-angle zoom that will not break the bank and yet deliver reasonably crisp shots with a minimum of purple fringing. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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10-31-2009, 12:48 PM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Hi James. How wide do you need it? The wider, the costlier it is... I would suggest the Pentax DA 16-45, which is a little wider than the Tamron you have, but being a Pentax lens there will be some (not excessive) purple fringing in high contrast situations (very few lenses produce no purple fringing on digital SLR cameras, as it's mainly a feature of the camera as opposed to CA, which is a feature of the lens). Otherise, if you like Tamron the 17-50 produced by them is excellent. Any wider, and you're looking at significantly more expensive ultra-wides like the Pentax DA 12-24, but the Sigma 10-20 may still be within your budget...

10-31-2009, 01:26 PM	#3
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	Originally posted by JamesD with a minimum of purple fringing. Any suggestions would be appreciated. DA12-24/4 is out then cos PF is its major weakness. It has great sharpness however.

10-31-2009, 01:53 PM	#4
jake123 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 130	Honestly when I had my 12-24 I didn't notice much purple fringing. Anyway, you could try picking up a 10-20 Sigma locally used for a great price.

10-31-2009, 02:15 PM	#5
JamesD Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 536 Original Poster	Thank you, All, for your replies. They've been great help since I was quite confused as to which direction to go. I'll study these lenses before making any decision.

11-02-2009, 08:51 AM	#6
cbaytan Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Trabzon/Turkey Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,010	Originally posted by JamesD My wife and I each have k10ds and we love them. Currently we primarily use the Tamron 18-250mm and the Pentax 50mm 1.8 for available light shooting. We're looking for a wide-angle zoom that will not break the bank and yet deliver reasonably crisp shots with a minimum of purple fringing. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I recommend DA 16-45mm.

11-02-2009, 09:12 AM	#7
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,350	I have the 16-45 and a kit 18-55...both are fine..but the 16-45 is better. I recommend the 16-45.

11-02-2009, 12:15 PM	#8
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,853	I haven't used a 16-45 but I can recommend the 16-50 and 12-24. I keep an eye on eekBay for used lenses and there a few there now, including a 16-45 for $200.00.

11-02-2009, 12:18 PM	#9
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	I am surprised everyone is suggesting the 16-45. the OPis asking for wide angle, wider than the present 18-250. 16 is not a big change,. I would suggest looking at sigma both 10-20 and 12-24 as well as the pentax 12-24 and tamron 10-24. These are WIDE angle zooms

11-02-2009, 12:37 PM	#10
cbaytan Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Trabzon/Turkey Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,010	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn I haven't used a 16-45 but I can recommend the 16-50 and 12-24. I keep an eye on eekBay for used lenses and there a few there now, including a 16-45 for $200.00. 16-50 is more expensive, heavier, proned to bad CA (purple fringing) , also several bad copies around (look for the 16-50 bad copies serial database, sticky thread in the lens section). and has no superiority over the 16-45 in resolution and color rendition. It's only superiority is it's 1.5 stop faster oh also it's WR. Pick your choice.

11-02-2009, 12:39 PM	#11
Panache Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 142	Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Pentax 10-17 fisheye!

11-02-2009, 12:43 PM	#12
cbaytan Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Trabzon/Turkey Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,010	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge I am surprised everyone is suggesting the 16-45. the OPis asking for wide angle, wider than the present 18-250. 16 is not a big change,. Oh yes, 2 mm difference is huge, at least to me. I still keep the 18-55 kit lens, 16mm is what would I call as "wide" .

11-02-2009, 12:43 PM	#13
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge I am surprised everyone is suggesting the 16-45. the OPis asking for wide angle, wider than the present 18-250. 16 is not a big change,. I would suggest looking at sigma both 10-20 and 12-24 as well as the pentax 12-24 and tamron 10-24. These are WIDE angle zooms These are ultra-wides. Suggestions have been made for the 12-24 and 10-20 - but it sounds like from the OP that these may be beyond his budget?

11-02-2009, 12:45 PM	#14
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Originally posted by Panache Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Pentax 10-17 fisheye! Being a fish eye lens, it's less applicable to the variety of settings available, and it suffers quite shocking PF.

11-02-2009, 11:24 PM	#15
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	The 18-250 is a decent lens which is very capable of capaturing very nice, sharp, clear photos. I have one, not had any problems with fringing, thankfully...but in those cases where I need to remove fringing, Lightroom seems to clear that up very well. Which PP software do you use? Jason