Should I be a good Pentax choirboy and buy a DA 15 Limited or buy the Sigma 10-20mm?

**Rondec** · 02-26-2010, 05:25 AM

The stars come from diffraction through the lens. My understanding is that it depends on the number of aperture blades a lens has as to how many points the stars have. Odd number of aperture blades will give stars with double the number of points as the number of aperture blades, while even number of aperture blades will give stars with the same number of points as the number of aperture blades.

tokyoso · 02-26-2010, 09:12 AM

Looks great !

I think I'll stick with Pentax. Now the question is which one...

Marc Sabatella · 02-26-2010, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by ngkmh

Ignoring, speed, size differences, which takes better photos?

see the photozone.de review of both if you need quantifiable answers (ie, 15 is sharper in center at all apertures, 14 sharper in corners wide open, 15 sharper in corners stopped down, 15 better distortion and CA control). But really, we're tlaking about pixel peeping differences. Both are great lenses - the difference *is* the speed and size.

Lance B · 03-11-2010, 11:13 PM

Originally posted by ngkmh

Lance,

Ignoring, speed, size differences, which takes better photos?

DA 14mm or DA 15mm Limited?

Cheers,

Kevin

Sorry for tardy reply, Kevin.

This is a tough one. The IQ of the DA15 is very "Limited looking", ie it has the contrast, colour rendition and bokeh like a Limited. The IQ of the DA14 is more "standard" looking, a tad less contrast and more subtle colour. Which is best is therefore tough to say. I probably like the look of the DA15 a tad better and it is smaller and this is why I use it moreso now than the DA14. However, I have yet to find a suitable solution to my Cokin ND grads being able to fit on the DA15 so whenever I need toi use the ND grads, I will more than likely use the DA14.

Cheers,
Lance

CWyatt · 03-11-2010, 11:25 PM

Though I'd add a a quick point: I just got the Sigma 10-20 f/3.5 (I needed the speed and wanted HSM).

I find it a tad soft a 10mm, ok at 20mm and good in between. f/4 gives you much nicer contrast than f/3.5. The Pentax 12-24 seems to be geared the other way - good at 12mm and less good as you zoom out. Good resolution but a bit of a CA beast (as per many wide angle zooms), but the Pentax gets it at all f-stops. I often read CA doesn't matter because you can correct it in photoshop. You can't correct ALL CA that easily, and it still affects sharpness and quality.

Unless the primes will give you much superior IQ, or you need the small size (or f/2.8) I'd still recommend the zooms. Both the Pentax 12-24 and Sigms 10-20 (either) will be close to matching the primes for IQ in their mid-range from what I've read. Of course, there's advantages and disadvantages with a zoom. One thing to note is that every mm at the super-wide end is a significant difference in angle of view.

tokyoso · 03-12-2010, 02:13 AM

Thanks for the heads up. Might pick up a DA 15mm soon, waiting to see how that new Sigma 8-16mm score on reviews.

Nachodog · 03-12-2010, 07:44 AM

I can't wait to see a comparison between the Sigma 10-20mm and the Sigma 8-16mm. Hopefully we'll see some reviews very soon!

jsherman999 · 03-12-2010, 09:40 AM

The Sigma 8-16 sounds exciting, but I can't help but think that it's going to be severely compromised optically to get rectilinear 8mm on aps-c....

Pentaxor · 03-12-2010, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by jsherman999

The Sigma 8-16 sounds exciting, but I can't help but think that it's going to be severely compromised optically to get rectilinear 8mm on aps-c....

I hope not, otherwise all that new hoopla for nothing. from what I can see, being a rectilinear would make it a massively fat lens (wide). I'm just curious how much would this lens costs and how would it perform optically.

if Pentax wouldn't release a FF dslr at the end of the year, I might just get the 8-16 and the 85 instead.

**krs** · 03-12-2010, 03:43 PM

I just ordered the Sigma 10-20mm.

I wanted the wide ability, and even though I have seen the arguements that one does not need the 3.5 at wide angles, it seems I always end up in low light situations, so I went with the 3.5 rather than the older version.

I thought about the Pentax 12-24, but again, I wanted the 10mm possibility!

Jewelltrail · 03-13-2010, 12:54 AM

Quote:

krs I just ordered the Sigma 10-20mm.

I wanted the wide ability, and even though I have seen the arguements that one does not need the 3.5 at wide angles, it seems I always end up in low light situations, so I went with the 3.5 rather than the older version.

I thought about the Pentax 12-24, but again, I wanted the 10mm possibility!

Congratualtions & best of luck to you. Please, when you get the lens, post some shots in our "Sigma 10-20mm Club." Most of the shots there are with the old version--it would be nice to have you post some with the new version in there. I would really like to see some shots with it wide open myself.

tokyoso · 03-13-2010, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by krs

I just ordered the Sigma 10-20mm.

I wanted the wide ability, and even though I have seen the arguements that one does not need the 3.5 at wide angles, it seems I always end up in low light situations, so I went with the 3.5 rather than the older version.

I thought about the Pentax 12-24, but again, I wanted the 10mm possibility!

the 12-24 seems too pricey for me. especially compared to the sigma 10-20. granted its probably a better lens optically.

**krs** · 03-14-2010, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by Jewelltrail

Congratualtions & best of luck to you. Please, when you get the lens, post some shots in our "Sigma 10-20mm Club." Most of the shots there are with the old version--it would be nice to have you post some with the new version in there. I would really like to see some shots with it wide open myself.

Will do! I am suppose to get it on Wednesday. I do little post processing, so whatever I shoot (and post), it will be largely "as is"!

View Poll Results: Should I be a good Pentax choirboy and buy a DA 15 Limited or buy the Sigma 10-20mm
DA 15mm F4 Limited	37	43.02%
DA 12-24mm F4	13	15.12%
Sigma 10-20mm F3.5	10	11.63%
Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6	26	30.23%
Voters: 86. You may not vote on this poll

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02-26-2010, 05:25 AM	#31
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,663	The stars come from diffraction through the lens. My understanding is that it depends on the number of aperture blades a lens has as to how many points the stars have. Odd number of aperture blades will give stars with double the number of points as the number of aperture blades, while even number of aperture blades will give stars with the same number of points as the number of aperture blades.

02-26-2010, 09:12 AM	#32
tokyoso Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 723 Original Poster	Looks great ! I think I'll stick with Pentax. Now the question is which one...

02-26-2010, 11:03 AM	#33
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by ngkmh Ignoring, speed, size differences, which takes better photos? see the photozone.de review of both if you need quantifiable answers (ie, 15 is sharper in center at all apertures, 14 sharper in corners wide open, 15 sharper in corners stopped down, 15 better distortion and CA control). But really, we're tlaking about pixel peeping differences. Both are great lenses - the difference is the speed and size.

03-11-2010, 11:13 PM	#34
Lance B Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 593	Originally posted by ngkmh Lance, Ignoring, speed, size differences, which takes better photos? DA 14mm or DA 15mm Limited? Cheers, Kevin Sorry for tardy reply, Kevin. This is a tough one. The IQ of the DA15 is very "Limited looking", ie it has the contrast, colour rendition and bokeh like a Limited. The IQ of the DA14 is more "standard" looking, a tad less contrast and more subtle colour. Which is best is therefore tough to say. I probably like the look of the DA15 a tad better and it is smaller and this is why I use it moreso now than the DA14. However, I have yet to find a suitable solution to my Cokin ND grads being able to fit on the DA15 so whenever I need toi use the ND grads, I will more than likely use the DA14. Cheers, Lance

03-11-2010, 11:25 PM	#35
CWyatt Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,291	Though I'd add a a quick point: I just got the Sigma 10-20 f/3.5 (I needed the speed and wanted HSM). I find it a tad soft a 10mm, ok at 20mm and good in between. f/4 gives you much nicer contrast than f/3.5. The Pentax 12-24 seems to be geared the other way - good at 12mm and less good as you zoom out. Good resolution but a bit of a CA beast (as per many wide angle zooms), but the Pentax gets it at all f-stops. I often read CA doesn't matter because you can correct it in photoshop. You can't correct ALL CA that easily, and it still affects sharpness and quality. Unless the primes will give you much superior IQ, or you need the small size (or f/2.8) I'd still recommend the zooms. Both the Pentax 12-24 and Sigms 10-20 (either) will be close to matching the primes for IQ in their mid-range from what I've read. Of course, there's advantages and disadvantages with a zoom. One thing to note is that every mm at the super-wide end is a significant difference in angle of view.

03-12-2010, 02:13 AM	#36
tokyoso Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 723 Original Poster	Thanks for the heads up. Might pick up a DA 15mm soon, waiting to see how that new Sigma 8-16mm score on reviews.

03-12-2010, 07:44 AM	#37
Nachodog Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal, Qc Posts: 472	I can't wait to see a comparison between the Sigma 10-20mm and the Sigma 8-16mm. Hopefully we'll see some reviews very soon!

03-12-2010, 09:40 AM	#38
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	The Sigma 8-16 sounds exciting, but I can't help but think that it's going to be severely compromised optically to get rectilinear 8mm on aps-c....

03-12-2010, 10:16 AM	#39
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by jsherman999 The Sigma 8-16 sounds exciting, but I can't help but think that it's going to be severely compromised optically to get rectilinear 8mm on aps-c.... I hope not, otherwise all that new hoopla for nothing. from what I can see, being a rectilinear would make it a massively fat lens (wide). I'm just curious how much would this lens costs and how would it perform optically. if Pentax wouldn't release a FF dslr at the end of the year, I might just get the 8-16 and the 85 instead.

03-12-2010, 03:43 PM	#40
krs Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 395	I just ordered the Sigma 10-20mm. I wanted the wide ability, and even though I have seen the arguements that one does not need the 3.5 at wide angles, it seems I always end up in low light situations, so I went with the 3.5 rather than the older version. I thought about the Pentax 12-24, but again, I wanted the 10mm possibility!

03-13-2010, 12:54 AM	#41
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: krs I just ordered the Sigma 10-20mm. I wanted the wide ability, and even though I have seen the arguements that one does not need the 3.5 at wide angles, it seems I always end up in low light situations, so I went with the 3.5 rather than the older version. I thought about the Pentax 12-24, but again, I wanted the 10mm possibility! Congratualtions & best of luck to you. Please, when you get the lens, post some shots in our "Sigma 10-20mm Club." Most of the shots there are with the old version--it would be nice to have you post some with the new version in there. I would really like to see some shots with it wide open myself.

03-13-2010, 07:27 AM	#42
tokyoso Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 723 Original Poster	Originally posted by krs I just ordered the Sigma 10-20mm. I wanted the wide ability, and even though I have seen the arguements that one does not need the 3.5 at wide angles, it seems I always end up in low light situations, so I went with the 3.5 rather than the older version. I thought about the Pentax 12-24, but again, I wanted the 10mm possibility! the 12-24 seems too pricey for me. especially compared to the sigma 10-20. granted its probably a better lens optically.

03-14-2010, 04:54 PM	#43
krs Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 395	Originally posted by Jewelltrail Congratualtions & best of luck to you. Please, when you get the lens, post some shots in our "Sigma 10-20mm Club." Most of the shots there are with the old version--it would be nice to have you post some with the new version in there. I would really like to see some shots with it wide open myself. Will do! I am suppose to get it on Wednesday. I do little post processing, so whatever I shoot (and post), it will be largely "as is"!