[AirSupply]

Hi guys,

Again, I really need your advise for my next purchase for a wide-angle lens after say goodbye with my 16-50. I have heard a lot of good things about those two lens Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 or Pentax 12-24mm, but I am not sure which one is better (ven just slightly better) because they have the same price tag right now (~ $650). Beside the purpose of shooting landscape and indoor photo, I am considering it for some wedding photo as well.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Itai]

Actually, I would like to hear this comparison too.

Many years ago, I tried the older Sigma 10-20mm F4.5-5.6 and compared it to the Pentax DA 12-24mm F4. I really would have liked the wider one but that Sigma was terrible in terms of vignetting, I knew I would simply end up deleting all my photos from it. I've had the Pentax 12-24mm for years now and I really love it. The quality is simply superb.

Now that Sigma has some newer and wider lens, I wonder if I could get good image quality from something wider, like the new Sigma 8-16mm. Ever since I tried the 14-24mm F2.8 on a Nikon D3, I've been wishing for something just as wide but on a Pentax DSLR.

- Itai
Neoluminance | Fine Art Photography by Itai Danan

[dunerunner]

It is interesting that you have found them for the same price. I just gpt a DA12-24 and it was more $ everywhere I looked. All the testing I looked at and reviews I read showed the 12-24 to be the better lens if you don't mind losing 2mm on the wide side, and could afford it.. I own a sigma 18-50 2.8 and like it (lots and lots of CA though, more than the 12-24 Pentax so far) but am replacing it with Pentax lenses. I still think Sigma makes good lenses, and some of the shots I have seen here from the 10-20 look real good. But I go with the DA. Here are a couple of my first shots with it.

[AirSupply]

Thanks for your opinion drune, I will consider yours seriously. Here is the link I foud the DA 12-24 brand new at $623 with free shipping

Pentax smc P-DA 12-24mm f/4.0 ED/AL (IF) Super Wide Angle Auto Focus Zoom Lens - at - AccessoryCircut.com

[blind-bat]

AccessoryCircuit.com has a lifetime reseller rating of 7.23 out of 10 though....

[lesmore49]

I had the same dilemma in the fall.

The Pentax 12-24 is too pricey ($ 1299 CAD) albeit very good...the Sigma...I dunno...I hear good things...but not all seem to be totally pleased....

So I got a Pentax 10-17mm fisheye...not a true wide angle, but it's amazing what pix I get...but not for all photographers, but many who get this lens...love it..

Excellent lens quality, top build quality.

I have heard rumors that Sigma may bring out an 8-16 MM and Pentax may bring out a 10-16 W/A.

I want to check out these two lenses when they come out...also the Sigma 50-500.

[Canada_Rockies]

I have had the DA 12-24 since Nov 2007, when I bought it as part of a kit from Galaxy Camera in Ottawa. It has a few things going for it

• Constant f/4 aperture at all focal lengths
• Very little distortion for a super wide angle, zoom or prime.
• It's not SDM <G>
• Very little flare. Check out my Flickr site for examples, including one with sun in frame.

FWIW I have, personally, not been impressed with Sigma lenses. I bought a 170-500 AF, and it was much lower in IQ than my elderly M 400/5.6, and no faster where it counts. I was shooting film with the MZ-S, so I cannot say how it would be on a DSLR. I found the lens to be very soft, more so than I would have expected from the reports on it. Perhaps I had a bad copy, but they are off my radar now.

[omega leader]

I have a 12-24mm and find it fantastic. My only complaint is it doesn't focus close enough. The new Tamron focuses much closer which is very important for wide angle lenses.

I rejected the 10-20mm as I was the same price as the pentax, and from what I hear the new 10-20 (f/3.5) is a downgrade.

Personally I find the vast majority of my shots are at 13-15mm, or at 24mm; though I use the 12-24mm as my walk-around lens.

[Canada_Rockies]

I have a 12-24mm and find it fantastic. My only complaint is it doesn't focus close enough. The new Tamron focuses much closer which is very important for wide angle lenses.

It is a bit far out, I admit, but for my photographic style, I don't mind the 1 foot/0,3 metre close focus all that much. When I want something really close in focus, I use the depth of field because I am using it as a foreground key to the image.