[FreeSpirit9]

The 8-16 has its strengths. No other lens in K mount can deliver what it does. For shooting indoors like in a museum or other tight spots it is a gem. I do know people who have gone through numerous copies to get a get a good one. Which is why I purchased mine new. My copy seems good enough for me but I am not a pixel peeper. I will add if I had to choose between to 8-16 and the 10-17, I would choose the 10-17 simply for its size and versatility. I will always take the 10-17 with me. I have to have a reason to take the 8-16.

Hi Michael, Thank you for your comprehensive thoughts and comments. I really enjoyed your photos especially the 8mm sunset, absolutely stunning. I think that I will persevere with the 8-16 in the absence of a 10-17 (for some time yet). Perhaps I have a good copy, time and improved technique will tell.

Thanks again,
Cheers
Frank

[WPRESTO]

Looking at the two bottom images, taken from the same spot with 8-16 and 10-17, the latter pushes back the horizon slightly more, so the golden/reddish area is slightly smaller than in the Sigma image. Part of this is clearly a consequence of the amount of time that passed from the first image to the second (= less of the sky has the sunset glow in the second image), but if you look at the distant trees, part of it is also how the lenses are recording the scene.

[Scorpio71GR]

The sun was setting fast and I can only change lenses as quick as I can. The light changed dramatically between shots. I only have one K3 so that is the way it is. Also I am not quite sure how the Lightroom profile for the 10-17 works. I just click the button. The two lenses have a different color rendering. The 10-17 tends to be a bit warmer in my opinion.

Downtown with the 10-17 partially defished. The two bridges almost make a 180 degree field of view.

[Scorpio71GR]

The versatility of the 10-17. I rarely leave home without it in my bag.
17mm

[cobbu2]

Here are a couple from a little-seen lens, the 18mm f/11 Fisheye-Takumar; a lens with what can be described as an "artistic" rendering (note the fuzzy corners)... shot at f/22.








Mounted on a Honeywell H1a using the old Forte Arista.EDU 400.

[tim60]

That's the single aperture one. Much rounder projection than the recent posts with the 17mm.

[cobbu2]

Yes, a bit more of a "fisheye effect" and some definite vignetting... you can even see the corner softness in the viewfinder even at f/22, let alone wide open at f/11! But I like its results and have more plans for it, a cool and fun lens to use.

[goatsNdonkey]

Yes, a bit more of a "fisheye effect" and some definite vignetting... you can even see the corner softness in the viewfinder even at f/22, let alone wide open at f/11! But I like its results and have more plans for it, a cool and fun lens to use.

I like that it is a lens that makes no apologies for being a fishy fisheye. And the corners are not very soft compared to my heavy, old Samigon 180-degree Fish-Eye conversion lens.

[cobbu2]

I like that it is a lens that makes no apologies for being a fishy fisheye. And the corners are not very soft compared to my heavy, old Samigon 180-degree Fish-Eye conversion lens.

Interesting! I'll be posting a review here for it when I get a chance; one thing for sure, it's very light and about as compact as a lens can be, especially from that era. The only lens I can think of that's smaller is the 40mm DA XS, really approaching the depth of a body cap.

[JensE]

Here is another vertical landscape, again taken on a K-1 in crop mode with the 8mm Samyang.



Quickly edited before it's out of season - can't spend much time on photography currently.

This is one of those fisheye vertical shots where I had to significantly lean forward and carefully compose in order to keep my feet out of the picture. Love the exaggerating perspective, the Ilse is really just a small creek, even filled by snow melt. I took this on a family hike up from the foot of the Harz mountains to the very top - the Brocken, ~800m in elevation gain and only 13km one-way as this range solitarily ascents very steeply out of the north German plains.

[RGlasel]

I'm not sure if I'll ever make it through the 188 pages in this thread, but I'm pretty amazed by the small sampling I have looked at. I aquired a Rokinon 8mm only a month ago, so I'm just starting out on the fisheye learning curve. Unlike some shots, I managed to keep my feet out of the frame on this one, but I'm sitting at the table in the foreground, trying to keep from getting burnt by the Arizona sun.

[Eagle94VT]

The versatility of the 10-17. I rarely leave home without it in my bag.

I agree - my "bag" with my K3 has the 10-17, 20-40 and the 55-300 PLM. Small and crazy light!

[WPRESTO]

I agree - my "bag" with my K3 has the 10-17, 20-40 and the 55-300 PLM. Small and crazy light!

That kid with that smile could elicit a return smile from a granite statue.

[Eagle94VT]

Thanks WPRESTO - whenever he's in motion there's a smile to be had!

[gatorguy]

I've really had fun this weekend with the Pentax DA10-17. It's such an enjoyable and creative little lens. It visited a Renaissance Fair yesterday, and found time for a quick jaunt to the local wildlife refuge too.

I may post a few others later, but this is my home studio, shot with that lens on the KS2. It's a fairly small room but amazingly adaptable and easy to work in. (cross-posted)
Shoots larger than you would expect the space to. So how large is it? Only 10x11, plus a dormer space 4x8'
All the lighting is continuous, LED