[noelpolar]

Some great shots Noel. I like this one, in particular.

Thankyou!

---------- Post added 06-01-16 at 05:19 PM ----------

I just got back from a SE Asia Cruise.... tried to use the DA 10-17 each day as part of the single in challenge for December.

[KDAFA]

The 10-17 does Mesa Arch in Canyonlands NP...



...and Queen's Garden in Bryce Canyon NP:

Lovely!

---------- Post added 01-07-16 at 05:57 PM ----------

10-17 on K5II


Goolwa morning.jpg by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

Very good!

---------- Post added 01-07-16 at 05:58 PM ----------

Frog Eye with the Fisheye.... DA 10-17 @ 17mm


Frog Eye with Fish eye.jpg by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

Good work on this shot!

---------- Post added 01-07-16 at 06:02 PM ----------

Lovely!

---------- Post added 01-07-16 at 05:57 PM ----------


Very good!

---------- Post added 01-07-16 at 05:58 PM ----------


Good work on this shot!

This is a lens I really admire. Not just for the interesting perspective it gives, but I just love its colour output.

[northcoastgreg]

Misc. shots from 10-17:

[noelpolar]

DA 10-17...taken this morning from my Skinny Tinny

[csa]

I'm a novice at fisheyes; but am wondering how some of these beautiful photos don't show the distortion, especially in the landscapes. Can anyone explain, as I'm tempted at getting this lens, but don't want the "fisheye" effect in all my photos.

[MPrince]

The natural world doesn't have all that much in the way of straight lines, and it's straight lines you'll most notice fisheye distortion. At the long end the 10-17 isn't all that fishy anyway. Good technique and framing can also minimize fishiness. You can also de-fish an image in post.

[northcoastgreg]

I'm a novice at fisheyes; but am wondering how some of these beautiful photos don't show the distortion, especially in the landscapes.

The trick for using the DA 10-17 is to keep straight lines (horizons, trees, etc.) along the center axis (both horizontal and vertical). As you move from these center axes, straight lines become more and more curved and distorted. So avoid shooting close to tall trees and tall buildings and keep the horizon in the center and the DA 10-17 can work quite well as a landscape lens:

[csa]

Greg, thank you for that information! Wow, that photo looks 3D!!

Looks like I might start looking for one to play with!

[Scorpio71GR]

I'm a novice at fisheyes; but am wondering how some of these beautiful photos don't show the distortion, especially in the landscapes. Can anyone explain, as I'm tempted at getting this lens, but don't want the "fisheye" effect in all my photos.

Carol this is what I have learned.

10-21mm is a quite fisfy. Anything towards the edges will have distortion.
13mm the distortion starts to diminish and the edges start to clean up. Usually the distortion can be fixed in post.
14-17mm can near rectangular and can usually be fixed with distortion correction software.
How you hold the lens really matters. Just tilting the lens up or down a little can make a huge difference. You really need to keep the lens level and parallel to your subject. This a lens that takes some work and thought when you use it. For the price and considering the small size it really is hard to beat. It can even work as a pseudo macro lens with its extremely close MFD.

14mm distortion was corrected in post using the lens profile of the DA 10-17. A one click fix in post. I did have to lay on the ground to get the lens at the right level.



13mm



10mm for the fisheye, the center is not that distorted.



15mm



17mm 3 shot HDR processed in camera on the K3. I could not back up far enough with the 16-50 to get the whole sculpture in the frame. I could with 10-17 even at 17mm because of the fisheye field of view. Shot with a tripod and the lens level.



10mm 180 degree field of view.



All shots are from Fredrick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A favorite place to take the 10-17.

[csa]

Michael, thanks for taking the time, & posting the photos to explain the usage of this lens. Your shots really show what this lens is capable of!

It's really intriguing me, and I probably will end up with one in a few months!

[noelpolar]

Michael, thanks for taking the time, & posting the photos to explain the usage of this lens. Your shots really show what this lens is capable of!

It's really intriguing me, and I probably will end up with one in a few months!

Hi Carol... for what it is worth..... I find the DA 10-17 more engaging to use than the DA 15.

[csa]

Hi Carol... for what it is worth..... I find the DA 10-17 more engaging to use than the DA 15.

Wow! Now that I like; as you probably know I've also been interested in the DA15. But I do favor zooms, so the DA 10-17 is really at the top of the list now.

Thank you!

[noelpolar]

Wow! Now that I like; as you probably know I've also been interested in the DA15. But I do favor zooms, so the DA 10-17 is really at the top of the list now.

Thank you!

In the typical pentax LBA way.... you'll still probally end up with the 15 one day!

[csa]

No doubt in my mind, as I do love the starbursts from the DA 15.

[BrianR]

You don't get the clean points of the da15mm, but it can handle starbursts with some dignity. Which is good since it's pretty easy to end up with the sun in your composition with a 10mm fisheye.



Great pointers above about how to avoid the 'fisheye' look. I'd also say some things can look more natural with a fish eye projection compared to a rectilinear one. It's certainly not for every composition, but be willing to embrace the fisheyeness.