[DamianB]

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.

---

Hi!

I have been enjoying the Pentax Q on a daily basis for a couple years now, but have never been able to try out the 08 Wide Zoom lens.
To be honest, I have been scouting on many second-hand websites, but cannot find a single one without seriously breaking the bank - the cost is higher than most modern camera's nowadays.
Hence the following question; do you know of any alternatives (adapted) that are relatively comparable to the 08?

Warm regards,

Damian

P.S. If any of you have a spare 08 lying around that doesn't get much use, I would love to get in touch too

[garywakeling]

Hi, I have the 08 and find it great, there is a section in the marketplace here where you can put a wanted ad, good luck with your search

[AstroDave]

For $12, you could give Ebay item 194724084724 a try (wide-angle lens attachment).

I have no idea what the optical quality really is!

[pid]

the wide-zoom 08 in my opinion is the best lens available for the Q-Mount. It is not cheap, but worth its money. Used ones are very hard to find and will have its price too.

[vonBaloney]

There really is no substitute, but I've seen some surprisingly good results (from posts here) using C & D adapted lenses (CCTV lenses, etc). Nothing else will be that wide on the Q.

The Fujinon 2.7mm f1.8 is definitely wide, but it is a fish-eye. These used to be cheap (pulled from CCTV cameras), but now they are $300-$500. There are two models, one with an iris, one without. They are only rated 5mp, but they seem to be better than that:



Here is the 08:



Here is the results with the Commonlands 3.2 mm lens on the Q7:



For a comparison, here is the same scene shot with an iPhone:




The Commonlands 3.2mm is an M12 mount lens, you will need a M12 to C mount adapter, and a "rotating collar style" C mount to Pentax Q adapter. The thinner C-mount adapter (without set screws) doesn't have deep enough threads. Put the lens into the M12 adapter snugly, then wrap the C-mount threads with teflon plumbers tape about 3 wraps so the adapter won't have any play, yet still turn easily. Thread the lens/adapter assembly into the C-mount adapter until the back element of the lens just protrudes past the bottom of the C-mount mounting flange. Mount the Lens/M12 adapter/ C-mount adapter on your Q body then GENTLY rotate the lens/adapter assembly until it touches the IR filter assembly then back it off about 1/8 of a turn. This should get you in focusing range. Very small adjustments make a big difference, you'll have to make test exposures to find best focus. When you do, make a small index mark on the lens barrel. For about $60 it can't be beat!

[DamianB]

Hi, I have the 08 and find it great, there is a section in the marketplace here where you can put a wanted ad, good luck with your search

Ah cheers Gary, I will give it a shot!

[DamianB]

the wide-zoom 08 in my opinion is the best lens available for the Q-Mount. It is not cheap, but worth its money. Used ones are very hard to find and will have its price too.

Yeah I heard! That's exactly why I'm so keen on exploring the lens' capabilities

[DamianB]

The Fujinon 2.7mm f1.8 is definitely wide, but it is a fish-eye. These used to be cheap (pulled from CCTV cameras), but now they are $300-$500. There are two models, one with an iris, one without. They are only rated 5mp, but they seem to be better than that:



Here is the 08:



Both images shot at ISO 800, they would look better at ISO 200

Wow, that is indeed some seriously impressive wide-ness from the Fujinon(!), very cool comparison with the 08 too; nearly same angle, yet they look so incredibly different.

[UncleVanya]

Wide angle C mount lenses? - PentaxForums.com

---------- Post added 01-26-23 at 03:52 PM ----------

Back-Bone 1/2.3" 3.8mm f2.8 16MP M12 Low Distortion Wide Angle Lens #BBM1238 | eBay

It only claims coverage for 1/ 2/3” sensors however.

---------- Post added 01-26-23 at 03:55 PM ----------

Unclear sensor coverage: Tamron C-Mount 4-13mm Manual Iris Varifocal Lens | eBay

[barondla]

Love my #08, but there is a rectilinear replacement.

Pentax Q with linear ultra-wide Theia SL183M 1.8-3mm f1.8 CS mount lens ? - PentaxForums.com

I still need to pick one up. Thanks to @2old4toys for discovering and posting about it.
Thanks for jogging my memory,
barondla

[kwb]

Turns out that Theia released newer lenses since 2old4toys’s post about Theia 183 (1.8-3mm) series that covers 1/2.3”.

410 series (4-10mm) is not as wide as 183 (but Q 08 is 3.8-5.9mm so it’s still wide), supposed to cover 1/1.8”, rated 12Mp (no such rating for 183), and C mount version is $332. Not cheap but not mind-boggling like Q 08 either. I haven’t seen any real world example, but if you want to experiment, it might be worth it.

Theia Technologies ML410M 1/1.7" 4-10mm F1.4 Manual Iris Vari-Focal C-Mount Lens, IR Corrected (Day/Night), 4K Ultra HD, 12 Megapixel Rated

[2old4toys]

Theia Technologies ML410M 1/1.7" 4-10mm F1.4 Manual Iris Vari-Focal C-Mount Lens, IR Corrected (Day/Night), 4K Ultra HD, 12 Megapixel Rated

I wasn’t aware of the more recent Theia lenses with 12MP resolution! Super fast, but at the asking price, I’d rather stick to the Pentax 08 with AF.

UPDATE: I found a viable low-cost alternate to the 08, the Commonlands 3.2 m12 lens, only $40 +adapters. Scroll back to post #6 in this thread for details…

[kwb]

UPDATE: I found a viable low-cost alternate to the 08, the Commonlands 3.2 m12 lens, only $40 +adapters. Scroll back to post #6 in this thread for details…

Your example looks pretty good! Thanks for showing how M12 lenses are mounted on Q, I didn't know that some of M12 lenses have such a large image circle good for 1/1.7" sensor.