K-01 and Sigma 8-16mm

brettgaddy · 03-14-2013, 09:47 PM

Originally posted by Pheo

I think you would find the sigma and the K-01 an excellent combo.

Very awesome. I love it.

Today was the first day of actually taking the camera out for a full day. I took the Gh2 with the 12mm and K-01 with the 40mm (it was nice not having to change lenses).

I got some pretty good shots, but a lot of veryyyy interesting shots with the K-01 (slightly out of focus, tilted, etc). I think I need to practice with this camera and slow down a bit. I think shooting without a viewfinder is throwing me off. It is a really nice screen though, I could see it pretty clearly in the sun (at least I thought). I also think I'm a bit thrown off by the 3:2 aspect ratio. I'm just so used to 4:3.

I'm pretty set on the 8-16mm though, I may order one in the next few days!

Transit · 03-14-2013, 10:06 PM - **1 Like**

The 8-16 isn't all that big but it is solid. Sold the DA14 to get it.
Well pleased with it.
No way would I swap it for the DA15.
Pete

**Digitalis** · 03-14-2013, 10:12 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by brettgaddy

I'm pretty set on the 8-16mm though, I may order one in the next few days!

When you get it: make sure all sides of the images are sharp, if one side of the image is sharper than the other - then it is likely that you have a de-centered lens. I had to go through a few copies of the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5 - 5.6 to find one that was Ideal. I only had to buy 1 DA15, and that lens was perfectly aligned straight out of the box.

Transit · 03-16-2013, 04:03 AM

Rashly lost my nerve and bought a yellow brick this afternoon

so I shall have the sigma on it in due course

brettgaddy · 03-16-2013, 08:57 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

When you get it: make sure all sides of the images are sharp, if one side of the image is sharper than the other - then it is likely that you have a de-centered lens. I had to go through a few copies of the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5 - 5.6 to find one that was Ideal. I only had to buy 1 DA15, and that lens was perfectly aligned straight out of the box.

Thanks for the advice, I've read a few things about the iffy quality control on this lens

Originally posted by Transit

Rashly lost my nerve and bought a yellow brick this afternoon

so I shall have the sigma on it in due course

Nice!

brettgaddy · 03-18-2013, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by Transit

Rashly lost my nerve and bought a yellow brick this afternoon

so I shall have the sigma on it in due course

Make sure to report back on the combo!

I just got paid and I'm selling a few things to fund the 8-16mm (Panasonic 14mm and Rokinon 7.5mm for m4/3 if you were curious)

This might be a dumb question (or just the wrong place to ask), but I'm curious if I'll be able to use this lens on my m4/3 cameras with an adapter. I realize aperture control is electronic and won't work- but I'm curious if it works similarly to the Canon lenses where you can set the aperture on the Canon and mount it on the m4/3 camera and be good to go.

Obviously this isn't something I would be doing all the time, but it would be nice to have for some awesome super wide video on my Gh2. Not being a very fast lens or being able to take my ND filters would be pretty limiting as well, but I'm curious if this would work at all!

Edit- Looks like there are adapters that let you control the aperture! Interesting... Now I just need to find the best most reasonably priced one. As well as a good M42 to K adapter (can't seem to find one in stock).

brettgaddy · 03-26-2013, 03:50 PM

Showed up this afternoon

Looks pretty good to me.

Transit · 03-26-2013, 06:00 PM

Yum !
Can't wait for mine to arrive, glad to see it looks so suitable with the 8-16

Pete

brettgaddy · 03-26-2013, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by Transit

Yum !
Can't wait for mine to arrive, glad to see it looks so suitable with the 8-16

Pete

It looks great, so far the test photos seem to look alright as well. But man is it big, almost as big as my Pansasonic 100-300 (and it does something completely different).

I'm going to try and take it to Dallas for some skyscraper fun tomorrow.

Now to find an adapter for m4/3...

Transit · 03-26-2013, 06:21 PM

Sorry I thought it was the camera just arrived !

brettgaddy · 03-26-2013, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by Transit

Sorry I thought it was the camera just arrived !

I've had it for a few weeks now, feels weird with anything but the 40mm on it honestly.

brettgaddy · 03-31-2013, 06:54 PM

One issue I'm having with the 8-16mm is when shooting at 8mm it's not showing the focal length in Lightroom. I'm worried this may be an issue when correcting the distortion (with the profile of the lens of course). I don't usually correct distortion so I really don't know much about this.

Other than that I'm really starting to get a hang of the lens (I think). At first it wasn't blowing me away in sharpness and detail like I thought it would (like when I first got the K-01 with the 40mm) but I think I'm starting to get used to it. I'll post some photos in a bit!

**Digitalis** · 03-31-2013, 08:08 PM

Originally posted by brettgaddy

One issue I'm having with the 8-16mm is when shooting at 8mm it's not showing the focal length in Lightroom

Don't worry that is normal - you can input the focal length in the metadata if the image drastically needs distortion correction. The sigma 8-16mm f/4.5.-5.6 is a sharper lens @ 15mm f/8 than the DA15mm f/4 ED ASPH Limited - though the DA 15mm f/4 has impressively high central sharpness.It is a bit unfair to compare a zoom super-wideangle lens to a 40mm f/2.8 Pancake prime - they are both built with different purposes in mind.

brettgaddy · 03-31-2013, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

Don't worry that is normal - you can input the focal length in the metadata if the image drastically needs distortion correction. The sigma 8-16mm f/4.5.-5.6 is a sharper lens @ 15mm f/8 than the DA15mm f/4 ED ASPH Limited - though the DA 15mm f/4 has impressively high central sharpness.It is a bit unfair to compare a zoom super-wideangle lens to a 40mm f/2.8 Pancake prime - they are both built with different purposes in mind.

Awesome pic. I agree it's unfair to compare them, but it's can't help but compare the lenses considering the prices I got each of them at

Here's a few I took yesterday downtown:

tromboads · 03-31-2013, 08:41 PM

so much wideness. but the straight lines aren't straight

fantasy ruined.

03-18-2013, 09:41 PM	#21
brettgaddy New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by Transit Rashly lost my nerve and bought a yellow brick this afternoon so I shall have the sigma on it in due course Make sure to report back on the combo! I just got paid and I'm selling a few things to fund the 8-16mm (Panasonic 14mm and Rokinon 7.5mm for m4/3 if you were curious) This might be a dumb question (or just the wrong place to ask), but I'm curious if I'll be able to use this lens on my m4/3 cameras with an adapter. I realize aperture control is electronic and won't work- but I'm curious if it works similarly to the Canon lenses where you can set the aperture on the Canon and mount it on the m4/3 camera and be good to go. Obviously this isn't something I would be doing all the time, but it would be nice to have for some awesome super wide video on my Gh2. Not being a very fast lens or being able to take my ND filters would be pretty limiting as well, but I'm curious if this would work at all! Edit- Looks like there are adapters that let you control the aperture! Interesting... Now I just need to find the best most reasonably priced one. As well as a good M42 to K adapter (can't seem to find one in stock). Last edited by brettgaddy; 03-18-2013 at 10:57 PM.

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03-14-2013, 09:47 PM	#16
brettgaddy New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by Pheo I think you would find the sigma and the K-01 an excellent combo. Very awesome. I love it. Today was the first day of actually taking the camera out for a full day. I took the Gh2 with the 12mm and K-01 with the 40mm (it was nice not having to change lenses). I got some pretty good shots, but a lot of veryyyy interesting shots with the K-01 (slightly out of focus, tilted, etc). I think I need to practice with this camera and slow down a bit. I think shooting without a viewfinder is throwing me off. It is a really nice screen though, I could see it pretty clearly in the sun (at least I thought). I also think I'm a bit thrown off by the 3:2 aspect ratio. I'm just so used to 4:3. I'm pretty set on the 8-16mm though, I may order one in the next few days!

03-14-2013, 10:06 PM - 1 Like	#17
Transit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Whanganui NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,624	The 8-16 isn't all that big but it is solid. Sold the DA14 to get it. Well pleased with it. No way would I swap it for the DA15. Pete

03-14-2013, 10:12 PM - 1 Like	#18
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by brettgaddy I'm pretty set on the 8-16mm though, I may order one in the next few days! When you get it: make sure all sides of the images are sharp, if one side of the image is sharper than the other - then it is likely that you have a de-centered lens. I had to go through a few copies of the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5 - 5.6 to find one that was Ideal. I only had to buy 1 DA15, and that lens was perfectly aligned straight out of the box.

03-16-2013, 04:03 AM	#19
Transit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Whanganui NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,624	Rashly lost my nerve and bought a yellow brick this afternoon so I shall have the sigma on it in due course

03-16-2013, 08:57 PM	#20
brettgaddy New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by Digitalis When you get it: make sure all sides of the images are sharp, if one side of the image is sharper than the other - then it is likely that you have a de-centered lens. I had to go through a few copies of the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5 - 5.6 to find one that was Ideal. I only had to buy 1 DA15, and that lens was perfectly aligned straight out of the box. Thanks for the advice, I've read a few things about the iffy quality control on this lens Originally posted by Transit Rashly lost my nerve and bought a yellow brick this afternoon so I shall have the sigma on it in due course Nice!

03-26-2013, 03:50 PM	#22
brettgaddy New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Showed up this afternoon Looks pretty good to me.

03-26-2013, 06:00 PM	#23
Transit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Whanganui NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,624	Yum ! Can't wait for mine to arrive, glad to see it looks so suitable with the 8-16 Pete

03-26-2013, 06:14 PM	#24
brettgaddy New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by Transit Yum ! Can't wait for mine to arrive, glad to see it looks so suitable with the 8-16 Pete It looks great, so far the test photos seem to look alright as well. But man is it big, almost as big as my Pansasonic 100-300 (and it does something completely different). I'm going to try and take it to Dallas for some skyscraper fun tomorrow. Now to find an adapter for m4/3...

03-26-2013, 06:21 PM	#25
Transit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Whanganui NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,624	Sorry I thought it was the camera just arrived !

03-26-2013, 06:38 PM	#26
brettgaddy New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by Transit Sorry I thought it was the camera just arrived ! I've had it for a few weeks now, feels weird with anything but the 40mm on it honestly.

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03-31-2013, 06:54 PM	#27
brettgaddy New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Original Poster	One issue I'm having with the 8-16mm is when shooting at 8mm it's not showing the focal length in Lightroom. I'm worried this may be an issue when correcting the distortion (with the profile of the lens of course). I don't usually correct distortion so I really don't know much about this. Other than that I'm really starting to get a hang of the lens (I think). At first it wasn't blowing me away in sharpness and detail like I thought it would (like when I first got the K-01 with the 40mm) but I think I'm starting to get used to it. I'll post some photos in a bit!

03-31-2013, 08:08 PM	#28
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by brettgaddy One issue I'm having with the 8-16mm is when shooting at 8mm it's not showing the focal length in Lightroom Don't worry that is normal - you can input the focal length in the metadata if the image drastically needs distortion correction. The sigma 8-16mm f/4.5.-5.6 is a sharper lens @ 15mm f/8 than the DA15mm f/4 ED ASPH Limited - though the DA 15mm f/4 has impressively high central sharpness.It is a bit unfair to compare a zoom super-wideangle lens to a 40mm f/2.8 Pancake prime - they are both built with different purposes in mind.

03-31-2013, 08:41 PM	#30
tromboads Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,239	so much wideness. but the straight lines aren't straight fantasy ruined.