Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Coming for Pentax!

VoiceOfReason · 07-01-2013, 08:58 AM

I will own this lens for anime convention photography if the reviews come in as positive for it. So, who is getting it first and posting a good review of it here?

wed7 · 07-01-2013, 09:52 AM

I would like to have this lens too, specially if the promised DA Limited zoom FL~20-40mm (Roadmap 2013) does not comes out as promised this year.

bossa · 07-01-2013, 02:59 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Digitalis

after scrutinising some image samples taken at f/1.8~f/5.6 range I can say the FA31 can rest easy.

I realize that there's "more to it" than resolution but, according to Lenstip, the Sigma 18-35 is 20lpmm sharper than the FA 31 wide open and is as sharp at f/2 as the FA31 is at f/4-5.6. The thing is huge however, as big as the Nikon 24-70, so there's that to think about among other optical characteristics.

cali92rs · 07-01-2013, 03:24 PM

Originally posted by bossa

I realize that there's "more to it" than resolution but, according to Lenstip, the Sigma 18-35 is 20lpmm sharper than the FA 31 wide open and is as sharp at f/2 as the FA31 is at f/4-5.6. The thing is huge however, as big as the Nikon 24-70, so there's that to think about among other optical characteristics.

And price...you can get a brand new Sigma cheaper than the 31mm LTD

Unregistered User · 07-01-2013, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

I think all things Zeiss and Leica are of more interest to collectors, several of the lens collectors I know have an almost fetishistic view of Leica cameras. Frankly, I find it to be a bit disturbing. I really don't consider cameras to be objects d'art....they are tools, nothing more.

I have a Lumix P&S with Leica written on it. When people try to sell me Leica products, I tell them that I have more than enough already.

**Digitalis** · 07-02-2013, 12:17 AM

Originally posted by bossa

I realize that there's "more to it" than resolution but, according to Lenstip, the Sigma 18-35 is 20lpmm sharper than the FA 31 wide open and is as sharp at f/2 as the FA31 is at f/4-5.6

But the astigmatism from the sigma lens is higher, coma is also worse, as well as across the frame sharpness and flare tolerance - Sorry, but the FA31 wins by a considerable margins as far as those optical performance characteristics are taken into account. A lens with fewer lens elements in it will always beat a lens that has more when it comes to managing flare*.

*assuming the optical coatings on the lenses are identical - in which case they probably aren't. Sigma has always lagged behind in this area.

Ishpuini · 07-02-2013, 12:31 AM

Originally posted by wed7

I would like to have this lens too, specially if the promised DA Limited zoom FL~20-40mm (Roadmap 2013) does not comes out as promised this year.

Good point, I had forgotten about that one... Let's hope the new DA Limited lens will come soon enough, and we'll compare then. In the mean time I'm hoping my DA*16-50/2.8 will hold out till then.
OTOH, I doubt the DA limited will have as large an aperture as the Sigma 18-35/1.8, Pentax having oriented the DA limiteds towards small size rather than larger aperture (like the FA limiteds).

Wim

bossa · 07-02-2013, 05:43 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

But the astigmatism from the sigma lens is higher, coma is also worse, as well as across the frame sharpness and flare tolerance - Sorry, but the FA31 wins by a considerable margins as far as those optical performance characteristics are taken into account. A lens with fewer lens elements in it will always beat a lens that has more when it comes to managing flare*.

*assuming the optical coatings on the lenses are identical - in which case they probably aren't. Sigma has always lagged behind in this area.

Didn't Hoya 'help out' Sigma with their lens coatings during their Pentax ownership period?

wed7 · 07-02-2013, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by Ishpuini

Good point, I had forgotten about that one... Let's hope the new DA Limited lens will come soon enough, and we'll compare then. In the mean time I'm hoping my DA*16-50/2.8 will hold out till then.
OTOH, I doubt the DA limited will have as large an aperture as the Sigma 18-35/1.8, Pentax having oriented the DA limiteds towards small size rather than larger aperture (like the FA limiteds).

Wim

Nah, probably Pentax will just make it up to F4, just as like the beloved FA 20-35mm (with SDM) to justify the skyrocket asking price

Or worse, it will stay on that roadmap forever.

Should Pentax release their promised lens, I hope they make it ASAP because the Sigma lens will be definitely a looker and much cheaper too.

Edgar_in_Indy · 07-02-2013, 07:57 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by wed7

Nah, probably Pentax will just make it up to F4, just as like the beloved FA 20-35mm (with SDM) to justify the skyrocket asking price

Or worse, it will stay on that roadmap forever.

The thick cynicism in this post represents a big problem for Pentax. They have lost the confidence of many of their loyal customers that they can be competitive in the lens business. It's this kind of perception that can kill the brand.

I would say that without the support of Sigma, there is very little chance that I would have stayed with Pentax. I hope they do turn things around, but at this point I don't have much confidence in the leadership at Pentax.

dankoBanana · 07-02-2013, 08:09 AM

Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy

The thick cynicism in this post represents a big problem for Pentax. They have lost the confidence of many of their loyal customers that they can be competitive in the lens business. It's this kind of perception that can kill the brand. I would say that without the support of Sigma, there is very little chance that I would have stayed with Pentax. I hope they do turn things around, but at this point I don't have much confidence in the leadership at Pentax.

This is spot on. There is very little faith among the brand loyalists.

scratchpaddy · 07-02-2013, 08:19 AM

TBH, I'm a little tempted by Sigma's own DSLR offering, the SD1 Merrill. I would just have a hard time justifying the switch, considering that I already have one of their compact, fixed-lens cameras, which uses the exact same sensor.

I should add that I'm no brand loyalist. I would switch if I was really disappointed with Pentax, but I'm not. I'm still very happy with the K-5 IIs, and I don't feel limited by the lenses I can use. Far from it.

**Digitalis** · 07-02-2013, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by bossa

Didn't Hoya 'help out' Sigma with their lens coatings during their Pentax ownership period?

If they did, I certainly didn't notice any improvement with my Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 - the DA15mm f/4 Limited puts that bulbous lens to shame when it comes to flare control.

davidsladek · 07-03-2013, 03:40 AM

£649 is a seriously good price for such a lens!

will post samples as soon as I get it

David

troenaas · 07-03-2013, 06:26 AM

fstoppers preproduction review of Sigma 18-35mm.

You will find the review here: Fstoppers Reviews the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens | Fstoppers.

07-01-2013, 09:52 AM	#182
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	I would like to have this lens too, specially if the promised DA Limited zoom FL~20-40mm (Roadmap 2013) does not comes out as promised this year. Last edited by wed7; 07-01-2013 at 10:05 AM.

07-02-2013, 07:57 AM - 1 Like	#190
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	Originally posted by wed7 Nah, probably Pentax will just make it up to F4, just as like the beloved FA 20-35mm (with SDM) to justify the skyrocket asking price Or worse, it will stay on that roadmap forever. The thick cynicism in this post represents a big problem for Pentax. They have lost the confidence of many of their loyal customers that they can be competitive in the lens business. It's this kind of perception that can kill the brand. I would say that without the support of Sigma, there is very little chance that I would have stayed with Pentax. I hope they do turn things around, but at this point I don't have much confidence in the leadership at Pentax. Last edited by Edgar_in_Indy; 07-02-2013 at 08:52 AM.

07-03-2013, 03:40 AM	#194
davidsladek Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 346	preordered mine £649 is a seriously good price for such a lens! will post samples as soon as I get it David

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07-01-2013, 08:58 AM	#181
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	I will own this lens for anime convention photography if the reviews come in as positive for it. So, who is getting it first and posting a good review of it here?

07-01-2013, 02:59 PM - 1 Like	#183
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by Digitalis after scrutinising some image samples taken at f/1.8~f/5.6 range I can say the FA31 can rest easy. I realize that there's "more to it" than resolution but, according to Lenstip, the Sigma 18-35 is 20lpmm sharper than the FA 31 wide open and is as sharp at f/2 as the FA31 is at f/4-5.6. The thing is huge however, as big as the Nikon 24-70, so there's that to think about among other optical characteristics.

07-01-2013, 03:24 PM	#184
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by bossa I realize that there's "more to it" than resolution but, according to Lenstip, the Sigma 18-35 is 20lpmm sharper than the FA 31 wide open and is as sharp at f/2 as the FA31 is at f/4-5.6. The thing is huge however, as big as the Nikon 24-70, so there's that to think about among other optical characteristics. And price...you can get a brand new Sigma cheaper than the 31mm LTD

07-01-2013, 03:25 PM	#185
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by Digitalis I think all things Zeiss and Leica are of more interest to collectors, several of the lens collectors I know have an almost fetishistic view of Leica cameras. Frankly, I find it to be a bit disturbing. I really don't consider cameras to be objects d'art....they are tools, nothing more. I have a Lumix P&S with Leica written on it. When people try to sell me Leica products, I tell them that I have more than enough already.

07-02-2013, 12:17 AM	#186
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by bossa I realize that there's "more to it" than resolution but, according to Lenstip, the Sigma 18-35 is 20lpmm sharper than the FA 31 wide open and is as sharp at f/2 as the FA31 is at f/4-5.6 But the astigmatism from the sigma lens is higher, coma is also worse, as well as across the frame sharpness and flare tolerance - Sorry, but the FA31 wins by a considerable margins as far as those optical performance characteristics are taken into account. A lens with fewer lens elements in it will always beat a lens that has more when it comes to managing flare. assuming the optical coatings on the lenses are identical - in which case they probably aren't. Sigma has always lagged behind in this area.

07-02-2013, 12:31 AM	#187
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	Originally posted by wed7 I would like to have this lens too, specially if the promised DA Limited zoom FL~20-40mm (Roadmap 2013) does not comes out as promised this year. Good point, I had forgotten about that one... Let's hope the new DA Limited lens will come soon enough, and we'll compare then. In the mean time I'm hoping my DA*16-50/2.8 will hold out till then. OTOH, I doubt the DA limited will have as large an aperture as the Sigma 18-35/1.8, Pentax having oriented the DA limiteds towards small size rather than larger aperture (like the FA limiteds). Wim

07-02-2013, 05:43 AM	#188
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	Originally posted by Digitalis But the astigmatism from the sigma lens is higher, coma is also worse, as well as across the frame sharpness and flare tolerance - Sorry, but the FA31 wins by a considerable margins as far as those optical performance characteristics are taken into account. A lens with fewer lens elements in it will always beat a lens that has more when it comes to managing flare. assuming the optical coatings on the lenses are identical - in which case they probably aren't. Sigma has always lagged behind in this area. Didn't Hoya 'help out' Sigma with their lens coatings during their Pentax ownership period?

07-02-2013, 06:59 AM	#189
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	Originally posted by Ishpuini Good point, I had forgotten about that one... Let's hope the new DA Limited lens will come soon enough, and we'll compare then. In the mean time I'm hoping my DA*16-50/2.8 will hold out till then. OTOH, I doubt the DA limited will have as large an aperture as the Sigma 18-35/1.8, Pentax having oriented the DA limiteds towards small size rather than larger aperture (like the FA limiteds). Wim Nah, probably Pentax will just make it up to F4, just as like the beloved FA 20-35mm (with SDM) to justify the skyrocket asking price Or worse, it will stay on that roadmap forever. Should Pentax release their promised lens, I hope they make it ASAP because the Sigma lens will be definitely a looker and much cheaper too.

07-02-2013, 08:09 AM	#191
dankoBanana Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 533	Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy The thick cynicism in this post represents a big problem for Pentax. They have lost the confidence of many of their loyal customers that they can be competitive in the lens business. It's this kind of perception that can kill the brand. I would say that without the support of Sigma, there is very little chance that I would have stayed with Pentax. I hope they do turn things around, but at this point I don't have much confidence in the leadership at Pentax. This is spot on. There is very little faith among the brand loyalists.

07-02-2013, 08:19 AM	#192
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	TBH, I'm a little tempted by Sigma's own DSLR offering, the SD1 Merrill. I would just have a hard time justifying the switch, considering that I already have one of their compact, fixed-lens cameras, which uses the exact same sensor. I should add that I'm no brand loyalist. I would switch if I was really disappointed with Pentax, but I'm not. I'm still very happy with the K-5 IIs, and I don't feel limited by the lenses I can use. Far from it.

07-02-2013, 09:43 AM	#193
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by bossa Didn't Hoya 'help out' Sigma with their lens coatings during their Pentax ownership period? If they did, I certainly didn't notice any improvement with my Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 - the DA15mm f/4 Limited puts that bulbous lens to shame when it comes to flare control.

07-03-2013, 06:26 AM	#195
troenaas Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 668	fstoppers preproduction review of Sigma 18-35mm. You will find the review here: Fstoppers Reviews the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens \| Fstoppers.