[Aristophanes]

because the Tokina 10-16 is a rectilinear lens and the Pentax 10-17 is a fish-eye. not to mention that the Tokina's IQ is really superb.

With the price of the 12-24 being over the top there is a lack of good K-mount competition for linear WA lenses. That's why Tokina 11-16 is so often mentioned because it is a very good performer and sharper that its 12-24 brethren, has a decent price, and is appropriately sized. It handily bests the Sigma 10-20 and Tamron 10-24 in IQ tests.

And did I mention its aperture?!?

For a 3-lens set-up someone might get the 11-16, a 17-70, and a 70-XX zoom. Or 11-16, 16-50, and 55-300. Throw in a couple of primes and you have a terrific kit.

This is the kind of lens that makes people move to other brands. It's nice to have a fisheye, and 14, and 15mm primes, but Pentax really needs something like the 11-16 (and a fully functional TC) to fill out the offerings.

Send a message up, Ned.

[Pentaxie]

IMO, with the price of the 12-24mm being overboard and there is a lack of good K-mount competition for linear WA lenses, people will mention about the Tokina.
That is the reason Tokina 11-16mm is popular not only because it is a good lens but sharper. (also a wee wider and faster at f2.8)
Its pricing is fairly decent.
If compared with the Tammy 10-24mm & Siggy 10-20mm, it won on the IQ tests hands down.

[jct us101]

Do you realize how expensive this thing would be? I think the coolest thing that Pentax could do is put this range into a kit type lens, so that we don't have to pay almost a thousand dollars or so for it.

[thibs]

IMO the 11-16/2.8 would be cool but obviously expensive.
A 10-20 or something alike in a /3.5-5.6 or something would allow cheap guys (or using UWA rarely) to LBA on that one. I probably would.

[davidvcd]

Do you realize how expensive this thing would be? I think the coolest thing that Pentax could do is put this range into a kit type lens, so that we don't have to pay almost a thousand dollars or so for it.

the tokina 11-16mm f2.8 sells for roughly $600 on other brands. The only way they can justify that price with people still willing to buy it is to make it a DA* with WR .

Even then I see it replacing the 12-24mm ( $900 list price, $700 street) once it's getting out of stock (do they still continue making them) for the same list price - ( pay around $600 + 100-150 extra for WR, considering street price).

what about getting a tokina 11-16mm and a pentax 11-16mm WR like they did with the tamron 18-250mm ? How likely is that ?

[thibs]

Very unlikely since they didn't already IMO.