P 12-24 or S 10-20

ben_leg · 02-17-2011, 08:12 AM

Hi everyone,

I did some research, and I could get a used Pentax 12-24 f4 for the price of roughly the price of a new sigma 10-20 f3.5

If you were in my position, which one will you go for???

Does the 2mm make a big difference???

Thanks for your help

Uncle_dad · 02-17-2011, 08:34 AM

I went with a new 12-24 because of the ease of using in camera lens correction and DxO.
I must admit I love what DxO does for a picture in 1 click.
This picture is what I love about Pentax, the colors are true to what I am seeing. No need to do a bunch of pp. I love to take pictures and am not much of fiddle'n with them on the computer. This picture is right from my K-7, only downsized for the site. It's from my first trip out with the new 12-24.
I think it shows the ability of the lens/camera to pick up all the shades of blue right on down to the browns and greens. It kept the snow white also.
What more can one ask for except maybe a slot on the camera that spits out 100 dollar bills maybe.

Have a great day
Gary

causey · 02-17-2011, 09:53 AM

The 10mm means A LOT.
After lots of searches and deliberation, I went with the Sigma 10-20mm, for the following reasons:
a) I hear the Pentax's build is a bit better than the build of its brother, Pentax 16-45mm--but I wasn't fond of the latter's build; the Sigma is very sturdy and compact (thick rather than long);
b) above f5.6, and especially above f8, there is no visible corner softness with the Sigma; I don't really need constant f4 for ultra-wide shots in good lighting conditions, and if light is bad, I don't care about a bit of corner softness;
c) price.

To these, I would add the following, which I discovered after buying the Sigma:
d) I personally prefer the Sigma's colors: this is subjective, but they seem more realistic, whereas Pentax colors seem 'happier';
e) I didn't think I would like the 10mm so much--even if I'm not going to use very often (the Sigma, like the DA 12-24mm, is best between 12 and 20mm), I find it very nice to have;
f) overall, the lens turns out to be sharper than expected.

Ikarus · 02-17-2011, 10:02 AM

Any particular reason why you're not considering the Tamron 10-24mm?

causey · 02-17-2011, 10:04 AM

just posted three pics taken with my new Sigma HERE.

**sinus007** · 02-17-2011, 10:58 AM

Hi,
I don't have either. But I remember there was an extensive discussion on the subject about a year or so ago. May be useful for you.
Good luck with whatever lens you select.

Frogfish · 02-17-2011, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by ben_leg

Hi everyone,

I did some research, and I could get a used Pentax 12-24 f4 for the price of roughly the price of a new sigma 10-20 f3.5

If you were in my position, which one will you go for???

Does the 2mm make a big difference???

Thanks for your help

Many people prefer the older (but still available new) Sigma f4.0-5.6, as it's sharper. Not sure if it's cheaper too. I'd go for a new Sigma and their excellent (7 year ?) guarantee.

causey · 02-17-2011, 11:39 AM

Oh! I was talking about Sigma 10-20 f4.0-5.6, which is about $450 (new).

northcoastgreg · 02-17-2011, 12:48 PM

Originally posted by ben_leg

Does the 2mm make a big difference???

This depends on your shooting style. I choose the DA 12-24, in part, because I knew I would use the 20-24 range far more than the 10-12. To be sure, that's not the only issue at stake. The DA 12-24 almost certainly has better coatings, which helps with lens flare, contrast, and color rendition. I suspect the 12-24 would be the better choice for general landscape shooting.

Frogfish · 02-17-2011, 02:14 PM - **1 Like**

Take a look at this thread to see what the Sigma 10-20 is capable of :

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/84539-sigma-10-20mm-club.html

simonkit · 02-17-2011, 04:18 PM

Definitely the 12-24 for me - I previously owned the Sigma 10-20 but really didn't like the distortion at 10mm, didn't think the colour rendition was particularly good either so sold it.
Personally I think the 12-24 is in a different league, pin sharp, great colour/contrast, very little distortion and personally I find the range that little more useful

Simon

**Ex Finn.** · 02-17-2011, 04:24 PM

I have only used the DA12-24, color and contrast are very good, I believe it has some dust on it,( pixie-dust, that is).
The lens has good, solid feel to it. I find it to be a joy to shoot with.

twitch · 02-17-2011, 05:12 PM

Well I've never used the Sigma, but I just got the 12-24 and boy is it a good lens, and I'm fussy. It's giving me image quality the equal of my DA15 & DA21 (not quite the flare resistance though) which shouldn't be allowed for a DA zoom. I think though the DA 12-24 has optics the quality of the DA* zooms, but just lacks the weather sealing & SDM (not a bad thing).

Pentaxor · 02-17-2011, 07:22 PM

Originally posted by ben_leg

Hi everyone,

I did some research, and I could get a used Pentax 12-24 f4 for the price of roughly the price of a new sigma 10-20 f3.5

If you were in my position, which one will you go for???

Does the 2mm make a big difference???

Thanks for your help

then what are you waiting for?

Pentaxor · 02-17-2011, 07:32 PM

Originally posted by causey

b) above f5.6, and especially above f8, there is no visible corner softness with the Sigma.

unless when you compare it with the image taken by the DA12-24. as much as I want to believe this, which I had before I made some more comparisons, there is still some visible corner sharpness, most especially at 10mm. at 12mm, the results that I had seen are much better, although softness can still be detected. if small full image is taken, such softness may or can be very difficult to notice. full crops or anything larger would show the softness much more obviously.

the good thing about the sigma 10-20 however is that it is significantly cheaper (unless if you find a steal price for a used 12-24) and pretty good CA/PF control.

02-17-2011, 08:12 AM	#1
ben_leg Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 32	P 12-24 or S 10-20 Hi everyone, I did some research, and I could get a used Pentax 12-24 f4 for the price of roughly the price of a new sigma 10-20 f3.5 If you were in my position, which one will you go for??? Does the 2mm make a big difference??? Thanks for your help

02-17-2011, 09:53 AM	#3
causey Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,757	The 10mm means A LOT. After lots of searches and deliberation, I went with the Sigma 10-20mm, for the following reasons: a) I hear the Pentax's build is a bit better than the build of its brother, Pentax 16-45mm--but I wasn't fond of the latter's build; the Sigma is very sturdy and compact (thick rather than long); b) above f5.6, and especially above f8, there is no visible corner softness with the Sigma; I don't really need constant f4 for ultra-wide shots in good lighting conditions, and if light is bad, I don't care about a bit of corner softness; c) price. To these, I would add the following, which I discovered after buying the Sigma: d) I personally prefer the Sigma's colors: this is subjective, but they seem more realistic, whereas Pentax colors seem 'happier'; e) I didn't think I would like the 10mm so much--even if I'm not going to use very often (the Sigma, like the DA 12-24mm, is best between 12 and 20mm), I find it very nice to have; f) overall, the lens turns out to be sharper than expected.

02-17-2011, 10:02 AM	#4
Ikarus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 484	Any particular reason why you're not considering the Tamron 10-24mm?

02-17-2011, 10:04 AM	#5
causey Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,757	just posted three pics taken with my new Sigma HERE.

02-17-2011, 10:58 AM	#6
sinus007 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 292	Hi, I don't have either. But I remember there was an extensive discussion on the subject about a year or so ago. May be useful for you. Good luck with whatever lens you select.

02-17-2011, 11:37 AM	#7
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by ben_leg Hi everyone, I did some research, and I could get a used Pentax 12-24 f4 for the price of roughly the price of a new sigma 10-20 f3.5 If you were in my position, which one will you go for??? Does the 2mm make a big difference??? Thanks for your help Many people prefer the older (but still available new) Sigma f4.0-5.6, as it's sharper. Not sure if it's cheaper too. I'd go for a new Sigma and their excellent (7 year ?) guarantee.

02-17-2011, 11:39 AM	#8
causey Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,757	Oh! I was talking about Sigma 10-20 f4.0-5.6, which is about $450 (new).

02-17-2011, 12:48 PM	#9
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	Originally posted by ben_leg Does the 2mm make a big difference??? This depends on your shooting style. I choose the DA 12-24, in part, because I knew I would use the 20-24 range far more than the 10-12. To be sure, that's not the only issue at stake. The DA 12-24 almost certainly has better coatings, which helps with lens flare, contrast, and color rendition. I suspect the 12-24 would be the better choice for general landscape shooting.

02-17-2011, 02:14 PM - 1 Like	#10
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Take a look at this thread to see what the Sigma 10-20 is capable of : https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/84539-sigma-10-20mm-club.html

02-17-2011, 04:18 PM	#11
simonkit Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 645	Definitely the 12-24 for me - I previously owned the Sigma 10-20 but really didn't like the distortion at 10mm, didn't think the colour rendition was particularly good either so sold it. Personally I think the 12-24 is in a different league, pin sharp, great colour/contrast, very little distortion and personally I find the range that little more useful Simon

02-17-2011, 04:24 PM	#12
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	I have only used the DA12-24, color and contrast are very good, I believe it has some dust on it,( pixie-dust, that is). The lens has good, solid feel to it. I find it to be a joy to shoot with.

02-17-2011, 05:12 PM	#13
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Well I've never used the Sigma, but I just got the 12-24 and boy is it a good lens, and I'm fussy. It's giving me image quality the equal of my DA15 & DA21 (not quite the flare resistance though) which shouldn't be allowed for a DA zoom. I think though the DA 12-24 has optics the quality of the DA* zooms, but just lacks the weather sealing & SDM (not a bad thing).

02-17-2011, 07:22 PM	#14
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by ben_leg Hi everyone, I did some research, and *I could get a used Pentax 12-24 f4 for the price of roughly the price of a new sigma 10-20 f3.5* If you were in my position, which one will you go for??? Does the 2mm make a big difference??? Thanks for your help then what are you waiting for?

02-17-2011, 07:32 PM	#15
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by causey b) above f5.6, and especially above f8, there is no visible corner softness with the Sigma. unless when you compare it with the image taken by the DA12-24. as much as I want to believe this, which I had before I made some more comparisons, there is still some visible corner sharpness, most especially at 10mm. at 12mm, the results that I had seen are much better, although softness can still be detected. if small full image is taken, such softness may or can be very difficult to notice. full crops or anything larger would show the softness much more obviously. the good thing about the sigma 10-20 however is that it is significantly cheaper (unless if you find a steal price for a used 12-24) and pretty good CA/PF control.