Comparison of 8 ultrawide lenses

DanielT74 · 06-01-2011, 07:17 PM - **1 Like**

The lenses are :

1. Pentax K 15/3.5 early version (AL) shot at f3.5, 4 and 5.6
2. Pentax K 15/3.5 late version shot at f3.5, 4 ND 5.6
3. Pentax DA 12-24 shot at f4 and f5.6
4. Leica Elmarit-R 19mm, shot at f3.5, 4 and 5.6
5. Samyang 14/2.8, shot at f3.5, f4 and f5.6
6. Pentax DA*16-50mm, shot at 16mm, f3.5, 4 and 5.6
7. Sigma 12-24mm (FF), shot at f4.5 and 5.6
8. Sigma 10-20mm, shot at f4.5 and 5.6

DanielT74 · 06-01-2011, 07:20 PM

This is not a precise test and it is prone to error so don't take it as definitive in any way. I've also only looked at close focus and it will be more interesting to see how they compare at infinity focus, shooting a scenery.

The picasa link is here: https://picasaweb.google.com/103430830473331312618/UltrawideComparison?authk...eat=directlink where you can see the lens and the f-stop in each file name.

Here are some examples:

15/3.5AL at f4 with 100% crops:

DA12-24mm at f4 with the crops:

Leica 19/2.8 at f4:

Samyang at f4:

DA*16-50 at f4 (16mm):

Sigma 12-24mm at f4.5:

Sigma 10-20mm at f4.5:

joe.penn · 06-01-2011, 07:35 PM

Are they in order of the ones you think are the best or produce the best results? Or, have you yet to compare them?

1. 2
2. 6
3. 5
4. 8

Lets see how close I am

---

yusuf · 06-01-2011, 07:59 PM

Picasa shows 87 photos with same title. You may want to give each photo a title (lens and fstop) for a quick comparison.

DanielT74 · 06-01-2011, 08:08 PM

yusuf, if you look towards the end of each title, there is both the name and the f-stop except the centre crops- I haven't renamed them yet.

joe, I will need to look at them a bit more before i open my mouth.

Can someone figure out why that one image is not working (the DA*16-50)? Mods?

**Ash** · 06-01-2011, 08:17 PM

Hmm, not sure why your 16-50 shot isn't linking well...

Let me try:
[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zoBvEZOBSD8/Tebo7UgVArI/AAAAAAAAFPg/d8186U8Sq1o/s400/020611K20_9406-DA*16-50-4.jpg[/IMG]

**Ash** · 06-01-2011, 08:18 PM

Funny, it works on a browser but not in the post...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zoBvEZOBSD8/Tebo7UgVArI/AAAAAAAAFPg/d8186...DA*16-50-4.jpg

DanielT74 · 06-01-2011, 08:50 PM

I figured it out - it didn't like the * in DA* in the file name!

DanielT74 · 06-01-2011, 11:34 PM

Well on the first look, except for the DA*16-50 they are all quite sharp and nice in the centre with the prize in my view going to the oldies (leica and 15/3.5) with the DA12-24 missing out due to the the blue fringing on the metal basket.

Corner sharpness is another story and the oldies don't do particularly well in that department. The Samyang and the DA12-24 shine with Sigma 10-20 and the old K15/3.5 sharing the second place with K15/3.5 besting the sigma in lateral CAs (check out that piece of paper turn blue in the Sigma pic). Leica was very blurry and I will have to retest. Samyang shows particular colour accuracy in the corners. Correct position with focusing (parallel to the foreground plane is important and I am not certain I had it 100% parallel so this might need a retest).

Overall the zooms really suffer in CAs in particular the DA12-24mm (eg see the wine bottle). In terms of sharpness the DA12-24 is excellent. Distortion is another issue and it looks like the new generation don't do particularly well there either although this test is not the best for seeing distortions. It would be good to take a shot of a party and a longer focus architectural shot which is hopefully in the works.

joe.penn · 06-01-2011, 11:49 PM

Originally posted by DanielT74

going to the oldies (leica and 15/3.5)

The leica seems soft on the edge (not just soft, really soft with slight ca) of the second picture, the samyang pics actually look sharper than the leica.

Also, I only see 2 pics from the leica...

Edit: FYI, I am using an LED monitor, not LCD, images are much more crisp and clear on here...

-

axl · 06-02-2011, 01:53 AM

wow, is the DA* really that bad or is it misfocussed?
I'm pleased to see the 15mm doing well here, as I've been contemplating it for a while....

DanielT74 · 06-02-2011, 03:22 AM

I used AF with all AF lenses in Select mode with the red indicator on the grape in the middle. It is possible that the DA*16-50 front-focused. I will try to retest it and the Leica.

**Clinton** · 06-02-2011, 06:34 AM

Something must be amiss with the DA*. You might try focusing in live view, as it's more accurate for this kind of thing, if a lot slower.

Perhaps your DA* needs an AF adjustment. <shrug>

jstevewhite · 06-02-2011, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by joe.penn

Edit: FYI, I am using an LED monitor, not LCD, images are much more crisp and clear on here...
-

Really!? Who makes it? I didn't think there were any LED monitors out yet!

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-02-2011, 08:32 AM

interesting comparison

the samyang actually does pretty well in the overall.

I have it, plus the sigma 10-20F4-5.6.

too bad there are no DA14's or 15's in this.

the next part of the comparison is distortion, where I suspect the K15 will perform much better than the samyang.

06-01-2011, 07:17 PM - 1 Like	#1
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377	Comparison of 8 ultrawide lenses The lenses are : 1. Pentax K 15/3.5 early version (AL) shot at f3.5, 4 and 5.6 2. Pentax K 15/3.5 late version shot at f3.5, 4 ND 5.6 3. Pentax DA 12-24 shot at f4 and f5.6 4. Leica Elmarit-R 19mm, shot at f3.5, 4 and 5.6 5. Samyang 14/2.8, shot at f3.5, f4 and f5.6 6. Pentax DA*16-50mm, shot at 16mm, f3.5, 4 and 5.6 7. Sigma 12-24mm (FF), shot at f4.5 and 5.6 8. Sigma 10-20mm, shot at f4.5 and 5.6

06-01-2011, 07:20 PM	#2
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	This is not a precise test and it is prone to error so don't take it as definitive in any way. I've also only looked at close focus and it will be more interesting to see how they compare at infinity focus, shooting a scenery. The picasa link is here: https://picasaweb.google.com/103430830473331312618/UltrawideComparison?authk...eat=directlink where you can see the lens and the f-stop in each file name. Here are some examples: 15/3.5AL at f4 with 100% crops: DA12-24mm at f4 with the crops: Leica 19/2.8 at f4: Samyang at f4: DA16-50 at f4 (16mm): Sigma 12-24mm at f4.5: Sigma 10-20mm at f4.5: Last edited by DanielT74; 06-01-2011 at 08:50 PM.*

06-01-2011, 11:34 PM	#9
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	Well on the first look, except for the DA16-50 they are all quite sharp and nice in the centre with the prize in my view going to the oldies (leica and 15/3.5) with the DA12-24 missing out due to the the blue fringing on the metal basket. Corner sharpness is another story and the oldies don't do particularly well in that department. The Samyang and the DA12-24 shine with Sigma 10-20 and the old K15/3.5 sharing the second place with K15/3.5 besting the sigma in lateral CAs (check out that piece of paper turn blue in the Sigma pic). Leica was very blurry and I will have to retest. Samyang shows particular colour accuracy in the corners. Correct position with focusing (parallel to the foreground plane is important and I am not certain I had it 100% parallel so this might need a retest). Overall the zooms really suffer in CAs in particular the DA12-24mm (eg see the wine bottle). In terms of sharpness the DA12-24 is excellent. Distortion is another issue and it looks like the new generation don't do particularly well there either although this test is not the best for seeing distortions. It would be good to take a shot of a party and a longer focus architectural shot which is hopefully in the works. Last edited by DanielT74; 06-01-2011 at 11:46 PM.*

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06-01-2011, 07:35 PM	#3
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Are they in order of the ones you think are the best or produce the best results? Or, have you yet to compare them? 1. 2 2. 6 3. 5 4. 8 Lets see how close I am ---

06-01-2011, 07:59 PM	#4
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Picasa shows 87 photos with same title. You may want to give each photo a title (lens and fstop) for a quick comparison.

06-01-2011, 08:08 PM	#5
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	yusuf, if you look towards the end of each title, there is both the name and the f-stop except the centre crops- I haven't renamed them yet. joe, I will need to look at them a bit more before i open my mouth. Can someone figure out why that one image is not working (the DA*16-50)? Mods?

06-01-2011, 08:17 PM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Hmm, not sure why your 16-50 shot isn't linking well... Let me try: [IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zoBvEZOBSD8/Tebo7UgVArI/AAAAAAAAFPg/d8186U8Sq1o/s400/020611K20_9406-DA*16-50-4.jpg[/IMG]

06-01-2011, 08:18 PM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Funny, it works on a browser but not in the post... https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zoBvEZOBSD8/Tebo7UgVArI/AAAAAAAAFPg/d8186...DA*16-50-4.jpg

06-01-2011, 08:50 PM	#8
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	I figured it out - it didn't like the * in DA* in the file name!

06-01-2011, 11:49 PM	#10
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by DanielT74 going to the oldies (leica and 15/3.5) The leica seems soft on the edge (not just soft, really soft with slight ca) of the second picture, the samyang pics actually look sharper than the leica. Also, I only see 2 pics from the leica... Edit: FYI, I am using an LED monitor, not LCD, images are much more crisp and clear on here... -

06-02-2011, 01:53 AM	#11
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	wow, is the DA* really that bad or is it misfocussed? I'm pleased to see the 15mm doing well here, as I've been contemplating it for a while....

06-02-2011, 03:22 AM	#12
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	I used AF with all AF lenses in Select mode with the red indicator on the grape in the middle. It is possible that the DA*16-50 front-focused. I will try to retest it and the Leica.

06-02-2011, 06:34 AM	#13
Clinton Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,910	Something must be amiss with the DA. You might try focusing in live view, as it's more accurate for this kind of thing, if a lot slower. Perhaps your DA needs an AF adjustment. <shrug>

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06-02-2011, 07:25 AM	#14
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by joe.penn Edit: FYI, I am using an LED monitor, not LCD, images are much more crisp and clear on here... - Really!? Who makes it? I didn't think there were any LED monitors out yet!

06-02-2011, 08:32 AM	#15
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	interesting comparison the samyang actually does pretty well in the overall. I have it, plus the sigma 10-20F4-5.6. too bad there are no DA14's or 15's in this. the next part of the comparison is distortion, where I suspect the K15 will perform much better than the samyang.