Pentax 10-17 Fisheye or Sigma 10-20 Wide Angle?

[spiraleyes]

All right, I'm looking for a nice wide lens for landscapes and small spaces, etc. The Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5 Fisheye would be a fun lens to have, especially for tight spaces and fun pictures. I think that the FE effect would get tiresome soon, and the lens would be more specialized than I need in a lens right now. Additionally, I get nervous that the lens glass is completely exposed and can't be protected by a filter.

Sigma also makes a lens that would work for me in this situation. The 10-20mm f/4 wide angle will also shoot tight spaces and would be excellent on landscapes and nature shots. It doesn't feature the line-bending that the Fisheye does, but I think this lens would ultimately be more practical.

Anyone have experience with or opinions about these lenses?

Thanks!

[hollis]

I have the Pentax,
the distortion is only bad if you use 10mm
17mm is plenty wide & not so distorted.
I'll try to get some examples up for you.
The lens cap is a thick metal cap.
I keep the cap on to protect the exposed glass.
Earlier this year it was $399 + I got a $100 rebate

self portrait, I think this was on 10mm

still on 10mm (I beleive)

not sure of the settings


Rain or Shine, I'm going out Friday & doing an industrial landscape,
I'll be sure to post the results
(I'll throw in some test shots at 10 & 17 to compare)

[mjs1973]

I don't have either of these lenses, but I do have a fisheye (16mm) and a super wide angle 12-24mm. I can tell you that the fisheye is fun, once in a while, but like you said, it can get real old, real fast. The true wide angle lens is a much more usefull tool IMO. I know if I'm going out to shoot landscapes, the WA lens is getting packed for sure, the fisheye, well, maybe, if I have room for it, but I dought it will even come out of the bag.

[spiraleyes]

Thanks for the quick responses! They help me put this into better perspective, for both lenses.

Holllis - Great shots! Shots like that make me want to get the FE ....Hmm
I'm interested to see the pictures that you take with the FE this weekend! Thanks

MJS - I think you are right about this, a WA will be a more useful tool.

I think I'll wait until I have a big enough lens selection to add the FE (or until it has another rebate )

[spiraleyes]

So, I decided to go with the Sigma. This baby is wide!

Just a quick shot to test it out:



The weather here is looking to be really good in the coming days. I plan to take the lens out to see what I can find.

[hollis]

You mean I went out on a nice & sunny 74°F for nothing?
I'll toss up a few pics up anyway
mostly unedited, just down sized a bit
10mm

17mm

10mm

17mm

[spiraleyes]

Those are some fun pictures. I love the color of that old building! Thanks for posting these!

[ken1953]

I want that Dodge...great captures...

[spiraleyes]

I thought I'd follow up by posting some pictures with the new Sigma 10-20mm. These are some of the first pictures that I've taken with the lens. So far, I love it!

I posted these in the critique section as well.

[pcnw]

I agree that Sigma is more practical. I have both and I was very happy when I bought the Pentax 10-17 but soon I realise that it was only for fun. Its not lens for having with you on a trip.

[Grandpaw]

I have the Sigma10-20mm and really like it. I have taken several landscapes with it and it works very well. I have printed and sold many 20x30 inch shots with this lens, Jeff