Lens Summary
Brand: Pentax
Also Known As: Pentax 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 Fisheye
Lens Type: Zoom Lens
Format: APS-C / DX
Focus: Autofocus
Lens Mount: Pentax K
Release Date: 2005-12-01
MSRP Price: $494.95
Made in: Japan
Infrared Rating: Good
Production Status: In Production
Lens Description: This lightweight, rugged Fish-eye zoom lens with 180 degree maximum angle of view is perfect for the widest panoramic scenes, as well as for the artistic lines and curves that only a Fish-eye can deliver.
Pentax smc DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED Fisheye Specifications
| Lens Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Zoom Lens |
| Focal Length | 10-17mm |
| Mount Type | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C / DX |
| Compatible Format(s) | Pentax Digital (APS-C) |
| Compatible with Teleconverters | No |
| Zoom Ratio | 1.7x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:2.56 |
| Shake Reduction (Image Stabilization) | No |
| Aperture Information | |
| Aperture Ring | No |
| Maximim Aperture | f/3.5-4.5 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22-32 |
| Maximum Angle of View (APS-C or smaller format) | 180°-100° |
| Optical Information | |
| Lens Elements | 10 |
| Lens Groups | 8 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 |
| Focus Information | |
| Focus | Autofocus |
| Built-in Focus Motor | Yes |
| Internal Focusing | Yes |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.14m |
| Filter Information | |
| Filter Size | 01/01/1900 |
| Accepts Filter Type | 01/01/1900 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weather / Dust Sealing | No |
| Mount Material | Metal |
| Dimensions | 6.86 x 7.11cm |
| Weight | 320g |
| Other Information | |
| Available in Colors | Black |
I bought this lens along with the Pentax K10D as my first digital SLR. My primary reason was, and is, that it is well suited to photograph rainbows, even double rainbows, and haloes and other really wide atmospheric optics effects.
Round objects are rendered round (unlike a regular wide-angle lens). With a bit of practise you can use it for car interiors and other cramped places and occasionally for other purposes. Radial lines are rendered straight while tangential ones get bent a lot near the picture borders.
In photoshop CS6 and newer there is a handy conversion that can de-fish images (or moderate the fisheye effect).
I find sharpness OK for most purposes. Chromatic aberration is oftentimes present but can be more or less removed in Photoshop.
I have used this lens quite a lot for the past 10 years and not found any quality issues.