Wide-angle weather-reistant lenses for Pentax?

Are there any wide-angle weather-resistant lenses for Pentax mounts, preferably DA since those are usually much less expensive than FA? I see that there's a Pentax 12-24 and a Sigma 10-20, both of which would probably work for me except that I want a lens that's weather-sealed so that I can take it out into rain and snow.

I have used my K-3 with the Pentax 16-85 lens in heavy rain. The photo quality was mediocre in the poor light, but the camera and 16-85 lens had no problems with the rain. I'd like a lens with similar weather resistance in something like a 12-24 or 10-20 range.

There are not many weather-resistant lenses with focal length shorter than 16mm.

There is the DFA 15-30, of course, but I won't recommend it for a K-3.

There are also the Irix 15mm f/2.4 and Irix 11mm f/4. They are for full frame too. The 11mm may fulfill your needs, but it is not available yet.

And I think that's all.

OpTech sell rain covers. Take a look at them. Covers lens and body in one go. Would be worth considering I suggest even with WR lenses, but gives you the choice of the 12-24 et al

Sir Autofocus wrote:

Are there any wide-angle weather-resistant lenses for Pentax mounts, preferably DA since those are usually much less expensive than FA? I see that there's a Pentax 12-24 and a Sigma 10-20, both of which would probably work for me except that I want a lens that's weather-sealed so that I can take it out into rain and snow.

I have used my K-3 with the Pentax 16-85 lens in heavy rain. The photo quality was mediocre in the poor light, but the camera and 16-85 lens had no problems with the rain. I'd like a lens with similar weather resistance in something like a 12-24 or 10-20 range.

Only the 16-85 and DA* 16-50, that i'm aware of. And the 20-40 may have better IQ but is not as wide.

Unfortunately...

Of course there is also the 15-30/2.8 for FF.

I believe the metal IRIX 15mm is weather sealed (and FF)

So I'd second the rain-coat solution....

I can confirm that the Sigma 10-20mm 3.5 works well on the K3 but don't know how it is in the rain as I'm not WR.

Bob

MightyMike wrote:

Sir Autofocus wrote:

I probably won't try to shoot in heavy rain again, but I would like something that I can bring outdoors in mild rain or snow. Any suggestions?

over 10 years with Pentax and I've never owned a WR or (*) lens except for resale, I have no problems shooting in the snow, mild rain/mist is fine to a point... at that point due to water on the lens contacts the lens/camera doesn't exactly function correctly all the time, a quick wiping of the contacts usually gets it back to normal, prolonged exposure may require a longer drying out period. I've never got any amount of water in a lens and aside from the mount surface I've never had any water end up in the camera either. I prefer not to shoot in excessive rain and take care to minimize the water that hits the gear whenever possible.

I like WR as some kind of additional proof, but I don't trust it as real weather-resistant feature.

If I want real weather-resistant for rain and snow, I use this:

...and silica-gel bags after wet/cold shooting session.

So - get Sigma 10-20 (if you like it) without any WR worries and maybe This my few dollars solution is very workable...for you too.

Ari

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Sir Autofocus wrote:

Are there any wide-angle weather-resistant lenses for Pentax mounts, preferably DA since those are usually much less expensive than FA? I see that there's a Pentax 12-24 and a Sigma 10-20, both of which would probably work for me except that I want a lens that's weather-sealed so that I can take it out into rain and snow.

I have used my K-3 with the Pentax 16-85 lens in heavy rain. The photo quality was mediocre in the poor light, but the camera and 16-85 lens had no problems with the rain. I'd like a lens with similar weather resistance in something like a 12-24 or 10-20 range.

You're using a K3 so the only WR options are *16-50 & 16-85 + the 15-30 is WR and can be used on a K3 for 23mm equivalent FOV but, as I'm sure you already know, it's big & pricey.

In FF land the 24-70 also counts as a WR wide, FWIW.

They have a DFA* wide angle on the lens road map.  It will likely only be wide angle FOV when used on a FF camera (around 35mm?).  It will be AW though, as star lenses have been lately.

Rahto wrote:

I can confirm that the Sigma 10-20mm 3.5 works well on the K3 but don't know how it is in the rain as I'm not WR.

Bob

My son has the Sigma 10-20. It is not a rugged built, rather light plastic, and not WR at all.

By the way, my son and I, we both dont praise it much, and dont use it much neither.

I don't know which one you have but the quality of my 10 -20 F3.5 HSM is fine by me for both outdoor and interior shots.

Rahto wrote:

I don't know which one you have but the quality of my 10 -20 F3.5 HSM is fine by me for both outdoor and interior shots.

The compositions are nice.

But only the grass in front is in focus in the first two images, the trees and leaves which are the main subject are soft.

In the third image, only part of the bridge is in focus, the trees at the far end of the bridge, which are where the composition leads the eye, are soft.

Yet, all three pictures have been shot at 10mm f8: everything should be in focus and the contrast and clarity should be better.

IMO, this means the lens is soft at infinity, with under average contrast and clarity. Something very common in ultra wide angle lenses.

Which is exactly what I meant when I said it did not impress us.

MightyMike wrote:

Sir Autofocus wrote:

I probably won't try to shoot in heavy rain again, but I would like something that I can bring outdoors in mild rain or snow. Any suggestions?

over 10 years with Pentax and I've never owned a WR or (*) lens except for resale, I have no problems shooting in the snow, mild rain/mist is fine to a point... at that point due to water on the lens contacts the lens/camera doesn't exactly function correctly all the time, a quick wiping of the contacts usually gets it back to normal, prolonged exposure may require a longer drying out period. I've never got any amount of water in a lens and aside from the mount surface I've never had any water end up in the camera either. I prefer not to shoot in excessive rain and take care to minimize the water that hits the gear whenever possible.

Not to mention that a good wide rubber band or even sandwich baggie bunched up to seal off the mount area pretty well takes care of the problem at the mount. I do have the kit WR lens for the very occasional situation when I absolutely need to get a shot in the rain. Yeah, optically somewhat marginal, but these situations rarely yield an award-winning image. Not that this is good, but somewhat typical:

At left, circumspect Ira Block apparently wondering why would I bother.

Sir Autofocus wrote:

Are there any wide-angle weather-resistant lenses for Pentax mounts, preferably DA since those are usually much less expensive than FA? I see that there's a Pentax 12-24 and a Sigma 10-20, both of which would probably work for me except that I want a lens that's weather-sealed so that I can take it out into rain and snow.

I have used my K-3 with the Pentax 16-85 lens in heavy rain. The photo quality was mediocre in the poor light, but the camera and 16-85 lens had no problems with the rain. I'd like a lens with similar weather resistance in something like a 12-24 or 10-20 range.

There are two more wide angle solutions not mentioned above:

• Pentax 16-45/4
• Sigma 8-16/4.5-5.6

They both good on APS-C. However, they are not WR and need rain sleeve or rain other protection.