Pentax SMC DA 10 17mm F 3 5 4 5 ED IF Fisheye Review | 54 Data compared

The Imaging Resource review describes the Pentax 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED IF smc P-DA Fish-Eye as a compact, versatile zoom for APS-C sensors, offering a 180-degree diagonal field of view at 10mm. Key pros include a robust build, quick autofocus with the Quick-Shift Focus System, a 14cm minimum focusing distance, and a protective SP coating. Conversely, the review notes significant corner softness at wide apertures, notable chromatic aberration, and a noisy screw-drive autofocus system. Furthermore, the lens's bulbous front element prevents the use of standard filters, and heavy distortion makes it unsuitable for architectural work.

The PentaxUser review concludes that the SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED is a highly affordable, compact (320g), and robust fisheye lens that offers good central sharpness and a dramatic 180-degree field of view for Pentax DSLR users. It serves as a fun, creative tool that transitions from a dedicated fisheye at 10mm to a, versatile ultra-wide perspective at 17mm. However, the lens suffers from poor edge and corner performance at maximum aperture, requiring stopping down for better clarity, alongside noticeable chromatic aberrations and barrel distortion. Physical limitations include a prominent, non-filter-compatible front element and noisy autofocus, as it lacks an internal motor and relies on the camera body's screw-drive mechanism.

The Pentax SMC P-DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED (IF) is a compact, lightweight fisheye zoom designed for APS-C, offering a 180-degree diagonal view and great flare resistance. It is noted for good center sharpness, close 14cm focusing, and high value for creative, wide-angle photography. ePHOTOzine However, the review points out that edge sharpness is poor, especially at 10mm, and chromatic aberration is high. Additional drawbacks include a lack of filter threads and noisy, body-driven autofocus.

The Pentax SMC DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED[IF] Fisheye is a dedicated APS-C zoom lens offering an uncorrected diagonal field-of-view from 180 degrees at 10mm down to 100 degrees at 17mm. Designed with a strong blend of tight-tolerance metal and high-quality plastics, the lens features smooth, slightly damped zoom and focus rings. Performance-wise, its screw-driven autofocus mechanism—powered by the camera body rather than an internal motor—delivers exceptionally fast and accurate focusing on bodies like the K10D, despite creating a moderate amount of noise. Additionally, it includes a practical "Quick-Shift Focus System" that allows immediate manual overrides once autofocus is achieved, alongside an SP (Super Protective) fluoride coating on the front element to repel water and fingerprints. The evaluation outlines distinct pros and cons regarding its design and specialized application. On the positive side, the lens delivers a very decent build quality free of wobbling, rapid and highly precise autofocus speeds, and a minimum focusing distance of just 0.14 meters. The review also notes that users can use post-processing software like PTLens to transform the extreme fisheye perspective into a distortion-corrected, ultra-wide...

The Photodo review of the Pentax SMC P-DA Fish-Eye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED lens highlights its unique design, close-focusing capabilities (down to 14cm), and excellent flare control. The lens shares an optical design with the Tokina 10-17mm but features a distinct, sturdy external build, delivering strong contrast even with light sources in the frame. Conversely, the lens introduces significant, intentional barrel distortion, creating a curved 180-degree field of view unsuitable for general photography. Furthermore, it utilizes a noisier, screw-driven autofocus system rather than a silent motor, making it louder than alternatives like the Sigma 10mm prime.

The SMC Pentax-DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye lens is described as a versatile, compact APS-C lens offering a 180-degree field of view at 10mm, noted for good build quality, sharp color, and excellent close-focus capabilities. Key advantages include its unique zoom range, quick autofocus with manual override, and impressive resistance to flare. Users report significant chromatic aberration and heavy purple fringing, particularly at 10mm and at the edges, along with soft corners when shooting wide open. Additionally, the lens lacks front filter threads and produces notable vignetting on full-frame cameras, with a noisy autofocus motor.