Thanks to the application of HD Coating, the HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5ED not only delivers clearer, sharper images than its predecessor, but also assures higher imaging performance against backlight.

A’: Higher contrast due to reduced flare

B’: Reduced ghost images
C’: Higher contrast due to reduced flare

The exterior features a wrinkle-finished surface, with meticulous attention paid to every detail. This totally redesigned body makes it a perfect match with the latest camera bodies and other lenses.

With previous models, the lens hood was integrated into the lens barrel. With the HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5ED, however, it is designed to be removable to provide greater options in photographic expression.

This lens provides fish-eye photography with a nearly circular image circle, when mounted on one of 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera bodies in the PENTAX K-1 series.
(This image was captured in the FF setting of the Crop mode, without the lens hood. Since this image contains objects outside the image circle, it may suffer reduced imaging performance and/or vignetting in peripheral areas.)

Mount the lens on a PENTAX K-1-series 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera without the lens hood, switch the camera’s Crop mode to the FF setting, and set the lens to its widest end. This allows you to capture eye-catching images close to those taken by a circular fish-eye lens. This means you can create interesting images with a diagonal fish-eye effect at focal lengths shorter than 15mm.

The image circle and angle of view differ between a 35mm full frame camera and an APS-C format camera. A comparison at various focal length is below.

“I went out in the field after picking up the HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5ED, which featured a totally new design and HD Coating. Thanks to the application of HD Coating, I can expect more stable results, because ordinary fish-eye lenses tend to capture the light source in the image field. This is a pleasant improvement for me, because I often take photos against backlight.

“The most prominent feature of this lens is the zooming mechanism, despite the fish-eye design. The difference of one millimeter in focal length becomes greater as the angle of view becomes wider. So the zooming mechanism makes it easier to capture an image in the composition I want. Although fish-eye lenses are often noted for their unique distortion effect, I can minimize the effect of distortion by paying close attention to the horizontal and vertical alignment of the image, and use this lens just like an ultra-wide-angle lens. Also, by using the camera’s Composition Adjustment function, I can shift the horizontal alignment up and down to avoid placing it in the middle of the image.

“One of my special photographic techniques is high-angle photography using a camera mounted on top of a 7.5-meter-long monopod. Mounting a fish-eye lens on the camera lets me capture images which appear to be taken from a higher position — just like the spectacular photos of aerial photography. The lens’s compact, lightweight body makes it easy to maintain the camera’s balance even on top of the 7.5-meter-long monopod.

“Also by removing the lens hood and mounting the lens on my PENTAX K-1 camera body, I can capture circular fish-eye images. Practically speaking, it’s no exaggeration to say that this lens is fully compatible with 35mm full-frame cameras.”

“The reason why I like to photograph butterflies with a fish-eye lens is simply because I want to capture the most beautiful image of a butterfly flying in its habitat.

“In order to capture a butterfly large enough for it to be the main subject, I must approach it as close as 20 centimeters from the camera’s image sensor. I’m pleased that, because of the short minimum focusing distance of 0.14 meters, I can even capture smaller species. A wide angle of view can be a great benefit, but it can sometimes become a weakness because it accidentally captures unwanted objects in the image. In this respect, this lens’ zooming function gives me a tremendous advantage, because it lets me take unwanted objects out of the image field.

“Another noteworthy feature of this lens is its compact, lightweight design, despite the incorporation of all these functions. If I go into a bush to photograph, I must approach the subject cautiously but quickly without contacting the leaves or branches. The smaller the photographic gear, the easier it is to avoid those obstacles. I can also hold the gear more easily and comfortably until the shutter opportunity arrives, and eventually have more fun taking pictures. This lens deserves to be my partner in every sense.”

“With a fish-eye lens, I suggest you try the so-called ‘big-nose’ photo, in which the subject’s face is enlarged against a smaller, deformed body. The HD PENTAX-DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5ED lets you very closely approach a subject. If you approach too closely, however, the nose appears so large and deformed that the subject doesn’t look cute any longer.

“Keep a comfortable distance from the subject — a distance of about 20 centimeters — and capture the image as if you were playing with your pet. If you approach too closely, some pets might be frightened. For a pet like this, you can zoom out to the 17mm focal length to create a little space.

“You can line up two or three pets. By closing down the aperture at this distance, you can still keep sharp focus on their eyes and noses using the camera’s AF function, and capture clear, crisp images.

“If you take a photo from above, you can make the ground appear to be curved, creating an interesting line in the background. If you capture the subject from the front, buildings and walls in the background will appear to be deformed, as if they were standing over the pets. By adjusting the shooting angle slightly, a fish-eye lens can dramatically change the subject’s facial expression or the appearance of the background. Go out on a sunny day and close in on your pet, and you can capture a unique, eye-catching image with a dramatically deformed background.”