DA 14mm, 15mm or 21mm?

troglodyte · 08-25-2010, 01:07 AM

any longer, I'd lose about 10% more shots. Having 90% good shots without having to crop isn't worth it to me. I'd rather have to crop my shots slightly than lose one.The IQ on the DA 21 at f5.6 is so good I can get a 11x14" print at 150dpi with proper PP.

bdery · 08-25-2010, 05:28 AM

I do only have one... and it's the 21... The Sigma 17-70 covers the 17mm/f2,8 position very well.

Spotmatic Lover · 08-25-2010, 07:23 AM

How did the Sigma get into this discussion?

JHD · 08-25-2010, 08:19 AM

If you could only have one WA lens, why would you limit yourself to 3 choices by Pentax?

**mattb123** · 08-25-2010, 09:35 AM

DA15! Small, wide, quick to focus, and chocked full of that Limited pixie dust. The 21 looks great too but it's just not that wide.
Faced with the same decision I thought about the 14 vs 15 for a while and decided the bulk of the 14 was not worth the 1 mm and speed that would be gained over the 15. But I cycle, hike, and ski to a lot of my photo ops so being small and light is valuable to me and f/4 is fast enough, especially since this lens does well wide open.

philbaum · 08-25-2010, 09:58 AM

Why are the results hidden from those who already have voted - it can't affect their votes because they can't go back to change it?

JHD · 08-25-2010, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by philbaum

Why are the results hidden from those who already have voted - it can't affect their votes because they can't go back to change it?

You don't HAVE to vote. I didn't see my favorite pick in those three choices so I abstained, even though I have a DA15.

**dadipentak** · 08-25-2010, 05:28 PM

This is an interesting thread: I have the 21mm and the Sigma 10-20 and was thinking of selling one or both to get the 15mm.

bdery · 08-26-2010, 04:41 AM

Quote:

How did the Sigma get into this discussion?

Because at 17 mm and f2,8, for me it nearly corresponds to what the 14 or 15 would offer. I merely explained why I chose the 21. Just saying "I have this lens so you should pick it too" without saying why, isn't very useful...

**dadipentak** · 08-26-2010, 05:49 AM

Originally posted by Spotmatic Lover

How did the Sigma get into this discussion?

I don't see how we could have a meaningful discussion of lens options between 14 & 21mm without considering the Sigma.

Wheatfield · 08-26-2010, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by Spotmatic Lover

How did the Sigma get into this discussion?

Some people can't help but bring Kool-Aid to a wine tasting party.

JHD · 08-26-2010, 07:09 AM

Again, as someone who has a DA15 - and yes it is a very nice lens, but it can only compete with the Sigma 10-20 at 15mm. 10-14mm is a wash, and so is 16-20mm. Moreover when I look at the substance / images of what people and myself are doing with these two lenses, I fail to understand the hysteria of the DA15.

PentaxMom Felua · 08-26-2010, 07:13 AM

da15 is like a magic wand, enchanting to use, enhancing light, sparkling my mood (and pictures for that)
da21 is a workhorse in the forest, capturing always the right angle
this is as is for me: da21 is needed, da15 cannot be missed
da14 I know not, 15 and 21 is enough (apart from my m42 20mm Zeiss)

Blue · 08-26-2010, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Some people can't help but bring Kool-Aid to a wine tasting party.

If it were the Zeiss 18mm or 21mm Distagon lenses would it make you feel better since you have a pallet for Opus 1?

RBellavance · 08-26-2010, 07:45 AM

I voted for the DA21 as well, but it's the only one of the three I own. When I first got into the Pentax system, I dismissed the DA21 as useless very quickly ("what ? Only f/3.2 ? And that much distortion ?"). Then I got interested in primes, street photography, and in reducing the bulk of my gear. I finally bought a DA21, and now I "get it". Amazing lens, great rendering, very useful wide-ish angle of view, compact & light, and not too expensive on top of that.

And when I want/need to go really wide, I use my DA12-24

View Poll Results: If you could only have one, please choose esteemed Forum Members
DA 14mm	10	7.63%
DA 15mm Limited	85	64.89%
DA 21mm Limited	36	27.48%
Voters: 131. You may not vote on this poll

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08-25-2010, 01:07 AM	#16
troglodyte Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oz Posts: 408	any longer, I'd lose about 10% more shots. Having 90% good shots without having to crop isn't worth it to me. I'd rather have to crop my shots slightly than lose one.The IQ on the DA 21 at f5.6 is so good I can get a 11x14" print at 150dpi with proper PP.

08-25-2010, 05:28 AM	#17
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	I do only have one... and it's the 21... The Sigma 17-70 covers the 17mm/f2,8 position very well.

08-25-2010, 07:23 AM	#18
Spotmatic Lover New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 9 Original Poster	How did the Sigma get into this discussion?

08-25-2010, 08:19 AM	#19
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	If you could only have one WA lens, why would you limit yourself to 3 choices by Pentax?

08-25-2010, 09:35 AM	#20
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	DA15! Small, wide, quick to focus, and chocked full of that Limited pixie dust. The 21 looks great too but it's just not that wide. Faced with the same decision I thought about the 14 vs 15 for a while and decided the bulk of the 14 was not worth the 1 mm and speed that would be gained over the 15. But I cycle, hike, and ski to a lot of my photo ops so being small and light is valuable to me and f/4 is fast enough, especially since this lens does well wide open.

08-25-2010, 09:58 AM	#21
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	Why are the results hidden from those who already have voted - it can't affect their votes because they can't go back to change it?

08-25-2010, 04:17 PM	#22
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	Originally posted by philbaum Why are the results hidden from those who already have voted - it can't affect their votes because they can't go back to change it? You don't HAVE to vote. I didn't see my favorite pick in those three choices so I abstained, even though I have a DA15.

08-25-2010, 05:28 PM	#23
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	This is an interesting thread: I have the 21mm and the Sigma 10-20 and was thinking of selling one or both to get the 15mm.

08-26-2010, 04:41 AM	#24
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Quote: How did the Sigma get into this discussion? Because at 17 mm and f2,8, for me it nearly corresponds to what the 14 or 15 would offer. I merely explained why I chose the 21. Just saying "I have this lens so you should pick it too" without saying why, isn't very useful...

08-26-2010, 05:49 AM	#25
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by Spotmatic Lover How did the Sigma get into this discussion? I don't see how we could have a meaningful discussion of lens options between 14 & 21mm without considering the Sigma.

08-26-2010, 06:42 AM	#26
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by Spotmatic Lover How did the Sigma get into this discussion? Some people can't help but bring Kool-Aid to a wine tasting party.

08-26-2010, 07:09 AM	#27
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	Again, as someone who has a DA15 - and yes it is a very nice lens, but it can only compete with the Sigma 10-20 at 15mm. 10-14mm is a wash, and so is 16-20mm. Moreover when I look at the substance / images of what people and myself are doing with these two lenses, I fail to understand the hysteria of the DA15.

08-26-2010, 07:13 AM	#28
PentaxMom Felua Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Veluwe Posts: 339	da15 is like a magic wand, enchanting to use, enhancing light, sparkling my mood (and pictures for that) da21 is a workhorse in the forest, capturing always the right angle this is as is for me: da21 is needed, da15 cannot be missed da14 I know not, 15 and 21 is enough (apart from my m42 20mm Zeiss)

08-26-2010, 07:45 AM	#29
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Wheatfield Some people can't help but bring Kool-Aid to a wine tasting party. If it were the Zeiss 18mm or 21mm Distagon lenses would it make you feel better since you have a pallet for Opus 1?

08-26-2010, 07:45 AM	#30
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	I voted for the DA21 as well, but it's the only one of the three I own. When I first got into the Pentax system, I dismissed the DA21 as useless very quickly ("what ? Only f/3.2 ? And that much distortion ?"). Then I got interested in primes, street photography, and in reducing the bulk of my gear. I finally bought a DA21, and now I "get it". Amazing lens, great rendering, very useful wide-ish angle of view, compact & light, and not too expensive on top of that. And when I want/need to go really wide, I use my DA12-24