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05-02-2011, 03:24 PM   #1
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DA 14mm F2.8 ED feedback

Hi

Im looking at getting one of these lenses second hand , does anyone have some real world feedback/pics of this lens in practice. I would prefer the 15mm ltd,but $$ is a lot more for what I would be paying for the 14mm.

cheers

05-02-2011, 03:26 PM   #2
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Oh, do get it, it is overlooked, a little on the large side but produces wonderful images. Very sharp too.
05-02-2011, 04:22 PM   #3
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Have you looked at the reviews here on the forum? SMC Pentax-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] Reviews - Pentax Lens Reviews & Pentax Lens Database
05-02-2011, 04:37 PM   #4
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Yep, had a look at that. Was trying to find out more, else will be getting it.

05-02-2011, 06:46 PM   #5
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I never shot with the DA 15, but I found the 14 to be a wonderful, wonderful lens. It is a bigger lens for sure, but it's heft and size are acceptable when you take the images into account. Sharp and contrasty and that wonderful Pentax color rendering. Along with my FA Limiteds, the DA14 is on my keeper list for as long as I'm shooting Pentax.

05-02-2011, 07:09 PM   #6
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The 14 or the 15 ltd are the two lenses I regret not buying while in the world of the K-mount.
05-02-2011, 07:12 PM   #7
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Here.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/117422-pentax-da14mm-club.html

05-02-2011, 07:20 PM   #8
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I put one on my camera few weeks ago because it was the only prime at a local camera shop. It is a big dog. The pictures from it look good but be sure to hold one in person if you can. I had seen the measurements in the reviews for it but it didn't really hit me till it was on my camera in the shop. big.
05-03-2011, 06:59 AM   #9
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One of the best things about the DA 15mm f/4 is the image quality at the borders is quite even across the frame at f/8~f/11 from what I have seen the DA14 f/2.8 still lags a bit at the same aperture values. The difference between f/4 and f/2.8 at ultrawide focal lengths is a bit trivial in decent light though f/2.8 does come in handy when doing strobist work. Also I also own the FA77 and the DA15 uses exactly the same size filters which is useful.
05-03-2011, 07:15 AM   #10
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The best thing about the lens is the close focus distance, which is less than any of the other Pentax wide angle lenses. The second-best thing would be the extra stop. But you pay for both with size.
05-03-2011, 11:17 AM   #11
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I have the DA 14mm, also second hand, and it was part of a deal trading my DA*16-50. I would love to have the DA 15mm just for the size. The 14mm is a great lens, but it took some time for me to discover that and how and where to use it.

took it with me to our Carnaval Parade, along with the DA 21mm lens.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/20195454/Son%20-%20optocht/K5D_0178N.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/20195454/Son%20-%20optocht/K5D_0100P.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/20195454/Son%20-%20optocht/K5D_0087H.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/20195454/Son%20-%20optocht/K5D_0097M.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/20195454/Son%20-%20optocht/K5D_0186Q.jpg
05-05-2011, 07:42 AM   #12
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I have one listed here, with many sample images from it.

It's certainly large compared to any of the DA Limited primes, but the size is a bit exaggerated.

Here it is compared to some other lenses:

Lens | Dimensions (mm) | Weight
-----------------------------------------
Pentax DA10-17 FE | Ø68 x 71.5 | 320g
Pentax DA14/2.8 | Ø83.5 x L69 | 420g
Pentax FA31/1.8 | Ø65 x L69 | 345g
Pentax DA*55/1.4 | Ø70.5 x 66 | 375g

Tamron 14/2.8 | Ø87 x L87 | 675g
Samyang 14/2.8 | Ø96 x L117 | 552g
Sigma 10-20/4-5.6 | Ø83.5 x L81 | 470g
Sigma 10-20/3.5 | Ø87.3 x 88 | 520g

And here it is side-by-side to the DA 18-55 II lens:







It does feel larger than it is. I believe this is for several reasons. First, it's very dense for it's size (metal body) and slightly nose-heavy (due to the large front-element). Second is the 77mm filter size that makes the front of the lens disproportionally large compared to it's body. Third is the hood is really big (although not heavy).

The reality is that there is nothing on the market like this lens, that is this wide, this fast and this small (see table above). There is nothing like it for Canon, Nikon or Sony. Everytime I am tempted to switch systems I start planning out a lens arsenal in them and then realize they have no decent, reasonable sized/priced wiiide APS-C primes! The only other lens that is comparable is the DA15 Ltd, ironically.

The coolest thing about the DA14 is the very short minimum focus distance (1:5, almost touching the front element) allows close-up wide-angle images that you just cannot get with any other lens (except perhaps the DA10-17 FE). Certainly none of the UWA zooms can get close and the other nice small primes have terrible minimum focussing distances (Sony E16/2.8 and Panasonic 14/2.5 are both disappointing 1:10).

The second coolest thing is the Limited like aluminum body and general solid construction.

The main thing I don't like is the very short focus throw (but the DA15 and other AF UWA zooms also suffer from this). The other thing is I wish it were sharper below f/5.6, but it does sharpen up nicely with a bit of PP'ing. It does have good contrast and colour and both ambient and flash exposures are very consistent with it.
05-05-2011, 10:09 AM   #13
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I considered the 14mm in the past as my attention caught the close-focusing capability and 1 stop advantage it had over the DA12-24 and DA15. it proved that the close-focusing isn't that much use of this focal length and that the other two lenses are wide and close enough to focus on what is needed to be shot. the one-stop advantage nowadays, especially for an UW lens isn't much of a factor. I would say for a slight size difference and flexibility, one would be better off with the DA12-24, and the DA15 for portability.
05-05-2011, 10:35 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by goldpopper Quote
Hi

Im looking at getting one of these lenses second hand , does anyone have some real world feedback/pics of this lens in practice. I would prefer the 15mm ltd,but $$ is a lot more for what I would be paying for the 14mm.

cheers
If you can get one for a nice price, it is well worth it!
05-05-2011, 11:11 AM   #15
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I had one, and sold it to buy the DA15 limited
3 mains reasons :
1 corner softness, needs to be stopped down a while to recover (this is coherent with the measurement made by photozone); lens resolution peaks at f8 see
Pentax SMC-DA 14mm f/2.8 ED [IF] - Review / Test Report - Analysis
2 flare; on the contrary DA15 has excellent flare resistance
3 weight
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