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06-14-2012, 03:19 PM   #1
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Pentax 15mm Limited Review

This isn't going to be officially posted until Monday, but it's ready to go! I haven't written a review myself in a while, but I hope you like it and find it useful. The Pentax 15mm really is a gem if you ask me, and now that I've used it on two separate occasions I'm ready to pick one up!

Here's the review:
Pentax-DA 15mm F4 Limited Review - Introduction - PentaxForums.com


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06-14-2012, 04:32 PM   #2
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Nice review Adam
06-14-2012, 04:41 PM   #3
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Isn't the 12-24 a better investment for practically the same amount of money? This is all I could think of when I finished reading the review.
06-14-2012, 05:03 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by FrancisK7 Quote
Isn't the 12-24 a better investment for practically the same amount of money? This is all I could think of when I finished reading the review.
The 12-24 is nice, and covers a wider range, with good IQ. But the 15 is tiny. I love hiking in the mountains with it.

06-14-2012, 05:17 PM   #5
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I can see why hauling a DA*50-135 would be annoying when hiking, but if you're already hauling a K5+grip (do people shoot without a grip? I can't fathom it) the 12-24 is hardly luggage.

I suppose K5 without grip + that 15mm would indeed be much smaller, but you ought to hike a lot to get a 700$ prime that only has one major advantage over the 12-24, which is its size.
06-14-2012, 05:49 PM   #6
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Lack of CA and supreme flare resistance along with size and weight are pretty big advantages.
06-14-2012, 05:58 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by twitch Quote
Lack of CA and supreme flare resistance along with size and weight are pretty big advantages.
Not 700$ worth in my opinion, but I guess that'll be up to whoever buys it.

06-14-2012, 06:23 PM - 1 Like   #8
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I have the DA 12-24 and just missed the delivery of the DA15 today. I don't know what you shoot most of the time, I have a camera to capture moments in my life with the people who make it worthwhile. As great as the 12-24 is, NONE of my friends and family enjoy having a lens that requires a 77mm filter on it pointed at them in close proximity. Hence a DA15 is needed. If room allows, I would shoot with the DA 70, but that is not always the case. To each his own I guess.
06-14-2012, 06:34 PM   #9
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90% of my portfolio is studio work. I very, very rarely use anything wider than 35mm in that environment. My 12-24 is for landscape or architectural photography.

I can't imagine 15mm will be more flattering for portraiture even if the subjects care less about the size of the glass being put in front of them?
06-14-2012, 06:44 PM   #10
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I see, so in your case, I would also say it isn't worth its weight.
Maybe you would like to try a lens with longer reach for landscape.
Why you Need a Telephoto Zoom Lens for Landscape Photography
06-14-2012, 07:11 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by FrancisK7 Quote
I can see why hauling a DA*50-135 would be annoying when hiking, but if you're already hauling a K5+grip (do people shoot without a grip? I can't fathom it) the 12-24 is hardly luggage.

I suppose K5 without grip + that 15mm would indeed be much smaller, but you ought to hike a lot to get a 700$ prime that only has one major advantage over the 12-24, which is its size.
I have never considered a grip and if I'm not hiking I'm spending the day walking around the city with a backpack taking photos. The small size is the biggest reason that I got it instead of one of the WA zooms. Being able to share my 49mm filters was another big plus since buying a WA zoom would require spending a couple hundred extra dollars on filters for it.

I am planning on getting a WA zoom at some point though.
06-14-2012, 07:47 PM   #12
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This lens is 549, not 699 any more but yeah, it's the size and aberration control that makes a difference.
06-14-2012, 07:49 PM   #13
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I have to admit the 15mm looks much prettier as well... the 12-24 is definitely an ugly lens. The all metal look and feel of the ltd primes can't be beat.
06-15-2012, 12:51 AM   #14
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Its a very fine lens but after a year I sold it because I wanted to go wider.
06-15-2012, 01:26 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by FrancisK7 Quote
I can see why hauling a DA*50-135 would be annoying when hiking, but if you're already hauling a K5+grip (do people shoot without a grip? I can't fathom it) the 12-24 is hardly luggage.

I suppose K5 without grip + that 15mm would indeed be much smaller, but you ought to hike a lot to get a 700$ prime that only has one major advantage over the 12-24, which is its size.

I can't fathom anyone using a grip with a K5...
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