Pentax DA 14 2.8 vs Tamron 14 2.8

snake · 07-02-2012, 09:40 AM

The DA15 won't work- too slow and I need higher shutter speeds for fast moving musicians. This is why I'm looking at the 2.8. I wish the FA24 and 28 were wider and/or cheaper, but it's not to be, unfortunately. I'm thinking of the 21, but slightly too slow, too narrow to consider.

lytrytyr · 07-02-2012, 09:45 AM

Don't forget that the wider the angle, the less motion blur you'll see for a given shutter speed.
As I mentioned earlier, 1/30 sec is usable at f/4 and ISO 3200 (on the K5 even more so that the K-x).
If your musicians are moving so fast that that would still blur,
I would start to see the blur as a pictorial value, rather than something to be supressed.
Or turn off the SR, and pan.

snake · 11-14-2012, 12:36 PM

I'm once again trying to decide between these two lenses and was hoping this time around that I could get more feedback, particularly about what pros the Tamron has going for it. Cheap, it is not, but I'd only want to buy a FL like this once.

joe.penn · 11-16-2012, 06:51 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by snake

I'm once again trying to decide between these two lenses

IMHO, I believe the Samyang 14mm 2.8 trumps both of these lenses hands down.

snake · 11-16-2012, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by joe.penn

IMHO, I believe the Samyang 14mm 2.8 trumps both of these lenses hands down.

Cool. I want AF, though.

The next part of the question asks of you're able to qualify your post with personal experience.

joe.penn · 11-16-2012, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by snake

The next part of the question asks of you're able to qualify your post with personal experience.

Absolutely - had one for many months (sold it here on the forums) and the short focus throw allows for really quick MF'ing while using CIF...

stormtech · 11-16-2012, 09:41 PM

I don't know if this will help in your decision making process, but KEH has a used DA 14 2.8 rated EX+ for $546

Pentax Digital 14 F2.8 SMC DA ED INTERNAL FOCUS (77) WITH HOOD, CAPS, DIGITAL SLR SUPER WIDE ANGLE LENS - KEH.com

snake · 11-16-2012, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by joe.penn

Absolutely - had one for many months (sold it here on the forums) and the short focus throw allows for really quick MF'ing while using CIF...

I mean have you had the others?

And I guess the part where I said I want AF makes no difference.

civiletti · 11-16-2012, 10:49 PM

Switch systems.

rdj92807 · 11-17-2012, 12:54 AM

I'd suggest the FA 20/2.8 prime lens. I tested it against the 15/4 DA, and it's so much sharper especially in the corners, I could hardly believe it. I even equals the 12-24 at all f stops, and is quite sharp at 2.8. It's the best wide Pentax prime right now, IMO.

lytrytyr · 11-17-2012, 02:30 AM

Originally posted by rdj92807

I'd suggest the FA 20/2.8 prime lens. I tested it against the 15/4 DA, and it's so much sharper especially in the corners

The Photozone tests at f/8 on the K10 suggest otherwise.

I have the DA 15 and the A 20/2.8 (optically the same as the FA 20/2.8),
and I haven't noticed that much of a difference.
You do need to be aware of the field curvature on the DA 15, however.

rdj92807 · 11-17-2012, 10:13 AM

I disagree. All the tests of the 15/4 DA, incl dpreview, say the SAME thing....the DA 15 has poor edges at f4 and f5.6, and not perfect ever. What good is a 15/8.0 lens??? My copies of the 20/2.8 FA are tack sharp across the frame from F4 on, and very very good at 2.8. And the flare resistance of the FA 20 is superb, like the 15 DA. And all the reviews also say what I found...the Pentax 12-24 is a superb lens, and is much sharper across the frame than the 15/4 ltd.

lytrytyr · 11-17-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by rdj92807

And all the reviews also say what I found...the Pentax 12-24 is . . . much sharper across the frame than the 15/4 ltd.

No, in this case as well, the Photozone tests at f/8 on the K10 suggest otherwise.

msatlas · 11-19-2012, 08:13 AM

At similar apertures, the 15 Limited is sharper than the DA 14, and way smaller. Since most people use this wide of a lens for landscapes the fast aperture is less important.

For your stated purpose of using that wide max aperture, neither the DA 14 nor the Tamron 14 is particularly sharp wide open.

You'll get much better results from something like the Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 17-50/2.8 or DA* 16-50/2.8. Unless you're right up in the band's faces 14-15mm is probably going to be too wide anyway.

Really the ideal setup for what you desire is an FF body and a 24/1.4. Or for not quite as ridiculous money the Nikon 28/1.8.

snake · 11-19-2012, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by msatlas

At similar apertures, the 15 Limited is sharper than the DA 14, and way smaller. Since most people use this wide of a lens for landscapes the fast aperture is less important.

For your stated purpose of using that wide max aperture, neither the DA 14 nor the Tamron 14 is particularly sharp wide open.

You'll get much better results from something like the Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 17-50/2.8 or DA* 16-50/2.8. Unless you're right up in the band's faces 14-15mm is probably going to be too wide anyway.

Really the ideal setup for what you desire is an FF body and a 24/1.4. Or for not quite as ridiculous money the Nikon 28/1.8.

Correct, in reality, though others do make good wideangle lenses for crops. Pentax, for some reason, does not. The 15 might be ok, but it's still an F4.

Pentax doesn't even have a good, fast 24 to allow the K-5 to compete with an X100.

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07-02-2012, 09:40 AM	#16
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183 Original Poster	The DA15 won't work- too slow and I need higher shutter speeds for fast moving musicians. This is why I'm looking at the 2.8. I wish the FA24 and 28 were wider and/or cheaper, but it's not to be, unfortunately. I'm thinking of the 21, but slightly too slow, too narrow to consider.

07-02-2012, 09:45 AM	#17
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Don't forget that the wider the angle, the less motion blur you'll see for a given shutter speed. As I mentioned earlier, 1/30 sec is usable at f/4 and ISO 3200 (on the K5 even more so that the K-x). If your musicians are moving so fast that that would still blur, I would start to see the blur as a pictorial value, rather than something to be supressed. Or turn off the SR, and pan.

11-14-2012, 12:36 PM	#18
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183 Original Poster	I'm once again trying to decide between these two lenses and was hoping this time around that I could get more feedback, particularly about what pros the Tamron has going for it. Cheap, it is not, but I'd only want to buy a FL like this once.

11-16-2012, 06:51 PM - 1 Like	#19
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by snake I'm once again trying to decide between these two lenses IMHO, I believe the Samyang 14mm 2.8 trumps both of these lenses hands down.

11-16-2012, 07:34 PM	#20
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183 Original Poster	Originally posted by joe.penn IMHO, I believe the Samyang 14mm 2.8 trumps both of these lenses hands down. Cool. I want AF, though. The next part of the question asks of you're able to qualify your post with personal experience.

11-16-2012, 08:24 PM	#21
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by snake The next part of the question asks of you're able to qualify your post with personal experience. Absolutely - had one for many months (sold it here on the forums) and the short focus throw allows for really quick MF'ing while using CIF...

11-16-2012, 09:41 PM	#22
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	I don't know if this will help in your decision making process, but KEH has a used DA 14 2.8 rated EX+ for $546 Pentax Digital 14 F2.8 SMC DA ED INTERNAL FOCUS (77) WITH HOOD, CAPS, DIGITAL SLR SUPER WIDE ANGLE LENS - KEH.com

11-16-2012, 10:42 PM	#23
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183 Original Poster	Originally posted by joe.penn Absolutely - had one for many months (sold it here on the forums) and the short focus throw allows for really quick MF'ing while using CIF... I mean have you had the others? And I guess the part where I said I want AF makes no difference.

11-16-2012, 10:49 PM	#24
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Switch systems.

11-17-2012, 12:54 AM	#25
rdj92807 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 97	I'd suggest the FA 20/2.8 prime lens. I tested it against the 15/4 DA, and it's so much sharper especially in the corners, I could hardly believe it. I even equals the 12-24 at all f stops, and is quite sharp at 2.8. It's the best wide Pentax prime right now, IMO.

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11-17-2012, 02:30 AM	#26
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by rdj92807 I'd suggest the FA 20/2.8 prime lens. I tested it against the 15/4 DA, and it's so much sharper especially in the corners The Photozone tests at f/8 on the K10 suggest otherwise. I have the DA 15 and the A 20/2.8 (optically the same as the FA 20/2.8), and I haven't noticed that much of a difference. You do need to be aware of the field curvature on the DA 15, however.

11-17-2012, 10:13 AM	#27
rdj92807 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 97	I disagree. All the tests of the 15/4 DA, incl dpreview, say the SAME thing....the DA 15 has poor edges at f4 and f5.6, and not perfect ever. What good is a 15/8.0 lens??? My copies of the 20/2.8 FA are tack sharp across the frame from F4 on, and very very good at 2.8. And the flare resistance of the FA 20 is superb, like the 15 DA. And all the reviews also say what I found...the Pentax 12-24 is a superb lens, and is much sharper across the frame than the 15/4 ltd.

11-17-2012, 02:36 PM	#28
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by rdj92807 And all the reviews also say what I found...the Pentax 12-24 is . . . much sharper across the frame than the 15/4 ltd. No, in this case as well, the Photozone tests at f/8 on the K10 suggest otherwise.

11-19-2012, 08:13 AM	#29
msatlas Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 309	At similar apertures, the 15 Limited is sharper than the DA 14, and way smaller. Since most people use this wide of a lens for landscapes the fast aperture is less important. For your stated purpose of using that wide max aperture, neither the DA 14 nor the Tamron 14 is particularly sharp wide open. You'll get much better results from something like the Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 17-50/2.8 or DA* 16-50/2.8. Unless you're right up in the band's faces 14-15mm is probably going to be too wide anyway. Really the ideal setup for what you desire is an FF body and a 24/1.4. Or for not quite as ridiculous money the Nikon 28/1.8.

11-19-2012, 09:59 AM	#30
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183 Original Poster	Originally posted by msatlas At similar apertures, the 15 Limited is sharper than the DA 14, and way smaller. Since most people use this wide of a lens for landscapes the fast aperture is less important. For your stated purpose of using that wide max aperture, neither the DA 14 nor the Tamron 14 is particularly sharp wide open. You'll get much better results from something like the Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 17-50/2.8 or DA* 16-50/2.8. Unless you're right up in the band's faces 14-15mm is probably going to be too wide anyway. Really the ideal setup for what you desire is an FF body and a 24/1.4. Or for not quite as ridiculous money the Nikon 28/1.8. Correct, in reality, though others do make good wideangle lenses for crops. Pentax, for some reason, does not. The 15 might be ok, but it's still an F4. Pentax doesn't even have a good, fast 24 to allow the K-5 to compete with an X100.