[kiteman]

Originally thinking 35 mm or 50mm, but mostly shoot outdoors with zoom. I like my DA16-45 and now looking at the 15mm ltd or the Sigma 10-20 HSM. There is not a huge difference in price. The 15 mm ltd looks like a fun lens. Is it going to do that much more than the 16-45? I would primarily use the lens for travel, garden shots, and nature.

Thanks

[lytrytyr]

The 15 mm ltd looks like a fun lens. Is it going to do that much more than the 16-45? I would primarily use the lens for travel, garden shots, and nature.

Do you mean to compare with the Sigma?
The DA 15 Ltd is compact and discreet for street use,
but the Sigma zoom might be more flexible for your uses.

[phylej]

Had the Sigma and found it large and hard to use. My copy also seemed to lack sharpness. Sold it and bought the 15. I'm not looking back

[GDRoth]

Yes, I too had a Sigma 10-20 and it was just too bulky...............the 15mm LTD does it all...........

[azerak]

used to have sigma 10-20 and pentax da 14mm, both were too big for me. opted for 15mm ltd and never regretting my choice.

[Vindemiatrix]

sigma 8-16

[cali92rs]

For me, the 15mm is not wide enough. I prefer WIDE, so I would choose tbe Sigma and keep it pegged at 10mm. But for me size wasn't a consideration only getting as wide as possible. If you want the smallest lens possible that is only fairly wide then the 15mm is your choice

[Clinton]

I say the Sigma 8-16mm if you like wide, wider, and widest.

I previously owned the 15mm ltd, and between my 8-16 Sigma and 16-50 DA*, the 15mm ltd just never ended up in the bag.

[Rondec]

I say the Sigma 8-16mm if you like wide, wider, and widest.

I previously owned the 15mm ltd, and between my 8-16 Sigma and 16-50 DA*, the 15mm ltd just never ended up in the bag.

I use the 15 limited all the time for landscape, but I prefer primes. I would far rather go out shooting with 15 limited and DA *55 in a morning, than the 16-50.

However, the difference between 8mm and 15mm is huge. If you want really ultra wide than the 8-16 is the way to go. If 15mm is adequate, then the 15 limited is hard to beat.

[kiteman]

I guess that I am not too concerned with the weight of the lens. My F 70-210 zoom weighs 550g and I have no problem with it. My camera is a K-7. I seemed to read somewhere that sensor not good past 10mm???????? So if I would go with the zoom, I am reading a push for 8-16 over the 10-20------ right? I guess I am more of a zoom guy, but that 15 mm takes some really neat photos.

I am not a professional, just enthiast. I am in awe of some pics that are taken.

[lytrytyr]

I seemed to read somewhere that sensor not good past 10mm

With the K-mount, the sensor should be covered well with an 8mm focal length.
(There are sometimes issues with non-retrofocus wide angle lenses on mirrorless cameras.)

The K-7 may pretend not to recognize an 8mm focal length,
but I don't think that should be an issue.

[reeftool]

The DA 15 is on my camera most of the time these days. It's biggest advantage over some of the other wide angle options is it's size. It's very compact and light and can easily be carried in a jacket pocket, as can the other DA Limited lenses. There are dozens of threads comparing the various wide options for Pentax. Almost all are very good when comparing IQ so your choices really have to be based on other things. As a hiker with spinal issues, size and weight are a very important factor for me and the DA 15 was a good choice. I was kicking around the DA 12-24 prior to the release of the 15 and a few weeks of following the mind control thread, I bought the 15 instead. I also have no regrets. I also own the DA 10-17 Fisheye because I love the shots I can do with it, even though it's a little on the heavy side.

[percy]

I had the Sigma for a while, and while it's a great lens and I enjoyed using it, it is fairly big and heavy.
Sold it and bought a DA15 and I don't miss not have the zoom's flexibilty. The DA15 just slips into a pocket, and is much sharper. I don't really miss the 10-14 end of the range, and the image quality is good enough to crop if I want to get something equivalent to the 16-20 end of the range.
I find the DA15 and DA40 make good, small and light 'walkabout' lenses. Will have to get a DA70 next.

[cali92rs]

. I seemed to read somewhere that sensor not good past 10mm???????? So if I would go with the zoom, I am reading a push for 8-16 over the 10-20------ right? I guess I am more of a zoom guy, but that 15 mm takes some really neat photos.

Not quite...but there is a pretty big gotcha. Unfortunately, the camera (has nothing to do with the sensor) will not properly record EXIF data wider than 10mm.
You can read the gory details here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-processing-articles/176330-sigma-8-1...ally-8-mm.html

Long story short, you cannot use your favorite lens correction software automatically....which I consider mandatory for ultrawides... unless you modify your EXIF data as spelled out in that link. It is an extra step in your post processing workflow, however it is a painless step and to me the images that the 8-16mm can produce make the little extra effort worth it.

[wtlwdwgn]

The 15 LTD is on my camera most these days too. I carry the 35 LTD with me also. The advantage to the 15 over my 16-50 is the lack of distortion correction needed on my images. The 15 Limited controls my mind!