[scomatic]

planning to get a prime lens:
HD PENTAX-DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited or PENTAX DA 14mm F2.8 ED... which 1 is better ya? Any suggestion?

[zzeitg]

If I were you I'd buy 15 mm, but a used one (SMC version - https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-DA-15mm-F4-Limited-Lens.html).

[kev.pride]

Have you not read the reviews on both lenses. Plus there have been many questions asking the exact same thing. Search function is a great tool.

15 f4 is on my wish list. Not the 14.

Kevin

[savoche]

Depends on which way you want it better, for what use. The 14 is a bit wider, a stop faster, as well as bigger and heavier. The 15 is smaller and more flare resistant.

For my use the 15 is better. I really like the small size. For e.g. astro photography I'd think the 14 is better.

[Na Horuk]

Yeah, 14mm has faster aperture (good for low light photography without tripod, but almost pointless in daylight or when you use tripod), it might be a little sharper across the frame, and it is a little wider.
15mm is very compact for such an ultra wide. And it has a certain character that a lot of people value.

Basically, your choice comes down to 14mm (typical modern lens, sharp, big) vs. 15mm (Pentax special, unusual lens)

Some other choices to consider are the Pentax 12-24mm f4 (has a convenient zoom range. 15mm and 14mm are very very wide, you really need to learn how to use it) and Samyang 16mm f2.0 (manual focus, but sharp, fast aperture, good lens all around, especially for its price)

Other links you might be interested in:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-da-15mm-f4-limited-review/introduction.html
https://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-da-14mm-f28/introduction.html

[bassek]

If you need the f2.8 then the DA14 is the obvious pick. If you need a walk around wide go for the DA15.
The DA14 is really expensive compared to the DA15 (at least new).
I got my DA14 because I saw it on sale. I'm happy with it. I guess I'd be happy with the DA15 too...

Seb

[reeftool]

The DA 15 is very small and compact, the DA 14 is rather large. The DA 14 is faster at f/2.8 but the vast majority of all my wide angle shots are stopped down. I find 15mm plenty wide enough for my needs. I chose the DA 15 for it's compact size and flare resistance as well as those awesome starbursts on the older SMC versions.

[redcat]

the DA15 is so useful, very small in size but produce great color, contrast and sharpness !

[pathdoc]

I was looking at buying one or the other not so long ago (I chose something else instead, for reasons connected to greater need/want) and normally I would go with the widest and the fastest, but then I asked myself:

Does the extra millimetre make that much of a difference, given the compactness of the 15mm?
Does the extra stop make that much of a difference, given what they are normally used for, especially given the compactness of the 15mm?
Do the many ways in which a third-party competitor appears to beat out the 14mm (See the in-depth review) and the relatively low rating the PF staff gave it, make it that desirable a lens next to the rave reviews given the DA15 and the vast amount of space dedicated to it in its own specific thread?

If I were looking at a rectilinear 10 or 12mm prime vs. the 15mm and I needed something really wide, then yes, I might put the 15mm in second place. But come the time to buy, whenever that may be, I think small size is going to win out. I suspect in the long run I will do all my sub-70-mm work with primes and default to zooms only for the long end where I need instant flexibility to recompose without moving; e.g. shooting squirrels or birds or even my kids in the backyard in bright summer daylight, where a slower, variable aperture zoom is at less of a handicap.

[Dlanor Sekao]

I asked myself the same question for 4 months ! Back and forth...back and forth....back and forth.....Finally just bought a Samyang (Bower) 14mm for $249 shipped and never looked back !

[Kozlok]

Old SMC 15mm. Wonderful starbursts. 14mm shots are meh, the 15 has "it" whatever "it" is.

[scomatic]

ok... appreciate all comment given... now going to brought the HD PENTAX-DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited

[BennyBoy]

Good choice! I really like mine.

ok... appreciate all comment given... now going to brought the HD PENTAX-DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited