[aleonx3]

You can get sharpish corners with the DA15 if you are careful with the focus and stop it down. Just keep any people or other recognisable objects in the frame centre.

Colour, contrast and distortion are easily fixed in post. Fuzziness isn't. It all depends on what you shoot - sunsets or your kids/pets/partners

I agree with colour, contrast and star-bursts on the DA15, but may be I am an old school, I just don't like the distortion on people although landscape is fine. I have the DA12-24, with people in the scene, I usually shoot in the 20-24 range only.

[noelpolar]

Two taken today as requested....focus on Hector Jetty sign and reframed.

HD 15...K3, F8, Iso 100, 1/250, tripod, 2 sec timer

by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

HD 21.... F8, Iso 100, 1/320, tripod, 2 sec timer

by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

Both are great lenses.......however.....DA 21 does most things......nice small special prime.

Typical HD DA 21 Holiday snap...hand held

by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

Typical HD DA 15 Holiday snap (tripod)

Surin Beach.JPG by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

HD DA15 people distortion....the 15 pushes the centre out and appears to bring the edges in (landscape)

by Noel Leahy, on Flickr

To me, the 21 is a nice compact prime useful for most things......where a 21mm field of view works (Street, landscape, people in shot)....the 15mm is more of a special purpose lens .... lot's posted about the 15 so I won't say any more.

[biz-engineer]

Primes such as 15ltd and 21ltd deliver slightly better color rendering, in a small size, and have higher peak sharpness in the center compared to the best zooms at the same focal length (it can be visible with the K-3 or K-5IIs, not obvious with a K-5). In the corners, it's not so sure, still 21ltd rendering would look better versus zoom except the latest HD coated Pentax zooms. 21ltd I carried a lot from landscape and traveling because of its more versatile focal length , its small size and quality. Regarding the 15ltd, has field curvature with not so sharp corners depending on conditions; but the field of view, rendering, and low distortion is such that whenever I go for shooting architecture, the 15ltd get stuck on the camera all the time. However, I hate the 15ltd for landscapes (unless composition is done to suit the 15ltd), as much as I love it for architecture.

[SMeK]

I do have K-5iis (and K-x), and 16-45, DA 35 f2.4 and bucnh of manual lenses.

Most of time i use 16-25mm with my zoom but it is too bulky because I am on my bike a lot.

I realy like IQ of da 35 2.4 and in therms of sharpness and size is great but a bit too long.

Thank you for samples, and I guess i will get them both but now I must decide which one to buy first

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Last edited by SMeK; 05-27-2015 at 01:52 AM.

[kh1234567890]

I do have K-5iis (and K-x), and 16-45

I was going to suggest that as a possible alternative, if only it weren't so big. If I were you I'd get the DA21 first.

[r0ckstarr]

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/86234-15mm-limited-controls-my-mind-club.html

and

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/46831-post-...s-here-36.html

The answer is obvious. Get both.

[bdery]

Not sure how anyone could say the DA21 was worse than the DA18-135? It's one of my favourite lenses.

True for me too.

I think the images from both can be amazing in the right hands. The DA (non HD) versions will produce the best starbursts I've ever seen.

The 21 is easier to use. The 15 is more demanding, but can be very rewarding. For me the difference in focal lengths is much more important than the difference in image quality. I'd say the 21 is more versatile, for me 15mm is more of a niche use.

[Hattifnatt]

I don't have the 21 but I do love my SMC DA15. Its strengths are colors, microcontrast and sharpness stopped down, especially center sharpness (few lenses can rival it). It can focus very close so it works for close-ups as well. Oh, and its legendary flare resistance. And the famous starbursts (reduced with HD version because of rounded aperture blades).

The challenge with this lens is framing and choosing your subjects. If you do it properly, edge-to-edge sharpness is not that important as somebody said above.

Warning: this lens has the ability to control your mind. You will be swiftly assimilated to the already mind-controlled hordes.

Same shots with DA15 from my side:

[SMeK]

Thank you all. I will buy first SMC 21. I like starburst effect and I guess flare is not that bad with hood.