2016 - The Year of the DA 15mm Limited

**Tamia** · 12-30-2015, 05:53 PM

I've decided that 2016 will be the Year of the DA 15 Limited for me. While I own a Sigma 10-20mm lens and really like its qualities, it's a large and rather heavy lens for when I want to carry a lighter kit. I've been using legacy primes this last year and really like their small size and quality build. But my wide angle manual is a M-28mm/2.8, and I'd like to have a wider angle light small lens as an alternative to the Sigma for times when bulk matters.

The DA 15 Limited keeps calling to me. I often look in on the lens club dedicated to the DA 15 Limited, and really like its qualities.

The decision facing me, however, is whether to go with the SMC version or the HD version. The difference in price between the new HD and good quality used SMC versions doesn't seem that great, and I haven't been able to determine if there's much difference in photo or lens quality from reading the reviews.

I've done some searching for threads discussing this but came up with nada, though I recognize that my search terms might not have been narrow enough. Please forgive me if this has been discussed before, but I'm hoping those of you who have experience of them both can offer an opinion. Does it matter? Should I simply buy whichever comes along when my piggybank will allow me to buy a copy? Or should I go with one over the other?

RockvilleBob · 12-30-2015, 06:07 PM - **1 Like**

I have the SMC version. You probably already checked out the Forum's comparison of the two
HD vs. SMC Pentax Limited Primes Review - Conclusion | PentaxForums.com Reviews

psychdoc · 12-30-2015, 06:18 PM - **1 Like**

SMC 15 nice starbursts
HD 15 ugly starbursts

**Tamia** · 12-30-2015, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by RockvilleBob

I have the SMC version. You probably already checked out the Forum's comparison of the two
HD vs. SMC Pentax Limited Primes Review - Conclusion | PentaxForums.com Reviews

NO, I'd not found that article. Thanks, Bob!

---------- Post added 12-30-15 at 08:19 PM ----------

Originally posted by psychdoc

SMC 15 nice starbursts
HD 15 ugly starbursts

Thanks for this, Psychdoc. Nice starbursts are definitely one of the attractions.

Ron_Man · 12-30-2015, 06:53 PM

IMO all the HD lenses with red rings are ugly. Period.

**ramseybuckeye** · 12-30-2015, 09:21 PM

Originally posted by Ron_Man

IMO all the HD lenses with red rings are ugly. Period.

LOL, I love the red ring on my silver 15, especially on my red K-50. It looks great.

Amarony · 12-30-2015, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

LOL, I love the red ring on my silver 15, especially on my red K-50. It looks great.

Agree, love my silver HD. It renders colors like a champ.

DeadJohn · 12-30-2015, 11:19 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by psychdoc

SMC 15 nice starbursts
HD 15 ugly starbursts

I wouldn't go that far. They are pretty close when I've seen direct comparison. The SMC has better starbursts but the HD can still do okay. Similarly, the SMC has legendary flare resistance yet the HD manages to improve on it a tiny bit.

Both versions are great. The OP needs to decide whether starbursts or flare resistance are more important. Stars = SMC, Flare = HD.

**UncleVanya** · 12-30-2015, 11:20 PM - **1 Like**

I have the SMC version but some photographers in the single in challenge have really made the hd sing. Starbursts work on both but the hd takes more work to get them from what I have seen.

Basically, they both are awesome, the SMC version is more starburst prone, the HD has slight advantages in flair handling but the SMC is already quite good in that regard.

Kath · 12-30-2015, 11:23 PM - **1 Like**

My HD version produces wonderful starbursts. When I'm faced with a choice of lenses new vs old... unless there's a really good reason to choose the old (for instance, a different style for better handheld shots, or a certain image "look" I prefer) I choose new. Coatings and other technology are often improved over an older version, all else being equal.

Paul the Sunman · 12-31-2015, 01:42 AM - **1 Like**

I have the old. Not a perfect lens, but a poetic one. I think you'll be happy with either.

shaolen · 12-31-2015, 06:07 AM

Originally posted by Ron_Man

IMO all the HD lenses with red rings are ugly. Period.

Yup! Its such a shame too because I like the silver but can't stand red ring

Amarony · 12-31-2015, 06:30 AM - **3 Likes**

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I don't care much what my camera or lens look like on my end, it's the pictures that matter. I'd use this thing if the images were quality.

shaolen · 12-31-2015, 06:57 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Amarony

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I don't care much what my camera or lens look like on my end, it's the pictures that matter. I'd use this thing if the images were quality.

What in the world is that

reeftool · 12-31-2015, 07:01 AM - **1 Like**

Those starbursts that the SMC version puts out are one of my favorite features of my DA 15. It's also the most flare resistant lens I own, even with the "old" lens coatings. I've heard mixed comments on the HD version's starbursts.

12-30-2015, 05:53 PM	#1
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384	2016 - The Year of the DA 15mm Limited I've decided that 2016 will be the Year of the DA 15 Limited for me. While I own a Sigma 10-20mm lens and really like its qualities, it's a large and rather heavy lens for when I want to carry a lighter kit. I've been using legacy primes this last year and really like their small size and quality build. But my wide angle manual is a M-28mm/2.8, and I'd like to have a wider angle light small lens as an alternative to the Sigma for times when bulk matters. The DA 15 Limited keeps calling to me. I often look in on the lens club dedicated to the DA 15 Limited, and really like its qualities. The decision facing me, however, is whether to go with the SMC version or the HD version. The difference in price between the new HD and good quality used SMC versions doesn't seem that great, and I haven't been able to determine if there's much difference in photo or lens quality from reading the reviews. I've done some searching for threads discussing this but came up with nada, though I recognize that my search terms might not have been narrow enough. Please forgive me if this has been discussed before, but I'm hoping those of you who have experience of them both can offer an opinion. Does it matter? Should I simply buy whichever comes along when my piggybank will allow me to buy a copy? Or should I go with one over the other?

12-30-2015, 06:53 PM	#5
Ron_Man Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: MD Posts: 221	HD Red Rings IMO all the HD lenses with red rings are ugly. Period.

12-31-2015, 06:30 AM - 3 Likes	#13
Amarony Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota Posts: 145	Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I don't care much what my camera or lens look like on my end, it's the pictures that matter. I'd use this thing if the images were quality. Attached Images

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12-30-2015, 06:07 PM - 1 Like	#2
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	I have the SMC version. You probably already checked out the Forum's comparison of the two HD vs. SMC Pentax Limited Primes Review - Conclusion \| PentaxForums.com Reviews

12-30-2015, 06:18 PM - 1 Like	#3
psychdoc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bham Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 949	SMC 15 nice starbursts HD 15 ugly starbursts

12-30-2015, 06:18 PM	#4
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384 Original Poster	Originally posted by RockvilleBob I have the SMC version. You probably already checked out the Forum's comparison of the two HD vs. SMC Pentax Limited Primes Review - Conclusion \| PentaxForums.com Reviews NO, I'd not found that article. Thanks, Bob! ---------- Post added 12-30-15 at 08:19 PM ---------- Originally posted by psychdoc SMC 15 nice starbursts HD 15 ugly starbursts Thanks for this, Psychdoc. Nice starbursts are definitely one of the attractions.

12-30-2015, 09:21 PM	#6
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Originally posted by Ron_Man IMO all the HD lenses with red rings are ugly. Period. LOL, I love the red ring on my silver 15, especially on my red K-50. It looks great.

12-30-2015, 10:29 PM	#7
Amarony Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota Posts: 145	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye LOL, I love the red ring on my silver 15, especially on my red K-50. It looks great. Agree, love my silver HD. It renders colors like a champ.

12-30-2015, 11:19 PM - 1 Like	#8
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Originally posted by psychdoc SMC 15 nice starbursts HD 15 ugly starbursts I wouldn't go that far. They are pretty close when I've seen direct comparison. The SMC has better starbursts but the HD can still do okay. Similarly, the SMC has legendary flare resistance yet the HD manages to improve on it a tiny bit. Both versions are great. The OP needs to decide whether starbursts or flare resistance are more important. Stars = SMC, Flare = HD.

12-30-2015, 11:20 PM - 1 Like	#9
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,409	I have the SMC version but some photographers in the single in challenge have really made the hd sing. Starbursts work on both but the hd takes more work to get them from what I have seen. Basically, they both are awesome, the SMC version is more starburst prone, the HD has slight advantages in flair handling but the SMC is already quite good in that regard.

12-30-2015, 11:23 PM - 1 Like	#10
Kath Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Portland, OR Photos: Gallery Posts: 737	My HD version produces wonderful starbursts. When I'm faced with a choice of lenses new vs old... unless there's a really good reason to choose the old (for instance, a different style for better handheld shots, or a certain image "look" I prefer) I choose new. Coatings and other technology are often improved over an older version, all else being equal.

12-31-2015, 01:42 AM - 1 Like	#11
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,845	I have the old. Not a perfect lens, but a poetic one. I think you'll be happy with either.

12-31-2015, 06:07 AM	#12
shaolen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 1,047	Originally posted by Ron_Man IMO all the HD lenses with red rings are ugly. Period. Yup! Its such a shame too because I like the silver but can't stand red ring

12-31-2015, 06:57 AM - 2 Likes	#14
shaolen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 1,047	Originally posted by Amarony Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I don't care much what my camera or lens look like on my end, it's the pictures that matter. I'd use this thing if the images were quality. What in the world is that

12-31-2015, 07:01 AM - 1 Like	#15
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	Those starbursts that the SMC version puts out are one of my favorite features of my DA 15. It's also the most flare resistant lens I own, even with the "old" lens coatings. I've heard mixed comments on the HD version's starbursts.