What would you think of a DFA 15mm F5.6 compact prime?

beholder3 · 08-02-2016, 03:02 PM

I am always amazed how a small group of people always cries for fast primes only.

In the FF UWA section I would actually love to see a compact FF version of the DA 15mm limited with better edge performance. I'd be totally happy if they made it slow at F5.6, because this is a focal length that I'd use at F8-F11 anyhow.
And small, light, and small filter thread would be lovely.

What is your opinion?

cali92rs · 08-02-2016, 03:23 PM - **1 Like**

Although the size would be real nice, I would much prefer something faster.
I use my 15-30mm a lot in museums (dim lighting, no tripods or flash allowed), and even at f2.8 I am at ISO 3200-6400.

npc · 08-02-2016, 03:50 PM

I woudn't mind one, although given the size and weight of K-1 result won't be compact anyway.

VoiceOfReason · 08-02-2016, 03:53 PM

Wouldn't be the lens for me. Make it a 10 or 12 and WR.

Driline · 08-02-2016, 04:17 PM

Make it 14mm and F 2.8 for indoor pics. I could care less about WR. Wait.......isn't that lens already made?

narual · 08-02-2016, 04:18 PM

Do you mean an actual 15mm lens, or something with an equivalent field of view to the 15mm ltd? I can't see a 15mm ff lens being as small and light as the 15mm ltd.

pakinjapan · 08-02-2016, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by beholder3

I am always amazed how a small group of people always cries for fast primes only.

FF version of the DA 15mm limited...

What is your opinion?

YES yes yes!
I don't have a K1 yet, and I am in no hurry. Part of the reason is Pentax offer no wide prime compatible to what a DA15 can do yet. compact is good, but I am not a fan of pancake lenses design. I wouldn't mind if they make a bit bigger in exchange of a FF + WR lens design. f4 or even f5.6 is fine for me, but faster is always better, IMO.
Hope Pentax will have something close to DA15 (performance) by the time I upgrade to K-1.

Last edited by pakinjapan; 08-03-2016 at 02:45 AM.

seanix · 08-02-2016, 04:34 PM

I'd love one, If it was 25-35% of the cost of a 15-30/2.8. I'd love to get wider than 24-70 or 24-105 with a small prime that I could carry anywhere. 15-30 would be out of the question based on size and price.

noelpolar · 08-02-2016, 04:36 PM - **3 Likes**

I'd preffer 20mm and compactish...f4. mostly just looking for something to fit with the 31/43/77

pathdoc · 08-02-2016, 04:38 PM

F5.6 might be a little dim through the viewfinder, especially in low light. I can understand the desire to sacrifice speed for compactness, especially to keep the front element small, but that may be taking things a little too far.

**UncleVanya** · 08-02-2016, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by noelpolar

I'd preffer 20mm and compactish...f4. mostly just looking for something to fit with the 31/43/77

That seems pragmatic.

noelpolar · 08-02-2016, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by Driline

Make it 14mm and F 2.8 for indoor pics. I could care less about WR. Wait.......isn't that lens already made?

I want the 36 megapixie version

(WR is for the english)

**ramseybuckeye** · 08-02-2016, 05:11 PM

At 5.6 it should be the price of a 35/2.4, I'd be OK with that. But I'm sure that won't happen. Sorry, but a fast prime would be more useful to me. I agree with Noel, a 20/4 would be nice, or renew the FA 20/2.8 into a D FA complete with weather sealing, silent focusing, and new coatings.

Sandy Hancock · 08-02-2016, 06:21 PM - **1 Like**

The FA20 gives a roughly equivalent (slightly wider) full frame field of view to the DA15 on crop, is remarkably compact (almost a pancake), and has pretty good edges stopped down. It also happens to be f/2.8. It only loses out on flare resistance.

It wouldn't take too much tweaking to produce a very fine DFA ultra-wide using it as a starting point.

Paul the Sunman · 08-02-2016, 06:39 PM

The current D FA lens roadmap lists a "Wide-Angle Single Focus Lens" for early 2017, and a "Large Aperture Ultra Wide-Angle Single Focus Lens" for late 2017. I'm guessing something like a slow compact 20mm and a large bulbous ~14mm f/2.8 respectively.

We certainly do need something to take the place of the DA 15 on FF.

08-02-2016, 03:02 PM	#1
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112	What would you think of a DFA 15mm F5.6 compact prime? I am always amazed how a small group of people always cries for fast primes only. In the FF UWA section I would actually love to see a compact FF version of the DA 15mm limited with better edge performance. I'd be totally happy if they made it slow at F5.6, because this is a focal length that I'd use at F8-F11 anyhow. And small, light, and small filter thread would be lovely. What is your opinion?

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08-02-2016, 03:23 PM - 1 Like	#2
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Although the size would be real nice, I would much prefer something faster. I use my 15-30mm a lot in museums (dim lighting, no tripods or flash allowed), and even at f2.8 I am at ISO 3200-6400.

08-02-2016, 03:50 PM	#3
npc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 313	I woudn't mind one, although given the size and weight of K-1 result won't be compact anyway.

08-02-2016, 03:53 PM	#4
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	Wouldn't be the lens for me. Make it a 10 or 12 and WR.

08-02-2016, 04:17 PM	#5
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	Make it 14mm and F 2.8 for indoor pics. I could care less about WR. Wait.......isn't that lens already made?

08-02-2016, 04:18 PM	#6
narual Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,988	Do you mean an actual 15mm lens, or something with an equivalent field of view to the 15mm ltd? I can't see a 15mm ff lens being as small and light as the 15mm ltd.

08-02-2016, 04:28 PM	#7
pakinjapan Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,041	Originally posted by beholder3 I am always amazed how a small group of people always cries for fast primes only. FF version of the DA 15mm limited... What is your opinion? YES yes yes! I don't have a K1 yet, and I am in no hurry. Part of the reason is Pentax offer no wide prime compatible to what a DA15 can do yet. compact is good, but I am not a fan of pancake lenses design. I wouldn't mind if they make a bit bigger in exchange of a FF + WR lens design. f4 or even f5.6 is fine for me, but faster is always better, IMO. Hope Pentax will have something close to DA15 (performance) by the time I upgrade to K-1. Last edited by pakinjapan; 08-03-2016 at 02:45 AM.

08-02-2016, 04:34 PM	#8
seanix Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 92	I'd love one, If it was 25-35% of the cost of a 15-30/2.8. I'd love to get wider than 24-70 or 24-105 with a small prime that I could carry anywhere. 15-30 would be out of the question based on size and price.

08-02-2016, 04:36 PM - 3 Likes	#9
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	I'd preffer 20mm and compactish...f4. mostly just looking for something to fit with the 31/43/77

08-02-2016, 04:38 PM	#10
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	F5.6 might be a little dim through the viewfinder, especially in low light. I can understand the desire to sacrifice speed for compactness, especially to keep the front element small, but that may be taking things a little too far.

08-02-2016, 04:39 PM	#11
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Originally posted by noelpolar I'd preffer 20mm and compactish...f4. mostly just looking for something to fit with the 31/43/77 That seems pragmatic.

08-02-2016, 04:41 PM	#12
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Driline Make it 14mm and F 2.8 for indoor pics. I could care less about WR. Wait.......isn't that lens already made? I want the 36 megapixie version (WR is for the english)

08-02-2016, 05:11 PM	#13
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	At 5.6 it should be the price of a 35/2.4, I'd be OK with that. But I'm sure that won't happen. Sorry, but a fast prime would be more useful to me. I agree with Noel, a 20/4 would be nice, or renew the FA 20/2.8 into a D FA complete with weather sealing, silent focusing, and new coatings.

08-02-2016, 06:21 PM - 1 Like	#14
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	The FA20 gives a roughly equivalent (slightly wider) full frame field of view to the DA15 on crop, is remarkably compact (almost a pancake), and has pretty good edges stopped down. It also happens to be f/2.8. It only loses out on flare resistance. It wouldn't take too much tweaking to produce a very fine DFA ultra-wide using it as a starting point.

08-02-2016, 06:39 PM	#15
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	The current D FA lens roadmap lists a "Wide-Angle Single Focus Lens" for early 2017, and a "Large Aperture Ultra Wide-Angle Single Focus Lens" for late 2017. I'm guessing something like a slow compact 20mm and a large bulbous ~14mm f/2.8 respectively. We certainly do need something to take the place of the DA 15 on FF.