[Mikesul]

There have been some fine photos posted of the 11-18 which seems to be very nice on FF as well as crop. There are even more wonderful shots posted with the 15-30. The 15-30 is large and heavy. The 11-18 smaller and lighter but is intended for a crop sensor. Has anyone used both lenses enough to have a solid view of when the 11-18 can be used as well or close to as well as the 15-30 on FF?

[angerdan]

The DA* 11-18 only covers FF at 18mm. Like the DA 12-24mm.
You can check this out in the lens data sheets as well as inside the reviews.
<= 30mm Zoom Lenses with Autofocus | PentaxForums.com

[sergysergy]

The 15-30 is a monster but it is in a different league from the wide angle Sigmas and Tamrons I have used. I haven't had a chance to use the 11-18.

[Adam]

If you primarily shoot FF, get the 15-30. Otherwise get the 11-18.

Adam
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[Mikesul]

My question was prompted in part by the excellent 11-18 photos Acoufap has posted at 15 and 16mm. I have owned the 15-30 and loved the pictures but found the size and weight a decided negative.

[Dan]

On full frame the 11-18 is more like a prime than a zoom, given its extremely narrow usable zoom range. It's essentially a 15(16)-18, versus a 15-30. Of course the 15-30 weighs more, but with the 11-18 you will need to carry an extra lens or two to cover the same range.

[simsburyphoto]

Can I add to this discussion the Pentax DA 12-24. I am looking to use in conjunction with my DFA 24-70. It looks like it is usable from 24 mm to about 17 mm and is much lighter than a DFA 15-30 mm.

[mikesbike]

As Adam says, it makes sense to get what works best with the body you own. Sandy Hancock, I believe, has both the FF K-1 and the excellent 24mp KP body with both these lenses for use on the appropriate body. So he could provide insight as to performance.

If size and weight are sometimes a concern, it is for this reason some own both bodies for those times when this concern comes up.

[SteveinSLC]

I have both a KP and K-1, and had a 15-30, which I sold to buy the 11-18.

The 15-30 is a great lens, but it's huge, and the need to buy a large and expensive filter system is also a drawback.
The 11-18 is at least as good optically, and is usable on FF from 15-18 with pretty much no vignetting. And it's much smaller, and takes normal filters.
I do sometimes miss having the 20-30 range on the K-1, but not enough to go back.

[Roadboat24]

I would love to have the 15-30 on my K1. But !!, it's big, rather weighty and expensive. So, my work around is using my sigma 10-20 on my K3 (24mp), or also on the K1 in crop mode (@16mp). Gives me the 15mm FOV @10mm . for better or worse.

[kiwi_jono]

I have both a KP and K-1, and had a 15-30, which I sold to buy the 11-18.

The 15-30 is a great lens, but it's huge, and the need to buy a large and expensive filter system is also a drawback.
The 11-18 is at least as good optically, and is usable on FF from 15-18 with pretty much no vignetting. And it's much smaller, and takes normal filters.
I do sometimes miss having the 20-30 range on the K-1, but not enough to go back.

This is good to know. I have considered the DFA 15-30 but size and weight is an issue for me. Currently using a Sigma EX 20mm f1.8 but its not super good optically (and still a bit bulky) and smidgen wider would be nice.
Lenses aside the K-1 is a relatively compact FF camera, and love it with the limiteds (which are small and light enough for me) but obviously there is not a small wide option (apart from FA20 which is getting harder to get a good copy).

[Paul the Sunman]

The DFA 15-30 is certainly a very good lens optically (apart from a propensity for flare). The size (the width in particular) rather than the weight is an issue for me, as it is difficult to fit in bags. So it doesn't travel with me nearly as often as a more compact UW would. I don't have the DA* 11-18, since at the moment I mostly shoot FF and it seemed too much of a compromise to mount on the K1. On the other hand, I do use the DA 10-17 fisheye as a compact UW at times (it works from about 14mm up).

When the K-new appears, I might rethink the 11-18.

[zapp]

Tried 15-30 and found it large, but not too large. The real problem I have with it, is the front lens diameter that asks for 150mm filters. The 11-18 looks appealing, but I don’t feel like buying an APS-C lens for K1. Or replace K1 with anything else.
Typical Pentax problem, lenses available in APS-C, camera only in FF and vice versa. The upcoming APS-c may help here ... but not with 1.4 85 that I really want. You probably need both. APSC for small WA lenses and super Tele work, FF to capture the last photons.

[garywakeling]

Really you need to decide full frame or APS-C, that should be what guides your decision.

[repaap]

My question was prompted in part by the excellent 11-18 photos Acoufap has posted at 15 and 16mm. I have owned the 15-30 and loved the pictures but found the size and weight a decided negative.

This is actually your ansver right here. I have 15-30. I use it now a days mainly from 20mm-> mostly 24-28 I have been playing around with the idea of having 24-70 and just 15 mm for the times when I need it. But it is nice to have actually all of that 15-30.

Why I haven't bought 11-18 is that I'd have to see it unused from 11-16... I'd rather buy Irix or Laowa... But that is just me.

Sorry to chime in even if I don't have 11-18 to give you that ansver you were looking for. (actually I have been pondering good options for my 15-30 too, just because of travelling and weight restrictions)